Angada Delivers Rama's Message to Ravana

Rama's army had arrived at the shores of Lanka. The city itself was a fortress — seven moats filled with deep water and crawling with fish and crocodiles, walls reinforced with stakes of khadira wood, turrets bristling with catapults and watchtowers. The soldiers carried pots of venomous snakes and resin powder. They were armed with clubs, firebrands, iron spikes, spears, swords, and axes. Every gate was guarded by mobile and stationary posts. Ravana had fortified Lanka according to the sacred texts, and it seemed unassailable. Rama chose his messenger carefully. Angada was the son of Vali, the former king of the monkeys — young, strong, and eloquent. He was sent to the city gate. Angada made himself known and entered Lanka fearlessly. He walked through the streets surrounded by crores of rakshasas, his form blazing like the sun surrounded by garlands of clouds. He approached Poulastya — Ravana — seated in the midst of his advisers, and delivered Rama's message. "O king! The immensely famous Indra of Kosala, Raghava, has sent you words that are appropriate to the occasion. Listen to them and act accordingly. Countries and cities that obtain kings who are unrefined in their souls and are the performers of injurious acts, are themselves injured and destroyed. You alone are guilty of forcibly abducting Sita. But this will lead to the destruction of others who are innocent. Intoxicated by strength and insolence, you have earlier injured many rishis who lived in the forest and have insulted the gods. You have killed rajarshis and abducted their weeping wives. The time has now come for the fruits of your evil deeds to be reaped. I will kill you, together with your advisers. Be a man on the field of battle. O stalker of the night! Though I am a mere human, you will witness the valour of my bow. Free Sita Janaki. If you do not release her, with my sharp arrows, I will rid the world of all rakshasas." Ravana heard the harsh words. He could not tolerate them. He became senseless with rage.