जय श्रीराम!
निविष्टमुदधेः कूले तं प्रपेदे विभीषणः ।
स्नेहाद्राक्षसलक्ष्म्येव बुद्धिमाविश्य चोदितः ॥१२.६८॥
Notes: Kālidāsa says, "While Śrīrāma was at the seashore, he was approached in surrender by Vibhīṣaṇa, (brother of Rāvaṇa), evidently befriended by the Goddess of Fortune wishing to redeem the Rākṣasas, who therefore gave him the good sense to surrender to Śrīrāma."
Kālidāsa says so much in such few words. He implies that Providence wished to save the Rākṣasas from total annihilation. She had, therefore, brought good sense to Vibhīṣaṇa to dissociate himself from the evil deeds of Rāvaṇa, despite Rāvaṇa being powerful and dangerous. Vibhīṣaṇa had, after due consideration, sought refuge in Śrīrāma, whom he knew to be immensely powerful and righteous, a better choice for a leader any day compared to the evil Rāvaṇa. We should recognise that, just now, Śrīrāma was in exile, and had only monkeys in his army, whereas, Rāvaṇa ruled from the impregnable golden Laṅkā.
At the same time, Kālidāsa emphasizes that Vibhīṣaṇa was not being selfish, but had the welfare of all Rākṣasas at heart. We should note that just being a Rākṣasa, a species after all, does not mean one is evil, although the dangers of falling into bad company are great. Therefore, one should always be mindful, and make wise choices!
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जय श्रीराम!
