Rama Shields Vibhishana from Ravana's Shakti
Ravana hurls his Shakti at Vibhishana, but Rama takes the blow upon himself. This act reveals the Lord's unwavering protection of his devotee.
Lanka Kand · Episode 25 / 37
Episode Text
पुनि दसकंठ क्रुद्ध होइ छाँड़ी सक्ति प्रचंड। चली बिभीषन सन्मुख मनहुँ काल कर दंड॥ ९३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni dasakaṃṭha kruddha hoi chāṃṛī sakti pracaṃḍa। calī bibhīṣana sanmukha manahuṃ kāla kara daṃḍa॥ 93 ॥
Meaning:
Then Ravana, enraged, released the terrible Sakti weapon. It flew toward Vibhishana as though it were the staff of Death himself.
आवत देखि सक्ति अति घोरा। प्रनतारति भंजन पन मोरा॥ तुरत बिभीषन पाछें मेला। सन्मुख राम सहेउ सोइ सेला॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āvata dekhi sakti ati ghorā। pranatārati bhaṃjana pana morā॥ turata bibhīṣana pācheṃ melā। sanmukha rāma saheu soi selā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the dreadful weapon coming, and remembering His vow to destroy the suffering of the surrendered, Lord Rama quickly placed Vibhishana behind Him and Himself took the blow head-on.
लागि सक्ति मुरुछा कछु भई। प्रभु कृत खेल सुरन्ह बिकलई॥ देखि बिभीषन प्रभु श्रम पायो। गहि कर गदा क्रुद्ध होइ धायो॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
lāgi sakti muruchā kachu bhaī। prabhu kṛta khela suranhaṃ bikalaī॥ dekhi bibhīṣana prabhu śrama pāyo। gahi kara gadā kruddha hoi dhāyo॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The blow caused Him to faint a little. The Lord was only acting this divine play, but the gods were thrown into distress. Seeing the Lord appear weary, Vibhishana became angry and rushed forward with a mace in hand.
रे कुभाग्य सठ मंद कुबुद्धे। तैं सुर नर मुनि नाग बिरुद्धे॥ सादर सिव कहुँ सीस चढ़ाए। एक एक के कोटिन्ह पाए॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
re kubhāgya saṭha manda kubuddhe। taiṃ sura nara muni nāga viruddhe॥ sādara siva kahuṃ sīsa caṛhāe। eka eka ke koṭinhaṃ pāe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
[And he said:] O unlucky one, fool, base wretch, dull-witted one! You opposed the gods, men, sages, and serpents. Yet you bowed your head respectfully to Shiva, and for each one you gained millions.
तेहि कारन खल अब लगि बाँच्यो। अब तव कालु सीस पर नाच्यो॥ राम बिमुख सठ चहसि संपदा। अस कहि हनेसि माझ उर गदा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi kārana khala aba lagi bāṃcyo। aba tava kālu sīsa para nācyo॥ rāma bimukha saṭha cahasi saṃpadā। asa kahi hanesi mājha ura gadā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
For that reason, you wretch, you have survived until now. But now Death himself dances upon your head. O fool, opposed to Rama, do you still desire wealth? So saying, Vibhishana struck Ravana's chest in the very center with his mace.
उर माझ गदा प्रहार घोर कठोर लागत महि पर्यो। दस बदन सोनित स्रवत पुनि संभारि धायो रिस भर्यो॥ द्वौ भिरे अतिबल मल्लजुद्ध बिरुद्ध एकु एकहि हनै। रघुबीर बल दर्पित बिभीषनु घालि नहिं ता कहुँ गनै॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ura mājha gadā prahāra ghora kaṭhora lāgata mahi paryo। dasa badana sonita sravata puni saṃbhāri dhāyo risa bharyo॥ dvau bhire atibala mallajuddha biruddha eku ekahi hanai। raghubīra bala darpita bibhīṣanu ghāli nahiṃ tā kahuṃ ganai॥
Meaning:
As soon as the dreadful, hard blow of the mace struck the middle of his chest, he fell to the ground. Blood flowed from his ten faces; then, recovering himself, he rushed again in fury. The two mighty warriors clashed and fought in wrestling combat, each striking the other. Exalted by the strength of Lord Raghubir, Vibhishana counted him as nothing.
उमा बिभीषनु रावनहि सन्मुख चितव कि काउ। सो अब भिरत काल ज्यों श्रीरघुबीर प्रभाउ॥ ९४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
umā bibhīṣanu rāvanahi sanmukha chitava ki kāu। so aba bhirata kāla jyoṃ śrīraghubīra prabhāu॥ 94 ॥
Meaning:
O Uma, could Vibhishana ever have dared to face Ravana before? Yet now he is fighting him like Death itself. This is indeed the power of Lord Raghubir.