Angad, the Envoy

Before the war, Ram opened the path of peace one last time. He sent Bali's son Angad as his envoy. The message was simple: return Sita and there will be no war.

Angad reached Ravan's court. Ravan mocked him: you are Bali's son, whom Ram killed, and yet you are his messenger? Calmly Angad replied: I stand with dharma. If you want your own good, come and take refuge in Ram.

Here comes the Ramcharitmanas' most famous scene. Angad planted his foot on the floor of the court and said: if any of your warriors can move my foot, Ram will turn back and I will lose Sita to you. One by one great warriors came and strained with all their might, but the foot did not budge an inch.

At last Ravan himself rose. As he bent to grab Angad's foot, Angad drew it back and said: holding my feet will not save you. If you must hold someone's feet, hold Ram's. Embarrassed, Ravan went back to his throne.

In the Valmiki Ramayan, Angad delivers the message, leaps onto the palace roof, breaks off its top, and returns. Either way the point is the same: Ravan refused even the last chance for peace. Now war was unavoidable.