Lanka Kaanda
165 - Mandodari expostulates with Ravana; dialogue between Ravana and Prahasta (his son)
Chaupais
Description
Thereupon Ravana lifted Maya's daughter (Mandodari) and the wretch began to harp on his own glory. "Listen, darling; you are haunted by idle fears. What warrior in this world is my equal? I have conquered by the might of my arm not only Varuna (the god presiding over the waters), Kubera (the god of riches), the wind-god, Yama (the god of punishment), and all the other regents of the quarters but Death himself. Gods, demons and human beings are all under my control; what is the cause of your fear, then?" He thus reassured her in many ways and once more went and sat in his council-chamber. Mandodari was now convinced at heart that it was her husband's impending death which had turned his head. Returning to his council-hall he asked his ministers: "How shall we proceed to fight the enemy?" "Listen, O lord of the demons," replied the ministers, "why do you ask this question again and again? What is there to be afraid of, which should engage our thought? Human beings, monkeys and bears are our food."