December 3 - Sarga 16 of Yuddha Kanda.
Ravana condemns Vibhishana, imputing disloyalty, betrayal, and enmity in the guise of friendship, and a lack of trustworthiness associated from time memorial with sibling rivalry.
Vibhishana cannot take it. A man of spirit, he flies up into the sky with four associates, saying goodbye to Ravana.
***
Having heard all the rakshasa chiefs, from Prahasta to Kumbhakarana to Mahaparshva, Vibhishana, and Indrajit, Ravana makes it clear that the advice from Vibhishana is most distasteful. He accuses him of duplicity, betrayal, and evil.
The genius of Valmiki shines bright as he puts into Ravana's speech high poetry.
वसेत् सह सपत्नेन क्रुद्धेनाशीविषेण च ।
न तु मित्रप्रवादेन संवसेत्च्छत्रुसेविना ॥
"Oh Vibhishana, one can live even with enemies and in the vicinity of poisonous snakes, but one should not have the company of those who pretend to be friends and actually serve one's enemy."
Ravana goes on: "Oh rakshasa, I have known well the nature of one's siblings. They always celebrate the distress and downfall of their relatives. Even a king who has won by merit his laurels, is running his kingdom well, who is learned yet humble, brave - even such a king suffers from relatives who defame him, insult him and try to pull him down. They always exult when the relative suffers. They are like assassins. They hide their real intent and poison, set fire, and loot at the first opportunity. So while we have no fear of fire or weapons or traps, we are afraid of relatives. They are always the seditionists and betrayers. "
विद्यते गोषु सम्पन्नं विद्यते ज्ञातितो भयम् ।
विद्यते स्त्रीषु चापल्यं विद्यते ब्राह्मणे तपः ॥
"Just as cows always have riches of milk, women are inconstant and fickle, Brahmins are austere, relatives are full of the danger of betrayal."
ततो नेष्टमिदं सौम्य यदहं लोकसत्कृतः ।
ऐश्वर्यमभिजातश्च रिपूणां मूर्ध्नि च स्थितः ॥
"That is why, oh gentle Vibhishana (height of sarcasm here), you cannot tolerate my glory - the whole world regards me, I am full of riches and pomp, and have my foot firmly trampling on my enemies' heads."
Ravana now gives analogies galore - "Just as water never sticks to a lotus leaf, goodness never stays with an unworthy man. It is just as the wintry clouds gather and make much noise but never contain rain. Just as the honeybee flits from flower to flower but never stays back, an unworthy person enjoys the benefits without having any real affection. Just as an elephant pours mud on himself soon after a fine bath, goodness is lost by an unworthy person quickly. "
रसमत्र न विन्देत तथानार्येषु सौहृदम् - "There is no value in the friendship of an unworthy man."
योऽन्यस्त्वेवं विधं ब्रूयाद् वाक्यमेतन्निशाचर ।
अस्मिन् मुहूर्ते न भवेत् त्वां तु धिक् कुलपांसन ॥
" You despicable betrayer of family, fie upon you! Damn you! You rakshasa! If it had been anyone else who spoke like this instead of you, he would have been slain at that very moment on my order. "
***
These words, a mere summary of all that Ravana said eloquently, ground Vibhishana's self-esteem under the heel even though Vibhishana had spoken only words adducing to welfare.
Vibhishana was deeply, deeply, hurt and angry. He at once rose up into the sky holding his gada, followed by four of his confidant rakshasas. He spoke to Ravana in no uncertain terms - "Oh King, your mind is befuddled and you are now in delusion. You have abandoned Dharma. Therefore you may say anything, and despite your being my elder brother, I cannot withstand your accusations. "
सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् सततं प्रियवादिनः ।
अप्रियस्य च पथ्यस्य वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥
"Oh king! It is easy to surround yourself with aye-sayers, sycophants who speak always what pleases you. But it is indeed very rare to find anyone who speaks what is unpleasant but is right for your welfare (like a bitter medicine) and it is even rarer to find anyone who heeds such advice."
(This is a very famous shloka.)
"Fate that annihilates all beings is now binding you, much like fire approaching to burn down your home. I would not ignore this danger. That is why I spoke as I did. The deadly arrows of Rama are soon coming to destroy you, which I could not ignore. That is why I reasoned with you. But alas, even the bravest and most powerful ones under the force of Fate are washed away like a wall built of sand.
"Oh King of rakshasas, I mean well for you. If you find it unpalatable please forgive me. You are my elder brother. Please protect yourself and the city of rakshasas, Lanka. May good befall you. I am leaving you. Be happy in my absence."
निवार्यमाणस्य मया हितैषिणा
न रोचते ते वचनं निशाचर ।
परान्तकाले हि गतायुषो नरा
हितं न गृह्णन्ति सुहृद्भिरीरितम् ॥
"For one destined to die, my words as a wellwisher do not appeal to you, oh rakshasa! When death is imminent, those whose longevity is exhausted do not comprehend at all what is good for them even when it is spoken by their dear ones."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
