Vibhishana Counsels Ravana and Is Humiliated
Vibhishana repeatedly advises Ravana to follow righteousness and return Sita. Ravana insults his well-meant counsel, leading Vibhishana to resolve to leave Lanka.
Sundar Kand · Episode 15 / 20
Episode Text
सोइ रावन कहुँ बनी सहाई। अस्तुति करहिं सुनाइ सुनाई॥ अवसर जानि बिभीषनु आवा। भ्राता चरन सीसु तेहिं नावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
soi rāvana kahuṃ banī sahāī। astuti karahiṃ sunāi sunāī॥ avasara jāni bibhīṣanu āvā। bhrātā carana sīsu tehiṃ nāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
For Ravana too, that favorable circumstance had now arrived. His ministers kept praising him over and over. Seizing the opportunity, Vibhishana came and bowed his head at his elder brother's feet.
पुनि सिरु नाइ बैठ निज आसन। बोला बचन पाइ अनुसासन॥ जौ कृपाल पूँछिहु मोहि बाता। मति अनुरूप कहउँ हित ताता॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
puni siru nāi baiṭha nija āsana। bolā bacana pāi anusāsana॥ jau kṛpāla pūṃchihu mohi bātā। mati anurūpa kahauṃ hita tātā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Then, bowing his head, he sat on his own seat and, having been asked to speak, said: O merciful one, since you have asked me for my opinion, O father, I shall speak what is beneficial according to my understanding.
जो आपन चाहै कल्याना। सुजसु सुमति सुभ गति सुख नाना॥ सो परनारि लिलार गोसाईं। तजउ चउथि के चंद कि नाईं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jo āpana cāhai kalyānā। sujasu sumati subha gati sukha nānā॥ so paranārī lilāra gosāīṃ। tajau cauthi ke canda ki nāīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Whoever desires his own well-being, good fame, right understanding, a noble destiny, and many kinds of happiness should, O lord, abandon another man's wife as one abandons the moon of the fourth lunar day—that is, he should not even look at another man's wife.
चौदह भुवन एक पति होई। भूतद्रोह तिष्टइ नहिं सोई॥ गुन सागर नागर नर जोऊ। अलप लोभ भल कहइ न कोऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
caudaha bhuvana eka pati hoī। bhūtadroha tiṣṭai nahiṃ soī॥ guna sāgara nāgara nara jōū। alapa lobha bhala kahai na koū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Even if one were the sole lord of the fourteen worlds, he could not endure if he practices hostility toward living beings. And if a man is a storehouse of virtues and worldly wisdom, yet has even a little greed, no one calls him good.
काम क्रोध मद लोभ सब नाथ नरक के पंथ। सब परिहरि रघुबीरहि भजहु भजहिं जेहि संत॥ ३८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāma krodha mada lobha saba nātha naraka ke pantha। saba parihari raghubīrahi bhajahu bhajahiṃ jehi santa॥ 38 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, lust, anger, pride, and greed are all paths to hell. Give up all of them and worship Rama, whom the saints worship.
तात राम नहिं नर भूपाला। भुवनेस्वर कालहु कर काला॥ ब्रह्म अनामय अज भगवंता। ब्यापक अजित अनादि अनंता॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta rāma nahiṃ nara bhūpālā। bhuvanesvara kālahu kara kālā॥ brahma anāmaya aja bhagavaṃtā। byāpaka ajita anādi anaṃtā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O father, Rama is not merely the king of men. He is the Lord of all worlds and even Death’s Death. He is Bhagavan, the abode of all divine riches, glory, majesty, righteousness, dispassion, and knowledge; He is free from decay, unborn, all-pervading, unconquerable, beginningless, and endless Brahman.
गो द्विज धेनु देव हितकारी। कृपा सिंधु मानुष तनुधारी॥ जन रंजन भंजन खल ब्राता। बेद धर्म रच्छक सुनु भ्राता॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
go dvija dhenu deva hitakārī। kṛpā siṃdhu mānuṣa tanudhārī॥ jana raṃjana bhaṃjana khala brātā। beda dharma rachchaka sunu bhrātā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
That ocean of compassion, the Lord, has taken a human body only for the welfare of the earth, the Brahmins, the cows, and the gods. Listen, brother: He delights His devotees, destroys the host of the wicked, and protects the Veda and dharma.
ताहि बयरु तजि नाइअ माथा। प्रनतारति भंजन रघुनाथा॥ देहु नाथ प्रभु कहुँ बैदेही। भजहु राम बिनु हेतु सनेही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāhi bayaru taji nāia māthā। pranatārati bhaṃjana raghunāthā॥ dehu nātha prabhu kahuṃ baidehī। bhajahu rāma binu hetu sanehī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Cast aside enmity and bow your head before Him. Lord Raghunatha destroys the suffering of those who seek refuge. O Lord, give Janaki to that Lord, and worship Rama, the loving One without any cause.
सरन गएँ प्रभु ताहु न त्यागा। बिस्व द्रोह कृत अघ जेहि लागा॥ जासु नाम त्रय ताप नसावन। सोइ प्रभु प्रगट समुझु जियँ रावन॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sarana gaeṃ prabhu tāhu na tyāgā। bisva droha kṛta agha jehi lāgā॥ jāsu nāma traya tāpa nasāvana। soi prabhu pragaṭa samujhu jiyaṃ rāvana॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He never abandons one who has taken refuge in Him, even if that person has incurred the sin of betrayal against the whole world. The Lord whose name destroys the three afflictions is the same One who has appeared in manifest form. Understand this in your heart, O Ravana.
बार बार पद लागउँ बिनय करउँ दससीस। परिहरि मान मोह मद भजहु कोसलाधीस॥ ३९ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bāra bāra pada lāgauṃ binaya karauṃ dasasīsa। parihari māna moha mada bhajahu kosalādhīsa॥ 39 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Again and again I fall at your feet and pray, O Ten-Headed One: abandon pride, delusion, and arrogance, and worship the Lord of Kosala, Rama.
मुनि पुलस्ति निज सिष्य सन कहि पठई यह बात। तुरत सो मैं प्रभुसन कही पाइ सुअवसरु तात॥ ३९ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni pulasti nija sishya san kahi paṭhaī yaha bāta। turata so maiṃ prabhusana kahī pāi suavasaru tāta॥ 39 (b) ॥
Meaning:
The sage Pulastya sent this message through his own disciple. O father, having found a good opportunity, I immediately spoke that matter to you, my Lord.
माल्यवंत अति सचिव सयाना। तासु बचन सुनि अति सुख माना॥ तात अनुज तव नीति बिभूषन। सो उर धरहु जो कहत बिभीषन॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mālyavaṃta ati saciva syānā। tāsu bacana suni ati sukha mānā॥ tāta anuja tava nīti bibhūṣana। so ura dharahu jo kahata bibhīṣana॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
There was a very wise minister named Malyavan. Hearing his words, he was greatly pleased and said, “O father, your younger brother is an ornament of policy, truly virtuous in counsel. Keep in your heart what Vibhishana is saying.”
रिपु उतकरष कहत सठ दोऊ। दूरि न करहु इहाँ हइ कोऊ॥ माल्यवंत गृह गयउ बहोरी। कहइ बिभीषनु पुनि कर जोरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ripu utakarṣa kahata saṭha dou। dūri na karahu ihā̃ hai kou॥ mālyavaṃta gṛha gayau bahorī। kahai bibhīṣanu puni kara jorī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
[Ravana said:] These two fools are praising the enemy’s greatness. Is there no one here? Drive them away! Then Malyavan returned home, and Vibhishana again spoke with folded hands.
सुमति कुमति सब कें उर रहहीं। नाथ पुरान निगम अस कहहीं॥ जहाँ सुमति तहँ संपति नाना। जहाँ कुमति तहँ बिपति निदाना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sumati kumati saba keṃ ura rahahīṃ। nātha purāna nigama asa kahahīṃ॥ jahā̃ sumati tahā̃ saṃpati nānā। jahā̃ kumati tahā̃ bipati nidānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, the Purāṇas and the Vedas say that both good sense and bad sense dwell in everyone’s heart. Where there is good sense, there are many kinds of prosperity; where there is bad sense, there is ruin in the end.
तव उर कुमति बसी बिपरीता। हित अनहित मानहु रिपु प्रीता॥ कालराति निसिचर कुल केरी। तेहि सीता पर प्रीति घनेरी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tava ura kumati basī biparītā। hita anahita mānahu ripu prītā॥ kālarāti nisi-cara kula kerī। tehi sītā para prīti ghanerī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Your heart has been occupied by perverse judgment. Because of that, you take what is good to be bad and the enemy to be a friend. She who is like the night of destruction for the rakshasa race—on her you have such deep affection.
तात चरन गहि मागउँ राखहु मोर दुलार। सीता देहु राम कहुँ अहित न होइ तुम्हार॥ ४० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāta charana gahi māgauṃ rākhahu mora dulāra। sītā dehu rāma kahuṃ ahita na hoi tumhāra॥ 40 ॥
Meaning:
O father, I clasp your feet and beg of you: keep your affection for me and kindly accept the request of this child. Give Sita to Rama, so that no harm may come to you.
बुध पुरान श्रुति संमत बानी। कही बिभीषन नीति बखानी॥ सुनत दसानन उठा रिसाई। खल तोहि निकट मृत्यु अब आई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
budha purāna śruti saṃmata bānī। kahī bibhīṣana nīti bakhānī॥ sunata dasānana uṭhā risāī। khala tohi nikaṭa mṛtyu aba āī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Vibhishana spoke words of policy approved by the learned, the Purāṇas, and the Vedas. Hearing this, Ravana rose in anger and said, “Wretch, your death has now come near!”
जिअसि सदा सठ मोर जिआवा। रिपु कर पच्छ मूढ़ तोहि भावा॥ कहसि न खल अस को जग माहीं। भुज बल जाहि जिता मैं नाहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jiasi sadā saṭha mora jiāvā। ripu kara pacchha mūḍha tohi bhāvā॥ kahasi na khala asa ko jaga māhīṃ। bhuja bala jāhi jitā maiṃ nāhīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
You live only because I have kept you alive, yet, O fool, you favor the enemy’s side. Tell me, O wicked one: who is there in this world that I have not conquered by the strength of my arms?
मम पुर बसि तपसिन्ह पर प्रीती। सठ मिलु जाइ तिन्हहि कहु नीती॥ अस कहि कीन्हेसि चरन प्रहारा। अनुज गहे पद बारहिं बारा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mama pura basi tapasinha para prītī। saṭha milu jāi tinhahi kahu nītī॥ asa kahi kīnhesi carana prahārā। anuja gahe pada bārahiṃ bārā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
You dwell in my city and yet show affection for ascetics? Go and join them, O fool, and teach them policy! So saying, Ravana kicked him. But Vibhishana, though struck, seized his brother’s feet again and again.
उमा संत कइ इहइ बड़ाई। मंद करत जो करइ भलाई॥ तुम्ह पितु सरिस भलेहिं मोहि मारा। रामु भजें हित नाथ तुम्हारा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
umā saṃta kai ihai baṛāī। maṃda karata jo karai bhalāī॥ tumhā pitu sarisa bhalehiṃ mohi mārā। rāmu bhajeṃ hita nātha tumhārā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
[Shiva says:] O Uma, this is the greatness of the saint: even when someone does them harm, they do good in return. [Vibhishana said:] You are like my father; beating me was indeed a kindness. But, O Lord, your good lies in worshipping Rama.
रामु सत्यसंकल्प प्रभु सभा कालबस तोरि। मैं रघुबीर सरन अब जाउँ देहु जनि खोरि॥ ४१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmu satyasaṃkalpa prabhu sabhā kālabasa torī। maiṃ raghubīra sarana aba jāuṃ dehu jani khori॥ 41 ॥
Meaning:
Rama is the Lord whose resolve is infallible, and your assembly is under the power of Time. Therefore I now go to the refuge of Raghubira; do not blame me.