Aṅgada’s Embassy to Laṅkā

Before the battle began at Laṅkā, Rāma sent Aṅgada, son of Vāli and crown prince of Kishkindhā, to Rāvaṇa as a dūta (royal messenger) with a last offer of peace. The Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa tells this embassy in detail. Aṅgada spoke boldly to Rāvaṇa, stood against an attack by the rākshasa soldiers, seized Rāvaṇa himself, and came back to Rāma. The account is in the Sāra Khaṇḍa, Sarga 10.

Before the embassy

Rāma and his army were now on Suvela mountain. First Rāma showed his power by shooting an arrow from the mountain that knocked all ten crowns off Rāvaṇa’s heads at once.

Rāma then sent the dūta Śuka back to Rāvaṇa with an offer of peace. Śuka was Rāvaṇa’s own spy, who had been caught. Śuka gave the message: “Give Sītā back, give the kingdom of Laṅkā to Vibhīshaṇa, and take refuge in Rāma.” Rāvaṇa threw this out with scorn.

Sugrīva could not hold himself back. On his own, he flew to Laṅkā, landed at Rāvaṇa’s palace, and challenged Rāvaṇa to fight with bare hands. The two wrestled in bāhu-yuddha (fighting with the arms). Rāvaṇa was badly beaten and ran inside. Sugrīva came back with Rāvaṇa’s crown and gave it to Rāma. Rāma embraced Sugrīva, but gently told him off for taking such risks without leave.

Rāma then decided to send Aṅgada as the formal messenger with a last message of peace.

Aṅgada’s warning

Aṅgada came to Rāvaṇa’s court in Laṅkā without fear. He made a seat of his own tail and sat on it. From this seat he gave Rāvaṇa a sharp and cutting speech:

“Rāvaṇa, I tell you this for your own good. Give Sītā back to Rāma at once, with honour and wealth. Know that Rāma is Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa himself. Give up your enmity. Do this so that your family line may live.”

Rāvaṇa did not answer and showed scorn. Aṅgada pressed him further:

“Do you not know your own history of defeats? Were you not beaten and held under Vāli’s armpit while he swam through the four oceans? Was not your face beaten by the sons of Kārtavīryārjuna? Did not Bhagavān Śiva’s big toe press Kailāsa down on you until you screamed like a thief tied to a post? Did not the women of Śveta-dvīpa toss you about like a ball? Do you still speak of your bravery?”

These words struck Rāvaṇa like arrows. He ordered his rākshasas to seize Aṅgada and attack him.

The fight

The rākshasas swarmed round Aṅgada with weapons. Aṅgada beat them with blows of his tail alone.

Then Aṅgada, with great daring, seized Rāvaṇa himself. He caught his feet and hands with his tail and dragged him from his throne. He struck Rāvaṇa’s face with his hands. Then Aṅgada took hold of one of Rāvaṇa’s palace buildings, jumped away with it on his head, and flew back to Rāma on the mountain.

The palace on his head

Aṅgada reached Suvela mountain with a palace building on his head. Rāma was startled, and said gently: “Child Aṅgada, I have already given this kingdom of Laṅkā to Vibhīshaṇa. I cannot touch it.”

Aṅgada saw that he had taken the palace, and was surprised to find it there. He offered to take it back and put it in its place just as he had found it. With Rāma’s leave he flew back to Laṅkā, set the palace in its first position, and returned to report.

During the first meeting he had also taken Rāvaṇa’s crown. Rāma gave the crown to Aṅgada himself, as a mark of honour for his great courage.

Sources

• Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Sāra Khaṇḍa, Sarga 10