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As soon as Vibhishan left to seek refuge of Lord Ram, two of Ravan’s spies took the form of monkeys in Lord Ram’s army to find out all the secrets. When they witnessed Lord Ram’s virtues and his fondness for those who came to him for protection, they praised him in their hearts. In the intensity of their emotion and love for Lord Ram, they forgot their disguise and revealed their true demon forms.
The monkeys recognised them as the enemy’s spies and caught them. At that moment, Sugriv arrived and was told about the spies. Sugriv ordered the army to kill the spies and the monkeys and apes began to beat the spies up. As they proceeded to cut the nose and ears of the spies, the demons said,
Jo hamāra hara nāsā kānā, tehi kosalādhīsa kai ānā.
“We adjure him by Shri Ram, whoever robs us of our nose and ears.”
Laxmanji heard this and asked the monkeys to bring the spies to him. Laxmanji asked, “Who are you both?”
The demons replied, “We are Ravan’s envoys.”
Laxmanji asked, “Did you find out anything?”
They replied, “No”.
“So what are your plans now? Do you want to live or die?”
“Live, sir”.
“Then become my messenger, go back to Ravan and give him this letter.”
“Yes, sire”.
The messengers reached Lanka and met Ravan in his court. They bowed to him and Ravan invited them saying, “Have you got the secrets I asked you to find out? What did my brother Vibhishan do on reaching there? How much army does the ascetic have? Who is the mightiest warrior in his army?”
Even then, the messengers stood quietly. Ravan asked them again to speak up.
The messengers said, “Sire, listen to us with as much love as you have asked your questions. Only then will we reveal what we have found out.”
Ravan said, “Tell me, where did my brother go and what happened?”
The messengers said, “As soon as your brother reached there, Lord Ram anointed him the King of Lanka that you currently rule.”
“How is that possible, I am still alive.”
“You may think yourself alive but who thinks the same on the enemy’s side?”
“Quiet! Tell me how big the ascetic’s army is!”
“Sire, although we tried we were unable to count. There are millions of monkeys and apes.”
“Monkeys are food for demons, aren’t they?” said Ravan as he looked and everyone in the court room agreed with him.
The messengers thought “let them come, then you will know. How do you explain to this evil person that look what one monkey did? So what will happen when the rest of the monkeys arrive?”
Ravan said, “OK, now tell me, who’s the mightiest warrior in that army?”
“We don’t know that but we definitely know who the weakest is. The one who came here is the weakest. “Then, the messengers started praising Lord Ram, explaining his virtues and said to Ravan, “Look at your ego and look at Lord Ram’s simplicity. Lord Ram is performing a fast to please the ocean deity.”
Ravan angrily said, “You are my spies but are praising my enemies, I will sack you!”
The messengers then gave Ravan Laxmanji’s letter. Ravan insultingly took it with his left hand, gave it to the old minister Malyavant, and ordered him to read it. Malyavant read it himself first and put it aside. Ravan ordered again and one minister said that Malyavant is old and his eyes are weak, hence he cannot read properly. Malyavant knew that if he read the letter out loud, Ravan would beat him as in the letter Laxmanji has written to Ravan, “I am your death!”
The messengers then left. They had become demons due to a curse and were now free from the curse after performing Lord Ram’s service.
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