December 5 - Sarga 18 of Yuddha Kanda.
I decided to cover only one sarga today, as it holds a lot of lessons.
Let us pause and consider the situation. The supreme leader of rakshasas, ruthless, mighty, and unprincipled, who fears none in the three worlds, Ravana, has come and abducted Sita. Two brothers wandering in the forest have forged an alliance with vanaras. They have to now cross the ocean and fight a gruesome battle if at all they hope to win the war against Ravana.
At this juncture, surprisingly, Ravana's brother, Vibhishana, looking mighty himself, has arrived and seeks shelter. What Sugriva, Angada, et al, and finally Hanuman, have spoken is about whether they should harbour the enemy's brother in their camp. Their first anxiety is if it is not a foolhardy breach of security, allowing the enemy easy access to them. Where is the guarantee of safety? But Hanuman feels that Vibhishana is a safe ally to all appearances.
Did anyone say that this is their chance to find out Ravana's secrets, and use Vibhishana to gain a military advantage? No!
Now the discussion turns to what Sri Rama thinks of the matter.
***
With a cheerful and smiling countenance, Sri Rama heard Hanuman's words, and began, saying that he also had some thoughts on the matter that may please be considered.
मित्रभावेन सम्प्राप्तं न त्यजेयं कथञ्चन - "An offer of friendship from any man should never be rejected. This is the view of evolved ones, even if that man has defects. "
"The fact is that whereas we do not know if Vibhishana is good or bad, he has been discarded by his brother. Under what circumstances could this have come about?"
Sri Rama looked at Lakshmana with a smile, and continued.
अनधीत्य च शास्त्राणि वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च ।
न श्क्यमीदृशं वक्तुं यदुवाच हरीश्वरः ॥
"What the vanara king Sugriva has spoken, without studying scriptures or serving wise and elderly people, is something that should not be said."
"A fine point strikes me, something one can gather from studying the conduct of royals. Kings fear only two people - their neighbouring enemies and their own kin. They suspect among their kin anyone who speaks even for their own good, thinking of rivalry."
"Therefore, consider my opinion. Vibhishana is a learned man, and perhaps desirous of securing his kingdom. Even though he is Ravana's brother, he should be accepted. Indeed, Vibhishana and his team will be relieved and contented after joining us and therefore help in our cause. I also think there is some fissure of disagreement among the rakshasas in Lanka."
Hearing this, Sugriva could not keep quiet. He said, deferentially, "Oh Sri Rama, know for sure Vibhishana has been sent to us by Ravana alone! He should be imprisoned forthwith! If we simplistically trust him, he is capable of launching a surprise attack on you or Lakshmana. Better therefore we kill Vibhishana and his lieutenants."
Sri Rama paused, and then replied to Sugriva.
सदुष्टो वाप्यदुष्टो वा किमेष रजनीचरः ।
सूक्ष्ममप्यहितं कर्तुं मम शक्तः कथञ्चन ॥
पिशाचान् दानवान् यक्षान् पृथिव्यां चैव राक्षसान् ।
अङ्गुल्यग्रेण तान्हन्यामिच्छन्हरिगणैश्वर ॥
"Of King of vanaras, Sugriva, how does it matter if this rakshasa is wicked or not? How indeed do you think he can harm me even a little bit? Know for certain that if I so desire, I can, just with my little finger, annihilate pishachas (evil spirits), danavas, yakshas, and rakshasas from any part of the world."
Sri Rama narrates the age-old story of how a pigeon gave shelter and hospitality to a hunter who had come for food. The pigeon even gave his own flesh as food, knowing well the hunter had trapped his female partner. This is the ancient wisdom of responding to anyone in need. How could Sri Rama then ignore this ethical principle?
Kanva Muni's son, the glorious sage Kandu, had stated this ethical principle.
बद्धान्जलिपुटं दीनं याचन्तं शरणागतम् ।
न हन्यादानृशंस्यार्थमपि शत्रुं परन्तप ॥
"To rid this world of hate, if anyone comes with holded hands and bent head, miserable and helpless, seeking refuge, surrendered to us, we should not kill him, even if he is an enemy."
"I wanted to share this with you, Oh winner of foes, Sugriva!"
आर्तो वा यदि वा दृप्तः परेषां शरणं गतः ।
अरिः प्राणान् परित्यज्य रक्षितव्यः कृतात्मना ॥
"Whether he is grovelling and miserable, or even if he is proud, when an enemy comes in surrender, a great man would protect him, even at the risk to his own life."
"If in such a situation, one does not do right, to his best ability, towards the man come in surrender, owing to fear, or confusion, or vested interest, one would be committing a sin condemned throughout the world."
"If the man come in surrender languishes and is destroyed owing to lack of protection by one, the dying man will carry along with him all the stock of punya (merit of good deeds) of the one failing to do one's duty of giving protection. It is said that such a dereliction of duty towards the surrendered man will erase all merits, and any chance of going to higher worlds, and destroy the earthly powers of the one committing this grave act of omission."
" I shall therefore follow the precept of Sage Kandu. It will confer Dharma, glory, and the merit of passage to higher worlds. "
***
Then Sri Rama says what is his own philosophy for all time. This shloka is world-famous as the definition of a godlike man:
सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवास्मीति च याचते ।
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददाम्येतद् व्रतं मम ॥
"Even if someone comes to me in surrender with one simple request for protection, I shall protect him from fear from any quarter, and that is my declared principle and practice."
This assurance is the core principle of all our belief in surrender to a higher power possessing total, unconditional compassion.
***
Sri Rama now says, दत्तमस्याभयं मम विभीषणो वा सुग्रीव यदि वा रावणः स्वयम्
"Therefore, Sugriva, know this well. This is my inviolate principle. I shall give protection to the one come in surrender, whether it be Vibhishana, or for that matter, Ravana himself!"
Sugriva now says, "what more is to be discussed, oh Sri Rama!? लोकनाथशिखामणे - The crest-jewel among all lords over all the worlds!"
Sugriva says his inner voice is also now cleansed and favourable towards Vibhishana. Also, Hanuman has examined closely Vibhishana already. Therefore Vibhishana should be quickly absorbed into their fold.
Sri Rama now proceeds to meet Vibhishana, like Indra went to meet Garuda.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
