Angada, the valiant Vanara prince, was dispatched by Rama as an emissary to the court of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. With a mission to demand the return of Sita, Angada confidently entered Ravana's opulent palace. To assert his dominance, Angada grew in size until his head touched the ceiling, a sight that sent the guards scurrying in fear.
Inside the grand hall, Angada's eyes fell upon Ravana, who
was seated on a lofty throne atop a high pedestal. To match Ravana's imposing
stature, Angada coiled his mighty tail into a towering pillar and sat upon it,
elevating himself to an even greater height. The court was filled with awe and
trepidation at the sight of Angada's formidable presence.
Ravana, known for his mastery of illusions, decided to play
a trick on Angada. He conjured numerous replicas of himself, filling the court
with identical Ravanas. Everywhere Angada looked, he saw the demon king, making
it difficult to discern the real Ravana from the illusions.
However, Angada remained undeterred. His keen eyes scanned
the hall until they settled on Indrajit, Ravana's son, who was sitting quietly
among the commotion. Seizing the moment, Angada addressed Indrajit with sharp
words, designed to pierce through the veil of deception.
"Tell me truly, who is your father?" Angada began,
his voice echoing through the hall. "Who is that for whom you bound Indra?
Your mother is known to be a pious woman; how can she have so many husbands?
Who is the Ravana who was defeated by Kartavirya Arjuna? Who is the Ravana who
suffered defeat at the hands of Mandhata? Who is the Ravana whose sister was
captured by the rakshasa Madhu? And who is the Ravana who was bound by my
father, Vali?"
Angada's pointed questions struck a nerve. Ravana, unable to
maintain his composure, felt his illusion unravel. The multiple images of
Ravana began to waver and then vanished, leaving only the true Ravana, seething
with anger and frustration.
Angada's bravery and sharp wit had not only exposed Ravana's
trickery but also humiliated him in his own court. The Vanara prince's mission
was clear: to deliver Rama's message and demonstrate that even in the heart of
Lanka, truth and righteousness could not be overshadowed by deceit.
This story is found in the Bengali Krittibasi Ramayana.