Golden Lanka Rises upon Trikuta
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 178
Sortha 178 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Brahma grants the boons, and the brothers return home in joy. Maya brings his daughter Mandodari, jewel among women, and gives her to Ravana, knowing he will become lord of the demons. Ravana receives the noble bride gladly, and the other brothers also marry.
In the middle of the ocean stands Trikuta, where Brahma created an almost unassailable fortress. Maya adorns it anew with countless palaces of gold and gems, lifting walls, halls, towers, and residences above the surrounding waters.
Bhogavati of the serpent race and Indra's Amaravati seem surpassed by its beauty and splendour. Across the worlds the ocean fortress becomes renowned as Lanka, a city brilliant enough to make coming tyranny appear clothed in wonder.
Golden Lanka rises from the ocean, beautiful enough to hide the shadow gathering within it.
Read the passage from the Manas
AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 178
Sea-surrounded Trikut mountain and Lanka, embellished by Maya with golden jewel mansions
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 181 · printed pages 179. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-178. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- All eight source parts retained: Brahma departs after granting boons and the brothers return home happy. Maya's beautiful daughter Mandodari is given to Ravana because he will become Rakshasa king. Ravana rejoices and ARRANGES his two brothers' marriages; the brothers are not stated to independently arrange them.
- Brahma created the single very imposing inaccessible Trikut MOUNTAIN in the middle of the sea; the verse does not specifically state Brahma created the golden fort. Maya the demon subsequently refurbishes/embellishes it with golden construction and countless jewel mansions; Maya is the architect's proper name, not illusion.
- Lanka exceeds Bhogavati, abode of the Naga clan, and Amaravati, Indra's abode. These are comparisons, not literal other cities or Indra/Nagas residing in Lanka.
Artistic choices
- New imagined Lanka site design: one mountain island, sea visible around its sides, three peak forms as a name-based Trikut convention, gold rooftops and pavilions across rocky terraces. Not an authenticated Sri Lanka map or measured landscape; finite buildings represent countless mansions.
- Strong golden walls consistent with adjacent D179; exact wall plan, gates, roof/terrace geometry, jewel-dot ornament, scale, vegetation, light, foreground shore viewpoint and mountain shape remain artistic choices. No people, creators, coronation, bridge or fleet. Foreground flowers belong to the viewer's imagined shore; island remains separated by visible water.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
तिन्हि देइ बर ब्रह्म सिधाए। हरषित ते अपने गृह आए।। मय तनुजा मंदोदरि नामा। परम सुंदरी नारि ललामा।। सोइ मयँ दीन्हि रावनहि आनी। होइहि जातुधानपति जानी।। हरषित भयउ नारि भलि पाई। पुनि दोउ बंधु बिआहेसि जाई।। गिरि त्रिकूट एक सिंधु मझारी। बिधि निर्मित दुर्गम अति भारी।। सोइ मय दानवँ बहुरि सँवारा। कनक रचित मनिभवन अपारा।। भोगावति जसि अहिकुल बासा। अमरावति जसि सक्रनिवासा।। तिन्ह तें अधिक रम्य अति बंका। जग बिख्यात नाम तेहि लंका।।
Having granted the boons, Brahma departed, and the brothers returned joyfully to their homes. Maya Danava's daughter, named Mandodari, was supremely beautiful, the jewel among women.