6.016. Insulted and insinuated, vibhIshaNa takes a stand

Hari Om.

Let us begin the sixteenth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

The demon’s assembly was reaching a flashpoint. vibhIshaNa tried to impress upon the king in myriad ways why it was not a good idea to mess with rAma while all the other demons played the threat of the siege of lanka down and based on their past conquests made assumptions that the vAnara army would be a walk over. They had won over the gods because of the boon of invincibility rAvaNa had against them. Even while seeking the boon, he didn’t think much of humans and didn’t pray for invincibility against them, being very sure he can roll them over. But it appeared the two species he left out, the humans and the vAnaras were out to get him now! But the ten headed king was in no mood to listen. His obstinacy was fanned by his warrior son indrajit, the mountainous kumbhakarna and scores of other demons who were all mighty and conquerors in their own right. The deliberations about the war descended to name calling as indrajit humiliated his uncle calling him a coward. The valliant vibhIshaNa called him an enemy of rAvaNa in the guise of son! The king had to step in. Onwards…

Hearing out the good counsel of vibhIshaNa, rAvaNa who death seemed well upon him responded harshly and said –

“O demon, I know well the conduct of the kin. They revel in the misery of their kin. One may court a co-wife or even a poisonous snake but not an agent of the enemy who is in the guise of a friend.

वसेत्सहसपत्नेनक्रुद्धेऽनाशीविषेणवा ।

नतुमित्रप्रवादेनसंवसेच्छत्रुसेविना ।।6.16.2।।

The kin even insult the chief who is capable, learned, righteous and valorous. They exchange pleasures all the time but strike in difficult times. They have masked intentions and are dreaded indeed. Listen I will cite these verses from somewhere in the padmavana (perhaps some text) in which the elephants speak about men who have noose in their hands –

Neither fire nor weapons nor noose nor anything else is to be dreaded – a selfish kin is to be dreaded. They give ideas about how we can be taken as captives and hence are to be feared more than anything else.

Just like cows are endowed with prosperity, brahmins are endowed with restraint, women are endowed with fickleness, likewise there is always danger from the kin.

विद्यतेगोषुसम्पन्नंविद्यतेब्राह्मणेदमः ।

विद्यतेस्त्रीषुचापल्यंविद्यतेज्ञातितोभयम् ।।6.16.9।।

You are not comfortable with my acclaim in the world and how I have reached the pinnacle among the kin amassing unparallel wealth. Just like the water drops that fall on the lotus leaves do not stick, kinship with the ignoble is also futile. Just like the honey bee has no gratitude for partaking honey from a flower, you are also like that and such is the kinship with ignoble.

यथामधुकरस्तर्षाद्रसंविन्दन्नविद्यते ।

तथात्वमपितत्रैवतथानार्येषुसौहृदम् ।।6.16.12।।

Just like the elephant first takes dip in the water and then smears dust on itself, such is the kinship with ignoble. The kinship with ignoble is futile like the clouds of the autumn that thunder even if they are devoid of water.

You are a blot on our clan, fie on you. If someone else had uttered these words in your place, he wouldn’t be existing now”.

Hearing these insinuations of rAvaNa, vibhIshaNa was livid with anger. The illustrious vibhIshaNa immediately rose to the skies and warned –

“O king, you are my brother, so say whatever you want. You are elder, respected but do not follow dharma. I won’t accept and take to your insinuations and false allegations kindly. O ten-headed, I spoke moral counsel for your welfare. Those whose time is up and are unaccomplished, do not pay heed to such advice. O king, it is easy to get yes men who always speak pleasantly. An unpleasant counsel neither gets a speaker nor a listener!

सुलभाःपुरुषराजन् सततंप्रियवादिनः ।

अप्रियस्यचपथ्यस्यवक्ताश्रोताचदुर्लभः ।।6.16.21।।

You are caught in the noose of destiny by the vanquisher of all beings and your house is on fire and as such I couldn’t stay indifferent to your condition. I do not want to see you succumbing to the flaming, golden and sharp arrows of rAma. In a war, even the valorous, mighty and those with weapons collapse like sand bridges if their time is up.

So please do reminisce what has been told to you wishing your welfare and keeping in mind the gravity of the situation. Always protect yourself and this city along with its demons. Peace be upon you, I am leaving, be happy without me.

न्मर्षयतुयच्चोक्तंगुरुत्वाद्धितमिच्छता ।।6.16.25।।

अत्मानंसर्वथारक्षपुरींचेमांसराक्षसाम् ।

स्वस्तितेऽस्तुगमिष्यामिसुखीभवमयाविना ।।6.16.26।।

O night-ranger, I tried my best to advise you and avoid this danger, but you didn’t like my advice. Those men who are nearing their end do not listen to their well-wishers”.