Yuddha Kanda · Sarga 17 of 128 · 68 verses
Vibhishana Seeks Refuge
In a moment Vibhishana reaches the place where Rama and Lakshmana are. The monkeys see him in the sky like a peak of Meru, with four fearsome armed companions. Sugriva suspects that these five rakshasas have come to kill them, and the monkeys raise trees and rocks. Standing in the air, Vibhishana calls out: “I am Vibhishana, younger brother of Ravana, the wicked king of the rakshasas, who carried off Sita from Janasthana after killing Jatayu, and keeps her captive. I urged him again and again with reasons to return her to Rama; he refused, as a dying man refuses medicine. Insulted and treated like a slave, I have left my sons and wives and come to Raghava for refuge. Tell great-souled Raghava, refuge of all the worlds, that Vibhishana is here.”
Sugriva, alarmed, tells Rama: an enemy has slipped into our army; he may strike like an owl among crows when he finds a gap. Rakshasas are shape-shifters and tricksters; never trust them. He may be Ravana’s spy, sent to divide us, or may himself strike when we trust him. We may accept allies, forest tribes, hereditary troops and hired men, but never the enemy’s forces. He is a rakshasa by nature and the enemy’s own brother; he should be killed with his ministers.
Rama asks his counsellors’ views. Angada advises suspicion: test him, accept him if he has virtues, reject him if faults. Sharabha says set a spy on him first. Jambavan says he comes at the wrong time and place, from a sinful enemy; suspect him. Mainda says question him gently and learn his mind. Hanuman, the learned minister, speaks last: no counsel can know a man’s ability before employing him; spies would learn nothing, and questioning would offend an honest man. But the time and place are right: seeing Ravana’s wickedness and Rama’s valour, and hearing that Vali was killed and Sugriva crowned, he has come, hoping for the kingdom. His face is clear, his speech without guile, he is calm and unafraid; a man’s true feelings cannot be hidden. On these grounds it is fitting to accept him. “I have said what I can; you, best of the wise, must decide the rest.”
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इत्युक्त्वा परुषं वाक्यं रावणं रावणानुजः । आजगाम मुहूर्तेन यत्र रामः सलक्ष्मणः ॥ १ ॥
Having spoken those harsh words to Ravana, Ravana’s younger brother came in a moment to where Rama was with Lakshmana.
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तं मेरुशिखराकारं दीप्तामिव शतह्रदाम् । गगनस्थं महीस्थास्ते ददृशुर्वानराधिपाः ॥ २ ॥
The monkey chiefs on the ground saw him standing in the sky, shaped like a peak of Meru, like blazing lightning.
ते चाप्यनुचरास्तस्य चत्वारो भीमविक्रमाः । तेऽपि वर्मायुधोपेता भूषणोत्तमभूषिताः ॥ ३ ॥
And his four followers too, of terrible valour, also furnished with armour and weapons, adorned with the finest ornaments.
स च मेघाचलप्रख्यो वज्रायुधसमप्रभः । वरायुधधरो वीरो दिव्याभरणभूषितः ॥ ४ ॥
And he, like a cloud or a mountain, with the splendour of the thunderbolt-wielder, bearing fine weapons, the hero, adorned with heavenly ornaments:
तमात्मपञ्चमं दृष्ट्वा सुग्रीवो वानराधिपः । वानरैः सह दुर्धर्षश्चिन्तयामास बुद्धिमान् ॥ ५ ॥
seeing him with four others, Sugriva, lord of the monkeys, unassailable, intelligent, thought with the monkeys.
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं तु वानरांस्तानुवाच ह । हनुमत्प्रमुखान् सर्वानिदं वचनमुत्तमम् ॥ ६ ॥
Having thought for a moment, he spoke these excellent words to all those monkeys led by Hanuman:
एष सर्वायुधोपेतश्चतुर्भिः सह राक्षसैः । राक्षसोभ्येति पश्यध्वमस्मान् हन्तुं न संशयः ॥ ७ ॥
“Look: this rakshasa, furnished with all weapons, with four rakshasas, is coming to kill us, no doubt of it.”
सुग्रीवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते वानरोत्तमाः । सालानुद्यम्य शैलांश्च इदं वचनमब्रुवन् ॥ ८ ॥
Hearing Sugriva’s words, all those best of monkeys, raising sala trees and rocks, said:
शीघ्रं व्यादिश नो राजन् वधायैषां दुरात्मनाम् । निपतन्ति हता यावद् धरण्यामल्पचेतनाः ॥ ९ ॥
“Order us quickly, king, to kill these evil-souled ones, so that they fall to the ground dead and senseless.”
तेषां सम्भाषमाणानामन्योन्यं स विभीषणः । उत्तरं तीरमासाद्य खस्थ एव व्यतिष्ठत ॥ १० ॥
While they were talking to one another, Vibhishana, reaching the northern shore, stood still in the sky.
स उवाच महाप्राज्ञः स्वरेण महता महान् । सुग्रीवं तांश्च सम्प्रेक्ष्य खस्थ एव विभीषणः ॥ ११ ॥
The very wise, great Vibhishana, looking at Sugriva and them, spoke in a loud voice, standing in the sky:
रावणो नाम दुर्वृत्तो राक्षसो राक्षसेश्वरः । तस्याहमनुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः ॥ १२ ॥
“There is an evil rakshasa named Ravana, lord of the rakshasas. I am his younger brother, known as Vibhishana.
तेन सीता जनस्थानाद् हृता हत्वा जटायुषम् । रुद्धा च विवशा दीना राक्षसीभिः सुरक्षिता ॥ १३ ॥
“By him Sita was carried off from Janasthana after he killed Jatayu; she is held captive, helpless, wretched, well guarded by rakshasis.
तमहं हेतुभिर्वाक्यैर्विविधैश्च न्यदर्शयम् । साधु निर्यात्यतां सीता रामायेति पुनः पुनः ॥ १४ ॥
“With reasons and many kinds of words I urged him again and again: ‘Better give Sita back to Rama.’
स च न प्रतिजग्राह रावणः कालचोदितः । उच्यमानं हितं वाक्यं विपरीत इवौषधम् ॥ १५ ॥
“But Ravana, urged on by Time, did not accept the good advice spoken to him, as a dying man does not accept medicine.
सोऽहं परुषितस्तेन दासवच्चावमानितः । त्यक्त्वा पुत्रांश्च दारांश्च राघवं शरणं गतः ॥ १६ ॥
“Spoken to harshly by him and insulted like a slave, I have left my sons and wives and come to Raghava for refuge.
निवेदयत मां क्षिप्रं राघवाय महात्मने । सर्वलोकशरण्याय विभीषणमुपस्थितम् ॥ १७ ॥
“Tell quickly great-souled Raghava, the refuge of all the worlds, that Vibhishana is here.”
एतत्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवो लघुविक्रमः । लक्ष्मणस्याग्रतो रामं संरब्धमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १८ ॥
Hearing these words, Sugriva, quick in valour, said agitatedly to Rama in front of Lakshmana:
प्रविष्टः शत्रुसैन्यं हि प्राप्तः शत्रुरतर्कितः । निहन्यादन्तरं लब्ध्वा उलूको वायसानिव ॥ १९ ॥
“An enemy has entered the enemy’s army, come unexpectedly; finding an opening he may kill us, as an owl kills crows.
मन्त्रे व्यूहे नये चारे युक्तो भवितुमर्हसि । वानराणां च भद्रं ते परेषां च परंतप ॥ २० ॥
“You must be careful in counsel, in the ordering of troops, in policy and in spies, both for the monkeys, bless you, and toward the enemy, scorcher of foes.
अन्तर्धानगता ह्येते राक्षसाः कामरूपिणः । शूराश्च निकृतिज्ञाश्च तेषां जातु न विश्वसेत् ॥ २१ ॥
“These rakshasas can make themselves invisible and take any form they like; they are brave and know tricks; one should never trust them.
प्रणिधी राक्षसेन्द्रस्य रावणस्य भवेदयम् । अनुप्रविश्य सोऽस्मासु भेदं कुर्यान्न संशयः ॥ २२ ॥
“This may be a spy of Ravana, king of the rakshasas; having entered among us, he may cause division, no doubt of it.
अथ वा स्वयमेवैष छिद्रमासाद्य बुद्धिमान् । अनुप्रविश्य विश्वस्ते कदाचित् प्रहरेदपि ॥ २३ ॥
“Or this clever one himself, finding a weak spot, having got in, may strike some time when we trust him.
मित्राटविबलं चैव मौलभृत्यबलं तथा । सर्वमेतद् बलं ग्राह्यं वर्जयित्वा द्विषद्बलम् ॥ २४ ॥
“The forces of allies and of forest tribes, and hereditary and hired forces: all these may be accepted, but not the enemy’s forces.
प्रकृत्या राक्षसो ह्येष भ्रातामित्रस्य वै प्रभो । आगतश्च रिपुः साक्षात् कथमस्मिंश्च विश्वसेत् ॥ २५ ॥
“He is a rakshasa by nature, and the enemy’s own brother, lord; he has come as an enemy in person: how can one trust him?
रावणस्यानुजो भ्राता विभीषण इति श्रुतः । चतुर्भिः सह रक्षोभिर्भवन्तं शरणं गतः ॥ २६ ॥
“Ravana’s younger brother, known as Vibhishana, has come to you for refuge with four rakshasas.
रावणेन प्रणीतं हि तमवेहि विभीषणम् । तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये क्षमं क्षमवतां वर ॥ २७ ॥
“Know that Vibhishana has been sent by Ravana. I think it right to restrain him, best of the forbearing.
राक्षसो जिह्मया बुद्ध्या संदिष्टोऽयमिहागतः । प्रहर्तुं मायया छन्नो विश्वस्ते त्वयि चानघ ॥ २८ ॥
“This rakshasa has come here instructed with crooked intent, to strike when you trust him, sinless one, hidden by illusion.
वध्यतामेष तीव्रेण दण्डेन सचिवैः सह । रावणस्य नृशंसस्य भ्राता ह्येष विभीषणः ॥ २९ ॥
“Let him be killed with a severe punishment, with his ministers; for this Vibhishana is the brother of cruel Ravana.”
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं रामं संरब्धो वाहिनीपतिः । वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकुशलं ततो मौनमुपागमत् ॥ ३० ॥
Having said this to Rama, the commander of the army, agitated, skilled in speech, fell silent before him who was skilled in speech.
सुग्रीवस्य तु तद् वाक्यं श्रुत्वा रामो महाबलः । समीपस्थानुवाचेदं हनुमत्प्रमुखान् कपीन् ॥ ३१ ॥
Hearing Sugriva’s words, mighty Rama said this to the monkeys near him led by Hanuman:
यदुक्तं कपिराजेन रावणावरजं प्रति । वाक्यं हेतुमदत्यर्थं भवद्भिरपि च श्रुतम् ॥ ३२ ॥
“What the king of the monkeys has said about Ravana’s younger brother, words full of reasons, you too have heard.
सुहृदामर्थकृच्छ्रेषु युक्तं बुद्धिमता सदा । समर्थेनोपसंदेष्टुं शाश्वतीं भूतिमिच्छता ॥ ३३ ॥
“In difficulties concerning the affairs of friends, an intelligent and able man, wishing lasting prosperity, should always give advice.”
इत्येवं परिपृष्टास्ते स्वं स्वं मतमतन्द्रिताः । सोपचारं तदा राममूचुः प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ ३४ ॥
Asked so, they gave their own views without hesitation, courteously, to Rama, wishing to do what pleased him:
अज्ञातं नास्ति ते किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु राघव । आत्मानं पूजयन् राम पृच्छस्यस्मान् सुहृत्तया ॥ ३५ ॥
“There is nothing in the three worlds unknown to you, Raghava. Honouring yourself, Rama, you ask us out of friendship.
त्वं हि सत्यव्रतः शूरो धार्मिको दृढविक्रमः । परीक्ष्यकारी स्मृतिमान् निसृष्टात्मा सुहृत्सु च ॥ ३६ ॥
“For you are true to your vows, heroic, righteous, firm in valour, acting after examination, of good memory, and give yourself to your friends.
तस्मादेकैकशस्तावद् ब्रुवन्तु सचिवास्तव । हेतुतो मतिसम्पन्नाः समर्थाश्च पुनः पुनः ॥ ३७ ॥
“So let your counsellors speak one by one, intelligent and able, with reasons, again and again.”
इत्युक्ते राघवायाथ मतिमानङ्गदोऽग्रतः । विभीषणपरीक्षार्थमुवाच वचनं हरिः ॥ ३८ ॥
When this had been said to Raghava, wise Angada, the monkey, spoke first to test Vibhishana:
शत्रोः सकाशात् सम्प्राप्तः सर्वथा तर्क्य एव हि । विश्वासनीयः सहसा न कर्तव्यो विभीषणः ॥ ३९ ॥
“Since he has come from the enemy, he must certainly be examined; Vibhishana should not be trusted suddenly.
छादयित्वाऽऽत्मभावं हि चरन्ति शठबुद्धयः । प्रहरन्ति च रन्ध्रेषु सोऽनर्थः सुमहान् भवेत् ॥ ४० ॥
“Those of crooked mind go about hiding their true nature and strike at weak points; that would be a very great disaster.
अर्थानर्थौ विनिश्चित्य व्यवसायं भजेत ह । गुणतः संग्रहं कुर्याद् दोषतस्तु विसर्जयेत् ॥ ४१ ॥
“One should decide what is good and bad, and then act: accept for merits and reject for faults.
यदि दोषो महांस्तस्मिंस्त्यज्यतामविशङ्कितम् । गुणान् वापि बहून् ज्ञात्वा संग्रहः क्रियतां नृप ॥ ४२ ॥
“If there is great fault in him, let him be rejected without hesitation; or if you know of many merits, let him be accepted, king.”
शरभस्त्वथ निश्चित्य सार्थं वचनमब्रवीत् । क्षिप्रमस्मिन् नरव्याघ्र चारः प्रतिविधीयताम् ॥ ४३ ॥
Then Sharabha, having decided, spoke meaningful words: “Let a spy be set on him quickly, tiger among men.
प्रणिधाय हि चारेण यथावत् सूक्ष्मबुद्धिना । परीक्ष्य च ततः कार्यो यथान्यायं परिग्रहः ॥ ४४ ॥
“Having set a spy of subtle intelligence on him properly and examined him, then let acceptance be made as is right.”
जाम्बवांस्त्वथ सम्प्रेक्ष्य शास्त्रबुद्ध्या विचक्षणः । वाक्यं विज्ञापयामास गुणवद् दोषवर्जितम् ॥ ४५ ॥
Then Jambavan, wise, looking at it with the understanding of the treatises, put forward words with merit and without fault:
बद्धवैराच्च पापाच्च राक्षसेन्द्राद् विभीषणः । अदेशकाले सम्प्राप्तः सर्वथा शंक्यतामयम् ॥ ४६ ॥
“From the sinful king of the rakshasas, with whom enmity is fixed, Vibhishana has come at the wrong place and time; he should be suspected in every way.”
ततो मैन्दस्तु सम्प्रेक्ष्य नयापनयकोविदः । वाक्यं वचनसम्पन्नो बभाषे हेतुमत्तरम् ॥ ४७ ॥
Then Mainda, skilled in good and bad policy, looking at it, eloquent, spoke words even more reasoned:
अनुजो नाम तस्यैष रावणस्य विभीषणः । पृच्छ्यतां मधुरेणायं शनैर्नरपतीश्वर ॥ ४८ ॥
“This Vibhishana is Ravana’s younger brother, it is said. Let him be questioned gently and slowly, lord of kings.
भावमस्य तु विज्ञाय तत्त्वतस्तं करिष्यसि । यदि दुष्टो न दुष्टो वा बुद्धिपूर्वं नरर्षभ ॥ ४९ ॥
“Having learned his mind truly, you will deal with him, whether he is bad or not, after due thought, bull among men.”
अथ संस्कारसम्पन्नो हनूमान् सचिवोत्तमः । उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णमर्थवन्मधुरं लघु ॥ ५० ॥
Then Hanuman, the best of ministers, accomplished in learning, spoke gentle, meaningful, sweet and concise words:
न भवन्तं मतिश्रेष्ठं समर्थं वदतां वरम् । अतिशाययितुं शक्तो बृहस्पतिरपि ब्रुवन् ॥ ५१ ॥
“Not even Brihaspati speaking could surpass you, best of the wise, able, best of speakers.
न वादान्नापि संघर्षान्नाधिक्यान्न च कामतः । वक्ष्यामि वचनं राजन् यथार्थं राम गौरवात् ॥ ५२ ॥
“Not from argument, nor from rivalry, nor from wanting to seem superior, nor from desire, but from respect, king, will I speak the truth, Rama.
अर्थानर्थनिमित्तं हि यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव । तत्र दोषं प्रपश्यामि क्रिया नह्युपपद्यते ॥ ५३ ॥
“In what your ministers have said, for and against, I see a fault: the action is not workable.
ऋते नियोगात् सामर्थ्यमवबोद्धुं न शक्यते । सहसा विनियोगोऽपि दोषवान् प्रतिभाति मे ॥ ५४ ॥
“Without employing him, his ability cannot be known; yet employing him suddenly also seems faulty to me.
चारप्रणिहितं युक्तं यदुक्तं सचिवैस्तव । अर्थस्यासम्भवात् तत्र कारणं नोपपद्यते ॥ ५५ ॥
“As for what your ministers said about setting a spy, that is not workable, since there is no object for it.
अदेशकाले सम्प्राप्त इत्ययं यद् विभीषणः । विवक्षा तत्र मेऽस्तीयं तां निबोध यथामति ॥ ५६ ॥
“As for Vibhishana having come at the wrong place and time, I have something to say on that; hear it as I understand it.
एष देशश्च कालश्च भवतीह यथा तथा । पुरुषात् पुरुषं प्राप्य तथा दोषगुणावपि ॥ ५७ ॥
“This is the place and the time, as it stands here; and faults and merits too pass from person to person.
दौरात्म्यं रावणे दृष्ट्वा विक्रमं च तथा त्वयि । युक्तमागमनं ह्यत्र सदृशं तस्य बुद्धितः ॥ ५८ ॥
“Seeing Ravana’s wickedness and your valour, his coming here is fitting and suited to his intelligence.
अज्ञातरूपैः पुरुषैः स राजन् पृच्छ्यतामिति । यदुक्तमत्र मे प्रेक्षा काचिदस्ति समीक्षिता ॥ ५९ ॥
“As for ‘let him be questioned by men in disguise, king’: on that I have a considered view.
पृच्छ्यमानो विशङ्केत सहसा बुद्धिमान् वचः । तत्र मित्रं प्रदुष्येत मिथ्या पृष्टं सुखागतम् ॥ ६० ॥
“Being questioned, an intelligent man would suddenly suspect our words; and so a friend would be spoiled, falsely questioned when he came in good faith.
अशक्यं सहसा राजन् भावो बोद्धुं परस्य वै । अन्तरेण स्वरैर्भिन्नैर्नैपुण्यं पश्यतां भृशम् ॥ ६१ ॥
“It is impossible, king, to know suddenly another’s mind, except by his changing tones, for those who look very skilfully.
न त्वस्य ब्रुवतो जातु लक्ष्यते दुष्टभावता । प्रसन्नं वदनं चापि तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः ॥ ६२ ॥
“But as he speaks, no wickedness at all is seen in him, and his face is clear; so I have no doubt.
अशङ्कितमतिः स्वस्थो न शठः परिसर्पति । न चास्य दुष्टवागस्ति तस्मान्मे नास्ति संशयः ॥ ६३ ॥
“A crooked man does not come forward with an untroubled mind and at ease; and there is no wicked speech in him; so I have no doubt.
आकारश्छाद्यमानोऽपि न शक्यो विनिगूहितुम् । बलाद्धि विवृणोत्येव भावमन्तर्गतं नृणाम् ॥ ६४ ॥
“One’s appearance, even when hidden, cannot be concealed; it forcibly reveals the inner feeling of men.
देशकालोपपन्नं च कार्यं कार्यविदां वर । सफलं कुरुते क्षिप्रं प्रयोगेणाभिसंहितम् ॥ ६५ ॥
“A task suited to place and time, best of those who know affairs, joined with right application, quickly bears fruit.
उद्योगं तव सम्प्रेक्ष्य मिथ्यावृत्तं च रावणम् । वालिनं च हतं श्रुत्वा सुग्रीवं चाभिषेचितम् ॥ ६६ ॥
“Seeing your undertaking, and Ravana’s false conduct, and hearing that Vali was killed and Sugriva consecrated,
राज्यं प्रार्थयमानस्तु बुद्धिपूर्वमिहागतः । एतावत् तु पुरस्कृत्य युज्यते तस्य संग्रहः ॥ ६७ ॥
“wanting the kingdom, he has come here deliberately. Putting this first, it is fitting to accept him.
यथाशक्ति मयोक्तं तु राक्षसस्यार्जवं प्रति । प्रमाणं त्वं हि शेषस्य श्रुत्वा बुद्धिमतां वर ॥ ६८ ॥
“I have spoken as well as I can about the rakshasa’s honesty; you, best of the wise, having heard, are the authority on the rest.”