|| Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram ||

 

Chapter – 8 – Lanka Kandam

Devi Mandodhari’s advice to Ravana/Angadha’s conversation with Prabhu Sri Ram

Lord Mahadeva speaks “Oh! Uma, Lord Rama is the Lord of the Universe/Jagathpathi, he resides as a soul in living beings, is it possible for a Jeeva to live peacefully without devotion to him? Oh! Uma, this Universe undergoes transformation, creation, and destruction, at the movement of his eyebrows, he could transform grass into Vajrayudha, and Vajrayudha into the grass, it was the reason the challenge of Angadha did not go waste. Angadha put all efforts to save the life of Ravana, advised him to withdraw from enmity towards Ramachandra was fallen into deaf ears. In this way, he crushed the pride of the enemy of Ramachandra, and described the splendor of Prabhu, and prepared to leave “Oh! Dhashanan, you will meet your death in the battlefield after facing several hardships” and left the Kingdom of Lanka. Soon the warriors brought the news of the death of Prahastha in the hands of Angadha. Ravana could not control his grief of the death of his younger son Prahastha, all the demons horrified watching the prowess of Angadha.

 

Angadha returned to Rama, with tears overflowing fallen at the feet of Sri Ramachandra. It was early evening, Ravana became restless and returned to the palace, Devi Mandhodhari approached her husband and requested “Oh! Prabho, kindly leave your wickedness. The battle with Raghupathi will not bring any good to you, his brother draw a line before Devi Sita even that was impossible to cross for you, must have understood your prowess after that incident. The emissaries of Rama destroyed the city of Lanka and killed Akshakumra and Prahastha, do you think you can win over their Master? That Vanara crossed the vast ocean like amusement and entered in your city. He killed the protectors of Vatika, destroyed the pleasure garden and killed our son Akshakumara, he set fire to your Kingdom, where was your prowess at that moment? Oh! Natha, leave your swollen pride, kindly listen to my words. Do not think Raghurama as an ordinary human, he is the Lord of all the living and non-living things. Mareecha realized the power of his Bana, but you did not listen to his advice, because he is from the lowly clan. You were present in the majestic assembly of Janaka with all other Kings, it was Rama who broken the Shivadhanuss and married to Devi Sita. Why didn’t you fight with Rama at that moment? He plucked one eye of the son of Lord Indra, his brother cut off the nose and ears of Shoorpanakha, after all these; you did not understand the prowess of Rama and Lakshmana?.”

 

Devi Mandodhari speaks “Oh! Dhashanan, Rama has killed Khara, Dhooshana, Thrishirass, Kabandha, and Viradha like amusement, and killed mighty Bali with the single shot of an arrow. He is the jewel of Surya clan, constructed a grand bridge across the vast ocean and settled on the Suvela Mountain, he is compassionate, he sends emissaries to advise you, even that emissaries crushed your pride like the lion crushed the herds of untamed elephants. He has extremely valorous Angadha and Hanuman as his warriors, Oh! Lord, still you are calling him as an ordinary human. You are swollen with Abhimana, Mamatha, Ahamkara, and Madha. Oh! Natha, you are opposing Rama and thereby pushing yourself into the mouth of death, you have lost intelligence, Kala will not punish Jeeva, he takes control of the Dharma, Strength, intellect, wisdom, and thought of the Jeeva. Your two sons were killed by Vanara, your kingdom was burned down, Oh! Natha, kindly leave your enmity with Prabhu Sri Ramachandra. Oh! Priya, kindly contemplates that Kripasindhu Lord Rama and attain fruitfulness of your life.” Devi Mandodhari's words were like sharp arrows to Ravana.

 

It was morning, Ravana arrived in the assembly with immense pride, took a seat on the throne fearlessly. Rama after finishing the morning rites called for Angadha, and asked him to take a seat near to him. Angadha reverentially prostrated before Prabhu and took a seat near to him. The Supreme Lord who is extremely compassionate began to speak with a smile “ Oh! Baliputhra, I have to ask you something, Oh! Son, tell me the truth, Ravana born in the demon clan, the entire world is praising his prowess; you have sent the four significant parts of his crown in the air to me, Oh! Son, how did you made it possible?” Angadha spoke with utmost humility “Oh! Prabho, Oh! Sarvajja, Oh! Bhakthavathsala, listen to me, it was not a significant part of his crown, it was the four virtues of a King, known as Samam, Dhanam, Bhedham, and Dhandam. The Veda eulogizes them as four virtues of the King, it is the leg of Neethi and Dharma, and all those took shelter at your lotus feet, which is the place of origin. Oh! Kosaladheesha, Dhashanan is void of virtues and Dharma, he has no faith or devotion at your lotus feet, and he is already on the edge of death. Therefore, all those Sama, Dhana, Bhedham, and Dhanda, took shelter in you.” Rama highly pleased listening to the highly intelligent words of Angadha, further, he described the splendor of the fortress of Lanka to Prabhu.