Lakshmana Offers Ravana the Lotus or the Fire
Sundara Kanda, Doha 56
Doha 56 · Movement 2 of 2
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Lakshmana's letter refuses the pleasant words with which Ravana has enchanted his own mind. Empty boasting will not protect the demon lineage. Opposition to Rama cannot be survived even if Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva themselves were imagined as Ravana's shelter.
Two images rise from the written page. In the first, Ravana abandons pride as his younger brother did and becomes a bee at the lotus feet of the Lord, circling their fragrance and drinking the nectar of refuge.
In the second, he clings to arrogance with his whole house and becomes a moth rushing into the fire of Rama's arrows. Lotus or flame, bee or moth, surrender or destruction: Lakshmana removes every illusion of a third road. Ravana must choose what his many heads will approach.
The same pride can be laid beside the lotus or carried with an entire lineage into the arrow's fire.
Read the passage from the Manas
बातन्ह मनहि रिझाइ सठ जनि घालसि कुल खीस। राम बिरोध न उबरसि सरन बिष्नु अज ईस।।56(क)।। की तजि मान अनुज इव प्रभु पद पंकज भृंग। होहि कि राम सरानल खल कुल सहित पतंग।।56(ख)।।
"Do not delude yourself with mere words, O fool, lest you bring destruction upon your entire clan. You cannot survive opposing Rama, even if Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva were your refuge." (56a) "Will you cast off pride like your younger brother and become a bee at the Lord's lotus feet? Or will you, O villain, with your whole clan, become a moth in the fire of Rama's arrows?" (56b)