The news had come that the invading army had reached the other side of the ocean. Ravan asked his war council for its advice. The advice of any council should be based on a proper and responsible examination of the facts. But here, the demons merely wanted to say what would be pleasing to Ravan. Hence, Goswami Tulasidas makes the profound observation: When a minister, a physician and a religious teacher use pleasing words from either fear or hope of reward, the result is that kingdom, health and faith are all destroyed. The ministers, too, laughed away the threat, praised Ravan, assured him that there was really nothing to fear.
Secretly, they were afraid. When a single monkey had been burning down the city, they were not able to stop him, but had been crying out in panic.
It was at this time that Vibhishan arrived. When he was asked his opinion, he answered that he would tender his opinion in the interest of his brother. He spoke with great humility. He pleaded that if one had a concern for one’s own welfare, good reputation, wisdom, good destiny after death – then one should not cast one’s eyes upon the wife of another. He said that lust, anger, vanity and covetousness were all paths that led to hell. Therefore, it was only reasonable and desirable that Ravan should give up all these and turn to the Lord Rama whom sages worshipped. He should restore Mother Sita to Lord Rama, who was all-merciful and compassionate and the reliever of the distress of all who came to him.
Vibhishan then said that their grandfather, the sage Pulastya, had sent that message to him through a disciple, and he had taken the opportune moment to convey the message to him. Vibishan was on the side of righteousness. And so spoke fearlessly. After his meeting with Sri Hanuman-ji, he was filled great strength and courage.
The highly respected Malyavan, who was the maternal grandfather of Ravan as well as the chief adviser to the king, reproached Ravan for his kidnapping Mother Sita and asked him to follow the good advice that was given by Vibhishan.
But, as was characteristic of Ravan, good advice was poison to him. He turned upon both his well-wishers virulently, and roared that they be removed from his presence. Malyavan returned to his home, but Vibhishan again tried to dissuade his brother from the disastrous path he had chosen. But to no avail. And though Vibhishan clasped Ravan’s feet, the latter kicked him away, saying that he had eaten his salt all those years and now had turned traitor by joining Sri Rama. No doubt, he recalled at that moment that while his golden city was burning, Vibhishan-ji’s house alone had remained safe and untouched by the fire.
Vibhishan pleaded again and again, but Ravan kicked him away. Now, here is another great wrong. Ravan is the elder brother, and the duty of the elder brother is to see to the welfare of the younger brother with the same care and concern as that of a father, and afford his protection. In short, he should be a father to Vibhishan. But it is the younger brother who is playing the role of a father in trying to guide him and give him sound advice and save him from hell. The Sanskrit for son is ‘putra’, literally, one who save (the father) from the hell called puta.
Lord Shiva, who is narrating the story to Mother Parvati, remarked that the behaviour of Vibhishan displayed the greatness of a saint, for he returned good for evil. He was the highest example of goodness and righteousness.
Showing disrespect to a holy man has dire consequences. Ravan had treated Vibhishan disrespectfully and he would immediately get the results of that action.
Finally, not being able to convince Ravan that his welfare lay in returning Mother Sita to Sri Rama whose shelter he should seek, Vibhishan left with his advisors. He rose up into the air and loudly declared that Lord was all truthful and all-powerful, but Ravan and his counsellors were all doomed. Therefore, was going to the Lord for protection.
Some who tell Rama-Katha look deeply into this act of rising into the air.
1. The courthouse was huge and he wanted everyone to hear. The most suitable place was to speak from above and through the air.
2. Ravan had banished him and so he no longer belonged to the city. He had no place there Therefore he rose up into the air. He would only set foot there when Lord would conquer the city.
3. The ground of Lanka was like quicksand to which the senses were stuck. If Vibhishan continued to stand on the soil of Lanka, he stood the risk of being trapped there again – which he did not want.
The ministers had supported Vibhishan and had been his friends. Therefore, he could not leave them behind to perish with the others. He himself was going to the Lord and he would also take the others to liberation.
As Vibhishan left, the length of life of all the demons was shortened, that is, they were at the door of death, they had reached the end of their lives.
VIBHISHAN CROSSES OVER TO THE LORD
In Gitavalli, it is said that before he left Lanka, Vibhishan met his mother and then Kuber. He also met Lord Shiva who advised him to go to the Lord immediately as there was no such thing as an inauspicious moment when setting out to the Lord.
Vibhishan flew over the ocean to the Lord on the other side. All the while, he thought expectantly of his meeting with the Lord. His heart and mind were concentrated on the thought of the Lord. It was really an intense meditation on the feet of the Lord.
‘On reaching there I will behold those lotus-feet with ruddy soles, so soft and so delightful to the devotees.’ He contemplated on those feet whose very touch redeemed Ahalya who had been turned into a stone. He reflected on those feet that walked through the Dandaka Forest and sanctified it. He meditated on those feet that Mother Sita has locked in her heart. He recalled the when the illusive golden deer appeared before Mother Sita and those feet of the Lord chased after it through the forest. Oh, those hallowed feet dwell as a pair of lotuses in the lake of Shiva’s heart. Vibhishan felt truly blessed that he was going to see those very feet from which Bharat-ji had taken the wooden sandals, and upon which his mind remained ever absorbed.
When the monkeys saw Vibhishan approaching, they took him for some special messenger of the enemy. They detained him, and gave the news to Sugriva, who, in turn, took the news to Lord. When Lord heard the news, he was greatly pleased. He had been waiting for him ever since Sri Hanuman-ji had told him about him.
When Lord heard everything, he asked, ‘What do you think of the matter, my friend?’ Sugriva answered that it was difficult to understand the demons. It was therefore difficult to say what his motive was in coming. More likely than not, he had come as a spy to learn their secret. He should therefore be held as a prisoner.
Lord said that what he had said was wise. ‘But,’ said Lord, ‘my vow is to dispel all fears from the mind of those who seek refuge in me.’ Sri Hanuman-ji rejoiced to hear these words of the Lord as he had the love of a parent and a teacher towards Vibhishan. Lord said that he would not abandon the worst sinner if he sought refuge in him. All his sins, committed over millions of births, would be washed away. If Vibhishan had a wicked heart, he would not have been able to approach him. He alone who has a pure mind can attain Lord.
Lord continued: ‘Even if Ravan has sent him to find out our secrets, we have nothing to fear or lose, O lord of the monkeys. Lakshman-ji can dispose of all the demons in a moment. And if he has sought shelter with me out of fear, I will cherish him as my own life.’
It is the decree of the Lord, as it were, that even if the most vile of sinners came to him, he would afford him shelter. We are duty-bound to give shelter to anyone who comes to us for refuge. And Lord considers him a vile being who refuses to do this.
Is there a qualification that one must have that will make one eligible to obtain shelter from the Lord? Anyone who gets no help from any quarter, is weak and needs support, who realises his helplessness, is eligible. When one has no knowledge or devotion, does not know what his dharma is and does not know how to act correctly – such a person is eligible. When he realises that the Lord is the only haven, then he is fit to obtain saranagati at the lotus feet of the Lord.
Sri Ramakrshna says that Lord hears the footfalls of the ant. Surely, he will hear the beat of our yearning hearts.
Vedanta for Self-development 
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