By Rama's Majesty, the Smallest Serpent Can Devour Garuda
Sundara Kanda, Doha 16
Doha 16 · Movement 2 of 2
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Hanuman asks Sita not to measure Rama's army by the ordinary strength or intelligence of forest monkeys. They are creatures who move among branches. Left to themselves, the branch-dwellers make no claim to vast power.
Another force acts through the servant. When the Lord's majesty enters the field, natural proportion no longer decides what can be done.
By that power, even the smallest serpent can devour Garuda, the mighty enemy of serpents. Lanka's warriors may tower over the creatures gathering beyond the sea, but Rama's glory can reverse every scale.
The monkey army is small only until Rama's majesty begins to act through it.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनु माता साखामृग नहिं बल बुद्धि बिसाल। प्रभु प्रताप तें गरुड़हि खाइ परम लघु ब्याल।।16।।
Listen, Mother: we monkeys possess neither great strength nor vast intelligence. But by the Lord's prataap, even the tiniest serpent can devour Garuda.