Lanka Kaanda
169 - Angada's departure for Lanka and dialogue between Angada and Ravana in the latter's court
Chaupais
Description
When he thus inveighed against Sri Rama, the monkey chief grew furious with rage. For he who opens his ears to vituperation against Hari (Bhagavan Visnu) or Hara (Lord Siva) incurs as great a sin as he who kills a cow. Angada (the great monkey) gave a loud yell and furiously struck both his mighty arms against the ground. The earth shook and members of the assembly were thrown off their seats and took to flight, possessed as they were by the hobgoblin of fear. The ten-headed monster (Ravana) too was about to topple down but recovered himself and stood up. Yet his most beautiful crowns fell to the ground; some of them he took and set on his heads, while Angada sent the rest flying to the Lord. The monkeys fled when they saw the crowns coming. "Good heavens, how is it that meteors have begun to fall even during the daytime ? Or is it that Ravana in his fury has hurled four thunderbolts, which are coming with great speed ?" The Lord smiled and said, "Be not afraid at heart. They are neither meteors nor thunderbolts, nor even the planets Rahu and Ketu. They are the crowns of the ten-headed Ravana, despatched by Vali's son (Angada), that are coming this side."