December 2 - Reading and writing on the go - Sargas 14 and 15 of Yuddha Kanda.
***
In striking contrast to the sabre-rattling and panegyric that filled Ravana's court, Vibhishana speaks up.
चिन्ताविषः सुस्मिततीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रः ।
पञ्चाङ्गुली पञ्चशिरोतिकायः
सीतामहाहिस्तव केन राजन् ॥
"Oh king, who indeed has strangled you with the mighty serpent called Sita? Her tender persona is the body of this serpent. Her smiling face hides deadly fangs. Her thoughts that fill your mind are its fatal poison. Her five fingers on each hand are the serpent hoods. This is indeed the greatest evil befalling you."
प्रदीयतां दाशरथाय मैथिलीम् "Please let Sita be handed over at once to Dasharathi Rama, before the mighty vanaras descend and destroy Lanka, before Rama's fierce arrows tear into our warriors' hearts."
"None of these warriors, Kumbhakarna, Indrajit, and so on, can withstand a battle with Rama. Even if you are protected by Surya, Indra, Vayu, Yama or hidden away in some secret place, you cannot survive Rama's arrows."
Prahasta rejects Vibhishana's alarmist talk about the unconquerable Rama. He says what fear should they have who don't have any danger even from gods, demons, celestials, and any other extraordinary beings?
ब्रवीत रामं प्रति तन्न शक्यं यथा गतिः स्वर्गमधर्मबुद्धेः
Vibhishna is in a lone camp, but responds:
"Oh Prahasta, and others here, who boast that you will flatten Rama and his army, know that to face Rama is as impossible for you as it is for a sinner to attain heaven."
अर्थविशारदस्य धर्मप्रधानस्य महारथस्य
"How you all underestimate Rama! Rama who is supreme in achieving whatever he wants, who places righteousness above everything, and who is a most glorious warrior!"
Vibhishana is candid and caustic. He says Ravana is a slave to lower passions and has surrounded himself with advisors who will drive him to destruction. As far as Vibhishana can see clearly, Ravana and the entire city of Lanka are doomed to destruction unless Ravana makes quick amends.
***
बृहस्पतेर्तुल्यमतेर्वचः - "Vibhishana's words were so full of wisdom, comparable to the higher intellect of Brihaspati, the teacher of gods. But it elicited this response from Prince Indrajit:
किं नाम ते तात कनिष्ठवाक्य-
मनर्थकं वै बहुभीतवच्च ।
अस्मिन् कुले कोऽपि भवेन्न जातः
सोऽपीदृशं नैव वदेन्नकुर्यात् ॥
"Oh Uncle Vibhishana! What lowly words are you speaking, meaningless and occasioned by great cowardice and fear! No one born in this family would ever speak such words or act like you!"
Indrajit now addressed the king. "Oh, Father, there is only one such pitiable, weak, cowardly person in our family - it is this Uncle Vibhishana.
" Who would fear two human brothers that even an ordinary rakshasa can kill? I have defeated Indra himself, broken the tusks of his celestial elephant Airavata who then reeled and fell to earth. I have defeated all the gods. What difficulty would I face in killing those two humans?"
Vibhishana responded to Indrajit with equanimity and firmness:
न तात मन्त्रे तव निश्चयोऽस्ति
बालस्त्वमद्याप्यविपक्वबुद्धिः ।
तस्मात् त्वयाप्यात्मविनाशनाय
वचोऽर्थहीनं बहु विप्रलापम् ॥
"Oh, dear, you are unable to think through the matter and its resolution. After all, you are a child and are immature in intellect. That is why you are driven to self-destruction, and are uttering words which are meaningless and somewhat of a verbal diarrhoea."
Vibhishana says that Indrajit's advice befits a foe rather than a friend of Ravana. This can only be due to delusions of grandeur. In fact, Vibhishana goes to the extent of alleging that only one who wished Ravana ill would have admitted such an immature boy into the council of advisors. That one deserves death punishment!
"Indrajit, let alone wisdom, courtesy and humility have not even entered your being."
Vibhishana concludes: "Sri Rama's infallible arrows will come like Brahmadandas and Yamadandas. Who can withstand them? So, oh King! Let us return Sita to Rama along with a bounty of wealth, gems, and ornaments. Then we can be rid of fear and anxiety and live peacefully in Lanka."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
