||Sri Ram Jeyram Jai Jai Ram||

Chapter – 9 – Sundara Kandam

 Mandodhari's advice to Ravana/Vibheeshna's advice to Ravana

The city of Lanka was doomed in gloominess from the day Hanuman set fire on it, the people were lived in great fear, immersed in various thoughts “We have seen the prowess of the emissary of Rama, we have no other shelter place, if the emissary is possessed this immense power, it is unimaginable about the prowess of his Master.” Devi Mandodhari received the terrible news from her female companions, she felt extremely restless. She approached her husband in private and prostrated before him and spoke with folded hands “Oh! Swami, kindly leave your enmity with Lord Sri Hari, kindly listen to my words, it is for your welfare. Therefore instruct your Minister to send back the wife of that valorous prince with all respects. The females of Lanka are horrified at the prowess of that Vanara who set fire to Lanka, while thinking about the same causing destruction of their fetus. Devi Sita will cause the destruction of your clan like the snow causes damage to the lotus flowers. Oh! Lord, kindly listen to me, if you do not return Devi Sita, even the Lord Shambhu or Lord Bhrama will not be on your side. Ramabana is serpent to the cluster of demons like frogs, kindly leave your arrogance, and protect the frog-like your clan from the powerful Ramabana.”

 

Ravana who is extremely arrogant and dull-minded, laughed out boisterously “Oh! Devi, it is true that woman is always fidgety, they get so nervous even the hours of auspiciousness, her heart is too week. If the army of Vanara enters into my kingdom, they would be a great feast for demons. Lokapalakas are frightened of my valor. It is witty that you are my wife, scared of my enemies.” He embraced her and expressed his love for her and went to the assembly of the ministers. Mandodhari became restless; she understood his fate has turned against him. Ravana took a seat on the majestic throne, soon he received the news of army of Vanaras arrived on the other side of the shore. Ravana discussed with his ministers for valuable suggestions, they advised “Oh! Prabho, you are powerful in all manner, you have won over the deities and demons, so not to worry about these Vanaras and the humans. It won’t create a problem for you.”

 

If the minister or physician, or preceptor, speaks out of fear or speaks for personal gain would cause destruction to Kingdom, health, and Dharma. Ravana could not take a proper decision out of their praise, Vibheeshana felt immensely pleased watching the pitiable state of his elder brother, he prostrated before him. He took a seat in the assembly and head hung down, Ravana asked his opinion, Vibheeshana began to speak “Oh! Dear brother, you are so kind to me, I shall speak that I feel appropriate to me, and it would be most promising to you as well. There is a saying that no one should look at the Chandra on the Chathurthi day, people who really yearn to have welfare, happiness, fame, intellect, and all the material comforts in their lives should not look at the strange woman and fall for her beauty.  No one has the right to hurt or kill the creatures on this planet, even if he is an emperor of fourteen worlds, it would heave him to destruction. If a person has all the virtues, and skill but if he has shown a little bit of Lobha is enough to stain him. Oh! Brother, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, and Mathscharya would lead to hell, therefore leave all those and take shelter in Raghuveera who is sought after by noble and virtuous, and contemplate upon him. Oh! Brother, listen to me, Rama is not an ordinary human. He is Bhuvaneshwara who is the Kala of Kala, he is unblemished by Maya, he is absolute Bhramam, he has no birth, he is all-pervasive, he is unconquerable, he has neither beginning nor end. The Supreme Lord Rama is the ocean of mercy, he has assumed the form of a human for the welfare of cows, Brahmins, deities, Rishis and Sages, and Mother Earth. Oh! Brother, listen to me, he is the source of supreme bliss, he is enemy of wicked, and truly compassionate to his devotees, he is the protector of Veda and Dharma, kindly leave your enmity with him, prostrate before him. He is supreme Lord who destroys the sufferings and miseries of the people who have taken shelter in him. Oh! Lord, kindly give back Devi Vaidhehi to Rama and surrender to that Lord who is impartial to all. He never abandons even the severe sinners. Oh! Ravan, kindly understands, he is supreme Lord Rama who destroys the Thapathraya of the Jeeva.”

 

Vibheeshana continues “ Oh! Dhashamukha, I shall prostrate at your feet, and repeatedly asking you to leave your arrogance, ignorance, Moha, and Madha, and contemplate upon Kosaladheesha. Kindly consider this as the advice of our grandfather Sage Pulasthya. Oh! Thatha, I have taken this opportunity to convey the message of our grandfather.” There was a noble minister Malyavan in the assembly, he spoke “Oh! Son, your brother is impartial, the storehouse of virtues, therefore listen to Vibheeshana.” Ravana infuriated listen to the advice of Vibheeshana and Malyavan, he called out for his men and ordered “No one here to throw out these two fools, who are praising the virtues of my enemy?” Immediately Malyavan rose from his seat and left the assembly of Ravan. Vibheeshan spoke with folded hands “Oh! Brother,  the Veda, and Purana proclaim that we all have merits and demerits.  The place where virtues prevail, that will be the abode of richness and happiness, the place where immoralities exists would be the place for unhappiness and miseries. It is sad that your intellect has become polluted; you have considered friends as enemies, and vice versa. This is also one of the reasons that you wanted to possess Devi Sita who is Kalarathri to the clan of demons. I fall at your feet and beg you, kindly accept my suggestion, kindly return Devi Sita to Rama, and keep yourself safe from the troubles.”

 

Vibheeshana spoke all those reasons were widely accepted by the intellectuals from scriptures and Veda, but Ravana could not understand a bit of it, he rose from the throne in extreme rage and gave him a hard kick, and spoke “Oh! Wicked, your death has neared, Oh! Fool, you are living under my shelter, but you are justifying my enemy. Oh! Wicked, I have possessed immense prowess, who did not I defeat? You are living in my Kingdom and kind to those Thapasvin, in that case, you can leave my Kingdom and be with them always.” Vibheeshana, repeatedly prostrated before him and begged to protect himself from the enmity of Rama were fallen into deaf ears.

 

Lord Mahadeva speaks “Oh! Uma, this is the real nature of an ascetic, even though he was abused and misbehaved by his brother, he wanted to ensure the safety of Ravana. Vibheeshana spoke “Oh! Brother, nothing wrong you have abused me physically, you are equivalent to my father, but your welfare lies in the meditation and contemplation upon Lord Rama.” After saying so, Vibheesha with his ministers left the Kingdom of Lanka through the skyways. He spoke “Oh! Brother, Lord Rama is extremely powerful and fight against injustice, all your ministers are moving to the mouth of death, therefore I am going to take shelter at the lotus feet of Rama, do not blame me.”