Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/478

414 reckon the three spheres of creation as of no more account than a blade of grass. I have heard say, O Rávan, that the monkey chiefs number eighteen thousand billions; and in the whole of the army, my Iord, there is not a single monkey who would not conquer you in battle. They are all wringing their hands in excess of passion: Why does not Ráma give us some order, either to swallow the ocean with all its fish and serpents, or at least to fill it up with piles of trees and mighty mountains, and then crush Rávan and lay him low in the dust. This is the language that all the monkeys hold. Utterly devoid of fear, they shout and leap about as if they would make Lanká a mere mouthful.

"All the bears and monkeys are born warriors, and, moreover, they have the lord Rávan at their head. O Ráma, they could conquer in battle even Death himself, a myriad times over.

"A hundred thousand Seshnágs would fail to declare all Ráma's glory and power and wisdom. With a single shaft he could burn up a hundred seas, yet so prudent is he that he took advice of your brother and, on hearing his reply, went to the sea and humbly asked the favor of a passage." On hearing this, the Ten-headed smiled: "Truly he showed as much sense then as when he took monkeys for his allies. He has put faith in the words of that arrant coward, my brother, and like a spoiled child, begs of ocean what he will never get. Fool, you have been extolling a mere impostor: I have sounded the depth of my enemy's strength and skill. Where in the world could any one achieve the glory of a triumph, who had such a cowardly counsellor as Vibhíshan." The envoy waxed wrath at the wretch's speech, and thought it a good time to produce the letter. "Ráma's brother gave me this letter: have it read, my lord, and much good may it do you." Rávan smiled and took it with his left hand and told his minister, the wretch, to read it out.

"Fool, submit your soul to advice, and do not bring destruction upon all your race; you cannot escape from Ráma's displeasure, even though Vishnu, Brahma and Siva be your protectors. Abandon your pride, and, like your younger brother, fly like a bee to the lotus feet of the lord, or like a moth you will be consumed in your wickedness, you and all your family, by Ráma's arrows of fire."