November 29 - Sargas 7, 8 and 9 of Yuddha Kanda.
The rakshasa counsellors speak with surety and confidence of their success against Sri Rama and the vanara army. The lone voice of Vibhishana advises Ravana to return Sita to Sri Rama.
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ऊचुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे रावणं राक्षसेश्वरं
द्विषत्पक्षमविज्ञाय नीतिबाह्यास्तवबुद्धयः
"Thus questioned by their king Ravana, the rakshasas respectfully submitted their confidence of winning in battle, unaware of the true might of Sri Rama's army, and equally unacquainted with righteousness and wisdom."
"Oh king, when we are well equipped with parigha (the missile machine), yushti, pattisha and bhallas, with our vast rakshasa army, for what reason do you express misgivings?"
"Ravana, you went to Bhogavati and vanquished nagas. You defeated Kubera who was surrounded by lakhs of yakshas in Kailasa peak. You conquered Kubera despite his closeness to Lord Shiva, and captured his Pushpaka Vimana."
"The asura Mayaa was so afraid of you that he forged an alliance and gave his daughter Mandodari in marriage to you. You have captured in battle your brother-in-law Madhu wedded to your sister Kumbheenasi and burst his pride bubble. You conquered mighty nagas like Vasuki, Takshaka, and Shankha in Rasatala. A year-long battle with the danavas, reputed to be unconquerable, was won by you. You secured several magical powers from them. You defeated Varuna's children and their four-fold forces. You raided the Yamaloka ocean full of deadly creatures and destroyed Yama's immense army and even won the praise of all there by your prowess. This earth was once full of great warriors (whom you have eliminated). Rama cannot be compared to them. It is therefore easy for you to defeat Rama."
"In fact, oh King Ravana, you don't do anything. Your son, Prince Indrajit, will by himself defeat the vanaras. He has extracted incomparable powers as boons from Lord Shiva after yajnas. Indrajit defeated Indra's oceanic forces comprehensively and brought Indra as a prisoner to Lanka. Only as a favour to Brahma did he release Indra. Therefore just send Indrajit. He will destroy the enemy before they arrive here. Thus it is absolutely not appropriate for you to fear any attack by these mere humans and simians. Forget your misgivings, you are bound to kill Rama."
Then individual warrior heroes like Prahasta, Durmukha, Vajradamshtra, Nikumbha, Vajraha, all come forward to take on the enemy and win the war. They say that they had been taken simply by surprise by Hanuman's incursion and now this enemy advancement. Vajradamshtra, lifting up his blood and flesh -coated parigha, says that he would attend to the so-called heroes Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva, and pay no attention to the trivial Hanuman. Or, he suggests, let a thousand rakshasas assume the form of humans and infiltrate Rama's army. Let them instigate a premature attack on Lanka. Vajradamshtra says then the rakshasa force of Lanka will aerially attack the enemy and decimate it.
Nikumbha and Vajraha similarly volunteer to destroy the enemy singly. Let, in fact, all others here in the court get drunk and make merry.
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Vibhishana spoke after all these rakshasa heroes repeatedly offered to go and destroy the enemy easily.
These heroes raised their deadly weapons and raised their war cries. He asked all of them to hold their fire and sit down. Then he spoke:
"Don't underestimate Rama. He is extremely powerful, wise and has conquered his mind and its emotions. Who ever expected that Hanuman will cross the big ocean and wreak havoc in Lanka? The vanara army is huge. It is fatal always to underestimate an enemy without knowing him.
किं च राक्षसराजस्य रामेणापकृतं पुरा ।
अजहार जनस्थानाद् यस्य भार्यां यशस्विनः ॥
"What wrong had been done by Rama in the past towards the king of rakshasas in Janasthana, and why did our king abduct his wife from there? Rama killed Khara no doubt, but that was when Khara attacked Rama with his army and tried to kill him. It is only the right of every being to defend himself. If that was Ravana's reason for abducting Sita, its purpose is over. Let her be restored to her husband.
न तु क्षमं वीर्यवता तेन धर्मानुवर्तिना ।
वैरं निरर्थकं कर्तुं दीयतामस्य मैथिली ॥
"It is not proper to cultivate enmity with Rama who follows the righteous path and is also valiant. Therefore his wife Maithili Sita should be handed over to him. Let it be done before Rama razes Lanka down with its soldiers, chariots, elephants, and horses. Before the mighty and unconquerable vanara army attacks and wins over Lanka. If we don't return Sita, this glorious city of Lanka and its heroic rakshasas will all be destroyed."
"You are my elder brother, and, out of respect, I want to bring delight to you. Hence my advice for your own good. Let us restore Sita to the prince Rama before he rains down arrows that shine like the wintry sun and have sharp ends and feathered tails hit targets.with infallible ability."
त्यजाशु कोपं सुखधर्मनाशनम् - "Oh dear brother Ravana, please give up at once this anger for it destroys well-being and righteousness."
Ravana heard Vibhishana, and adjourned the assembly and went away to his inner chambers.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
