Lanka Kaanda
169 - Angada's departure for Lanka and dialogue between Angada and Ravana in the latter's court
Chaupais
Description
Bravo for a monkey, who dances unabashed in the service of its master anywhere and everywhere. Dancing and skipping about to amuse the people it serves the interest of its master; this shows its keen devotion to duty. Angada, all of your race are devoted to their lord; how could you, then, fail to extol the virtues of your master in the way you have done? I am a respecter of merit and too magnanimous to pay any attention to your scurrilously glib talk." Said Angada: "The son of the wind-god gave me a true account of your partiality to merit. He laid waste your garden, killed your son and set fire to your city and yet (in your eyes) he did you no wrong. Remembering such amiability of your disposition I have been so insolent in my behaviour with you, O Ravana. On coming here I have witnessed all that Hanuman told me, viz., that you have no shame, no anger and no feeling of resentment." "It is because you possess such a mentality that you have proved to be the death of your own father." Uttering these words Ravana burst into a laughter. "Having been the death of my father I would have next claimed you as my victim; but a thought has come to me just now. Knowing you to be a living memorial of Vali's unsullied fame, I desist from killing you, O vile boaster. Tell me, Ravana, how many Ravanas there are in the world? Or hear from me how many I have heard of. One went to the nether world (Patala) to conquer Bali and was tied up in the stables by the children, who made sport of him and thrashed him till Bali took compassion on him and had him released. Another again was discovered by King Sahasrabahu, who ran and captured him as a strange creature and brought him home for the sake of fun. The sage Pulastya then went and secured his release."