Part - 9 — Ancient Knowledge

Mandodarī offers advice to Rāvaṇa once more

Chaupais

kaṃta samujhi mana tajahu kumatihī. sōha na samara tumhahi raghupatihī..
rāmānuja laghu rēkha khacāī. sōu nahiṃ nāghēhu asi manusāī.. [6-35(B)-1]
piya tumha tāhi jitaba saṃgrāmā. jākē dūta kēra yaha kāmā..
kautuka siṃdhu nāghī tava laṃkā. āyau kapi kēharī asaṃkā.. [6-35(B)-2]
rakhavārē hati bipina ujārā. dēkhata tōhi accha tēhiṃ mārā..
jāri sakala pura kīnhēsi chārā. kahāom rahā bala garba tumhārā.. [6-35(B)-3]
aba pati mṛṣā gāla jani mārahu. mōra kahā kachu hṛdayaom bicārahu..
pati raghupatihi nṛpati jani mānahu. aga jaga nātha atula bala jānahu.. [6-35(B)-4]
bāna pratāpa jāna mārīcā. tāsu kahā nahiṃ mānēhi nīcā..
janaka sabhāom aganita bhūpālā. rahē tumhau bala atula bisālā.. [6-35(B)-5]
bhaṃji dhanuṣa jānakī biāhī. taba saṃgrāma jitēhu kina tāhī..
surapati suta jānai bala thōrā. rākhā jiata āomkhi gahi phōrā.. [6-35(B)-6]
sūpanakhā kai gati tumha dēkhī. tadapi hṛdayaom nahiṃ lāja biṣēṣī.. [6-35(B)-7]

“Ponder in your mind, my beloved lord, and abandon perversity; your conflict with the Lord of the Raghus is quite out of place. Śrī Rāma’s younger brother (Lakṣmaṇa) had traced a thin line; that too you could not cross. Such is your valour! My beloved, do you expect to conquer Him in battle, whose messenger performed such feats? Leaping across the ocean in mere sport, that lion among monkeys fearlessly entered your Laṅkā, killed your guards and laid waste your garden. Nay, he killed Prince Akṣa under your very nose, and, setting fire to the whole capital, reduced it to ashes. Where did your pride of power remain lurking at that time? Indulge no more in idle boasts, my spouse, and lay my words a little to heart. Do not imagine that the Lord of the Raghus is a mere earthly king, my husband; but know him to be the Ruler of the animate and inanimate creation, unequalled in strength. The might of His arrows is known to Mārīca; but you did not heed his words, taking him to be a mean fellow. In Janaka’s court were assembled numberless kings; you too were present there with your incomparable and enormous strength. There Śrī Rāma broke Śiva bow and won the hand of Janaka’s Daughter; why did you not conquer Him in battle then? The son of Indra (the lord of celestials) tasted of His strength when He caught hold of him and spared his life after destroying one of his eyes. You also witnessed Śūrpaṇakhā’s condition, yet you did not feel much abashed in your heart.

It is mentioned in other works that, while leaving Sītā all alone to join Śrī Rāma, who had been out chasing the gold deer, Lakṣmaṇa traced with an end of his bow a line round, Her cottage at Pañcavaṭī with a curse that any demon whatsoever who dared to cross the line would be instantly reduced to ashes. Availing himself of the opportunity Rāvaṇa made his appearance there in the guise of a mendicant and begged alms of Sītā; and the latter offered to give him alms while keeping within the line. Rāvaṇa, however, refused to accept the alms from within a barrier and carried off Sītā as soon as She overstepped the boundary.

Dohas

badhi birādha khara dūṣanahi līṃlāom hatyō kabaṃdha.
bāli ēka sara mārayō tēhi jānahu dasakaṃdha..36.. [6-36]

My ten-headed lord, try to recognize Him, who, having slain Virādha as well as Khara and Dūṣaṇa, killed Kabandha in mere sport and disposed of Vāli with a single arrow."

Chaupais

jēhiṃ jalanātha baomdhāyau hēlā. utarē prabhu dala sahita subēlā..
kārunīka dinakara kula kētū. dūta paṭhāyau tava hita hētū.. [6-36-1]
sabhā mājha jēhiṃ tava bala mathā. kari barūtha mahu mṛgapati jathā..
aṃgada hanumata anucara jākē. rana bāomkurē bīra ati bāomkē.. [6-36-2]
tēhi kahaom piya puni puni nara kahahū. mudhā māna mamatā mada bahahū..
ahaha kaṃta kṛta rāma birōdhā. kāla bibasa mana upaja na bōdhā.. [6-36-3]
kāla daṃḍa gahi kāhu na mārā. harai dharma bala buddhi bicārā..
nikaṭa kāla jēhi āvata sāīṃ. tēhi bhrama hōi tumhārihi nāīṃ.. [6-36-4]

“He who had the ocean bridged as a mere pastime and has encamped with His host on Mount Suvela, the same merciful Lord, the glory of the solar race, sent to you in your own interest an ambassador who, like a lion in the midst of a herd of elephants trampled on your might in open court. Nay, He has for His servants most formidable warriors like Aṅgada and Hanumān, who are so dauntless in battle; and still, my beloved lord, you speak of Him again and again as a mortal ! In vain do you carry on your head the burden of pride, attachment and arrogance. Ah, my lord, you have turned hostile to Śrī Rāma and, overtaken as you are by death, the light of wisdom does not dawn on your mind. Death does not smite anyone with uplifted rod; he simply robs the victim of his piety, strength, reason and judgment. He alone whom death has approached very near falls a prey to delusion like you.”

Dohas

dui suta marē dahēu pura ajahu pūra piya dēhu.
kṛpāsiṃdhu raghunātha bhaji nātha bimala jasu lēhu..37.. [6-37]

“Two of your sons have been slain and your capital has been burnt down; retrace your step even now, my beloved. Adore the All-merciful Lord of the Raghus, my husband, and win unsullied fame thereby.”

Chaupais

nāri bacana suni bisikha samānā. sabhāom gayau uṭhi hōta bihānā..
baiṭha jāi siṃghāsana phūlī. ati abhimāna trāsa saba bhūlī.. [6-37-1]
ihāom rāma aṃgadahi bōlāvā. āi carana paṃkaja siru nāvā..
ati ādara sapīpa baiṭhārī. bōlē bihaomsi kṛpāla kharārī.. [6-37-2]
bālitanaya kautuka ati mōhī. tāta satya kahu pūchau tōhī…
rāvanu jātudhāna kula ṭīkā. bhuja bala atula jāsu jaga līkā.. [6-37-3]
tāsu mukuṭa tumha cāri calāē. kahahu tāta kavanī bidhi pāē..
sunu sarbagya pranata sukhakārī. mukuṭa na hōhiṃ bhūpa guna cārī.. [6-37-4]
sāma dāna aru daṃḍa bibhēdā. nṛpa ura basahiṃ nātha kaha bēdā..
nīti dharma kē carana suhāē. asa jiyaom jāni nātha pahiṃ āē.. [6-37-5]

Hearing the words of his consort (Mandodarī), which were piercing like a shaft, he rose and left for his council-chamber as soon as the day broke. Forgetting all his fears he went and occupied his throne bloated with excess of pride. At this end Śrī Rāma summoned Aṅgada, who came and bowed his head at the Lord’s lotus feet. The gracious Rāma (the slayer of Khara) most politely seated him by His side and smilingly said, “O son of Vāli, I have great curiosity in my mind; therefore, I ask you a question. Tell me the truth, dear child. Rāvaṇa is the head of the demon race; he is celebrated throughout the world for his incomparable might. It is rather strange that you tossed no less than four of his crowns to me; tell me, my son, by what device you were able to lay your hands on them?” “Listen, O omniscient lord, the delighter of the suppliant : they were no crowns but the four virtues (resources) of a king, viz., Sama (conciliation), Dana (gift), Daṇḍa (physical force or coercion) and Bheda (division), which abide in the heart of a king- so declare the Vedas, my lord. They are the beautiful pedestals of statesmanship: remembering this, they themselves came to my lord (who is a true repository of all statesmanlike virtues).”