by Valmiki
Honourable Vibhīṣaṇa leapt up from his seat, holding his mace, along with four other rākṣasas. Enraged, he stepped into the air and said to his brother, ‘You are my brother, great king. You can say whatever you like. But I will not forgive you for these cruel words and for your unrighteousness! Those who are doomed to die do not listen to good advice from their well wishers. It is easy to find companions who will tell you what you want to hear. It is hard to find those who will speak the unpleasant truth. It is harder still to find those who will listen to it.
‘I cannot stand by and watch you place your head in death’s noose any more than I can stand and watch a house on fire. I do not want to see you killed by golden arrows that are like tongues of flame. Even men who are strong and brave and who have performed great feats in battle crumble like walls of sand when they are in death’s grasp. Protect this city and all the rākṣasas! I wish you well! I am leaving now. I hope you will be happy without me!’
Vibhīṣaṇa left almost immediately to find Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. The monkeys who were on the ground with Sugrīva saw Vibhīṣaṇa coming through the air. He was as large as Mount Meru and he shone like lightning. Sugrīva thought for a moment and then said to Hanumān and the others, ‘Look at this rākṣasa fully armed! I have no doubt he has come here with his four companions to kill us!’
The monkeys armed themselves with trees and rocks and said, ‘Give the word, king, and we shall kill them and drop them to ground in an instant!’
As they were talking amongst themselves, Vibhīṣaṇa reached the northern shore of the ocean and stood there calmly. He noticed Sugrīva and the others and addressed them in a loud voice. ‘I am Vibhīṣaṇa, the younger brother of Rāvaṇa, the wicked king of the rākṣasas! He is the one who abducted Sītā from Janasthāna and killed Jaṭāyu. Sītā is constantly guarded by rākṣasīs and she is helpless and miserable. I have argued with Rāvaṇa again and again and given him many reasons why he should return Sītā to Rāma. But he is trapped by his fate and refuses to take my advice, as a man who wants to die refuses medication. He has insulted me and treated me like a slave. So I have renounced my wife and children and have come to Rāma for refuge. Rāma is the refuge of all creatures in the world. Tell him that Vibhīṣaṇa has come to see him!’
Sugrīva went hurriedly to Rāma, greatly agitated and, in front of Lakṣmaṇa, he said, ‘Rāvaṇa’s brother Vibhīṣaṇa has come here with four other rākṣasas to take refuge with you. I am sure he has been sent here by Rāvaṇa as a spy. We must imprison him. He will gain our confidence and then he will kill you, Rāma! I think we should be ruthless with Vibhīṣaṇa and his companions. Remember, he is vile Rāvaṇa’s brother!’
Rāma understood what Sugrīva was trying to tell him and after he had finished speaking, Rāma addressed Hanumān and the other monkey leaders who were standing nearby. ‘You have heard what the king of the monkeys has to say about Rāvaṇa’s brother. He has spoken clearly and to the point. When a problem like this has to be resolved, all one’s intelligent and capable companions should express their opinions.’
They all spoke eagerly but courteously. Angada was the first to speak and suggested that Vibhīṣaṇa’s loyalty be tested. Vibhīṣaṇa is our enemy. It is appropriate that we be suspicious of him first. We cannot just assume that he is worthy of our trust. Deceitful people hide their intentions and move amongst the enemy and then they strike when the time is right. That would be a disaster for us. Let us test him before we take him into our confidence. If he proves to be virtuous, we shall take him and if not, we must drop him.’
Śarabha, who was very practical, said, ‘Let us put a spy on him as soon as possible. Once he has been watched and investigated by someone with a keen intelligence, we can decide what to do next.’
Jāmbavan was learned in the traditional texts of kingship and he considered the matter in that context. ‘Vibhīṣaṇa comes from our sworn enemy, the wicked king of the rākṣasas. He has not acted appropriately and we must be suspicious of him because of that.’
Mainda, who knew the difference between right and wrong and who was very eloquent, said, ‘Let us question ‘Vibhīṣaṇa gently and without hostility about Rāvaṇa’s plans. We will be able to assess his real intentions and decide whether he is good or evil.’
Then Hanumān, who was the finest of all the councillors, rich in learning and wisdom and familiar with the rules of conduct, said, ‘The strategies suggested by the others, that we assess Vibhīṣaṇa’s merits, seem flawed to me. I cannot see how such a scheme would work. It would be all right if we could conceive of some huge test for him. At the same time, we cannot simply take a stranger into our midst like this.
‘The suggestion that we have him spied upon is also faulty. The circumstances are not suitable for something like that. The idea that Vibhīṣaṇa has come to us at the wrong time and in the wrong place is also incorrect. In fact, I feel it is just the opposite. I think he has come to the right place at the right time. He saw how wicked Rāvaṇa is and how great and powerful Rāma is. He made the right choice by deciding to come here.
‘The idea that we should question him is based on faulty logic. Any intelligent person who is questioned like this would become suspicious and we run the risk of alienating someone who has approached us in genuine friendship. One can never get to the real intentions of another by questioning him.
‘He never showed any indications of deceit or lies when he was speaking. His face and manner were open and friendly. I am sure he is sincere. There is no hint of unrighteousness in anything he has said. He has observed your actions and seen Rāvaṇa’s deeds. He has heard about the killing of Vālī and Sugrīva’s coronation. I think he has come here because he wants a kingdom. Keeping all this in mind, I think it would be all right to take him as an ally!’
Rāma listened with interest and delight to Hanumān’s intelligent response. ‘I, too, have something to say on the subject of Vibhīṣaṇa,’ he said. ‘Listen to it, for you have my interests at heart. You should never turn away anyone who comes to you in friendship, even if he has evil intentions. A good person would never do that.’
Sugrīva was moved by what Rāma said and his love and respect for Rāma swelled. ‘There is nothing surprising in this! You are the lord of the world and you are honourable. You know dharma and you do and say the right thing all the time. I know in my heart that Vibhīṣaṇa is a good man. That is the only conclusion anyone would come to if they observed him carefully. Let Vibhīṣaṇa be made equal with all of us, Rāma. Take him as an ally!’
‘What difference does it make if this rākṣasa is good or wicked,’ said Rāma. ‘Nobody can hurt me in the slightest way. I could destroy all the piśācas, the dānavas, the yakṣas and the rākṣasas in the world with my little finger if I wanted to! Even at the cost of his own life, a righteous man must protect a fugitive from the enemy, no matter if he be arrogant or in abject misery. I give him my protection, whether it is Vibhīṣaṇa or Rāvaṇa himself. Bring him here, monkeys!’
Vibhīṣaṇa was relieved that Rāma had accepted him and fell at his feet along with his companions. ‘I am Rāvaṇa’s brother. But he has dismissed me and so I have come to you, the refuge of all creatures!’ he said. ‘I have renounced Lankā, my friends and all my wealth. Now my hopes for a kingdom, life and happiness lie with you. I will do all I can to help you destroy the rākṣasas and conquer Lankā. I will even infiltrate the enemy army!’
Rāma embraced Vibhīṣaṇa and told Lakṣmaṇa to fetch water from the ocean. ‘Use this water to consecrate Vibhīṣaṇa king of the rākṣasas so that he knows how pleased I am with him!’ he said. Lakṣmaṇa did as he was told and Vibhīṣaṇa was crowned in the presence of all the monkeys who shouted ‘Well done! Excellent!’ at this sign of favour from Rāma.
Chapter Three
Then Sugrāva asked Vibhīṣaṇa, ‘How shall we cross this boundless ocean? We cannot think of a way to get across with the en
tire monkey army.’
‘Rāma should ask the ocean for help!’ replied Vibhīṣaṇa. ‘This ocean was dug up by Sagara and he will use all his resources to help Rāma!’
Vibhīṣaṇa’s plan was simple and practical and it appealed to Rāma. ‘I like this idea, Lakṣmaṇa’ said Rāma. ‘Tell me, do you and Sugrīva approve? You are both experienced advisors. Consider the plan and tell me what you think.’
Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa replied together, ‘How could Vibhīṣaṇa’s idea not appeal to us? It is timely and practical. We cannot cross the immense ocean without building a bridge. Even an army of the gods and asuras led by Indra could not reach Lankā any other way! Let us put Vibhīṣaṇa’s plan into action immediately. We have wasted enough time already!’
Rāma sat down on a bed of kuśa grass on the ocean shore, blazing like the sacrificial fire. He sat there beside the ocean for three days and three nights in constant vigil, adhering strictly to his vows. But the ocean, the lord of the rivers, did not appear before Rāma who was doing this to propitiate him. Rāma’s eyes turned red with anger and he said to Lakṣmaṇa who stood beside him, ‘Look, Lakṣmaṇa! The ocean does not present himself despite the honour I do him! He is so arrogant that he will not show himself!
‘The virtues of good men, like calmness, patience, honesty and sweet speech bear no results. They are seen as signs of weakness. The world respects only those men who are wicked and cunning, who dole out punishments in all directions and who constantly praise themselves. One cannot achieve fame and success in the world without violence, just as one cannot achieve victory in battle without it.
‘Today you shall watch as the ocean overflows with fish pierced by my arrows, Lakṣmaṇa! You shall see the carcasses of sea creatures shredded by my arrows! Today I shall declare war on this mighty ocean, filled with shells and fish, and I shall dry up his waters! The ocean thinks I am weak because I have been patient. What is the use of patience with someone like this? Bring me my bow, Lakṣmaṇa, and my arrows which are like poisonous snakes. I am going to agitate this calm ocean. Even though it never transgresses its bounds, I shall cause such huge waves that the ocean will overflow!’
His eyes dilated with anger, Rāma grabbed his bow and he blazed like the doomsday fire. He held his mighty bow in the middle and made the earth tremble as he released a storm of arrows as Indra would release his thunderbolt. The arrows shone with splendour and they forced themselves into the ocean, causing great fear among the sea creatures. A huge wind arose and mighty waves crashed to the shore, carrying fish and sea serpents with them. The ocean was terribly agitated and threw up vast quantities of shells and filled the air with spray from its swiftly receding waters. The serpents and dānavas who lived in submarine worlds were terrified and their eyes blazed like fire. Thousands of waves as high as mountains rose from the ocean and the waters were filled with floating fish and other creatures.
Then, the ocean himself rose from the middle of the waters, like the sun rising over the peaks of Mount Meru. He made himself manifest, surrounded by sea serpents with flaming jaws. He was as smooth as emerald and was adorned with gold. He wore red clothes and a garland of red flowers and his eyes were like lotus petals.
He joined his palms in respect and said to Rāma who was still holding his arrows, ‘Rāma, the earth, the wind, sky, water and fire are all bound by their essential nature. I, too, have my own nature which makes me impossible to cross and impossible to swim. It would be completely unnatural for me to let you cross over. There is nothing, not desire, not greed or fear, that can make these waters still. The only thing I can grant you is something that I, too, can endure; and that is that the sea monsters will not prey on you until the army has crossed the waters.
‘Nala, the son of Viśvakarmā, stands right here with you. He has been given many boons by his father as a result of which, they are exactly alike. He can build a bridge across me and I will hold it up!’ said the ocean and vanished.
‘What the ocean said is true!’ said the monkey Nala. ‘I am exactly like my father. I can build a bridge across the ocean. My father, Viśvakarmā, gave my mother a boon on Mount Mandara. He said that the son born of him would be his equal. I did not mention my talents because I was not asked. But today, let the monkeys build the bridge!’
Under Rāma’s instructions, hundreds of thousands of monkeys ran all over the forest to collect wood for the bridge. They uprooted trees and carried them to the water as if they were carrying Indra’s banners. They broke off mountain peaks and threw them into the ocean, filling up the waters. Nala built a bridge that was ten yojanās wide and one hundred yojanās long in the middle of the ocean, the lord of rivers, and it shone like the stars in the sky.
The gods and gandharvas, the siddhas and the great sages gathered in the air to look at the wondrous bridge. The monkeys jumped in and out of the water as they yelled and screamed with delight at the miraculous bridge. Millions of monkeys used the bridge to cross the ocean. It was wide and firm, solidly built and had a shining floor. It cut through the ocean like a parting in the hair.
Once they had crossed the ocean, Vibhīṣaṇa stood ready to ward off any enemy attacks with his mace. Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sugrīva stood at the head of the army. Some of the monkeys walked in the middle of the bridge, others walked on the sides, others jumped in and out of the water, others strayed off the path and still others flew around in the air like birds. The huge din made by that enormous monkey army as it crossed the bridge drowned out the rumbling of the ocean. As the gods, siddhas and cāraṇas watched the wondrous feat that had been achieved for Rāma, the monkey army reached the other side and camped on the shore which abounded in roots, fruits and water.
Chapter Four
When Rāma had crossed the ocean with his army, Rāvaṇa summoned two of his ministers and said, ‘A bridge over the ocean has never been built before but Rāma and his army have done it. They have crossed the ocean and arrived here. I still cannot believe that they actually built the bridge! More important, I have to know about the size of the army. Infiltrate the army and find out all you can about its size and strength. Find out who the commanders are, who are the advisors that Rāma and Sugrīva trust the most, who leads the army in battle and who are the most heroic monkeys. Find out how they built the bridge and where the chief monkeys have been accommodated. Find out what Rāma’s strategy is going to be, how brave he is and what his weapons are. And about Lakṣmaṇa’s courage and skills. Get as much information as possible and come back as soon as you can!’
The two rākṣasas, Śuka and Sāraṇa, took on the form of monkeys and joined Rāma’s army. But they had no idea how to assess the numbers in a force that was so massive that it seemed endless and was so frightening that it made the hair stand on end. There were monkeys everywhere, on mountain tops and in the valleys and forests. Some of them were still coming over the ocean, others waited for their turn to cross to the northern shore. The army made a huge din as it settled on the shores of Lankā.
Vibhīṣaṇa saw the two rākṣasas and recognized them. He had them captured and brought before Rāma, saying that they were spies from Lankā. Śuka and Sāraṇa took one look at Rāma and were terrified. They lost all hopes of staying alive and they joined their palms and cried, ‘We only came here on Rāvaṇa’s instructions to assess the strength of the army!’
Rāma, who was devoted to the welfare of all creatures, laughed and said, ‘If you have done what you were asked to do, you can return. Go back to Lankā and give Rāvaṇa this message from me: “Show me the strength you resorted to when you abducted Sītā. Show me the strength of your army and your followers. Tomorrow you will see Lankā with its ramparts and gateways and all its rākṣasas destroyed by my arrows! Tomorrow I shall loose my arrows in anger against the rākṣasas as Indra loosed his thunderbolt against the dānavas!”’
The rākṣasas returned to Rāvaṇa with Rāma’s message. ‘We were captured by Vibhīṣaṇa and though we deserved to
die, Rāma spared our lives,’ they said. ‘Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa and Sugrīva are all mighty warriors, equal to Indra in strength and courage. They can destroy Lankā with its ramparts and gates, they don’t even need the other monkeys for this! And Rāma can do all this single-handed with his weapons! Even an army of the gods and asuras led by Indra cannot conquer those monkeys who are protected by Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sugrīva! All the monkeys are willing and eager to fight. Renounce your hostility with them, Rāvaṇa! Give Sītā back to Rāma!’
‘Even if the gods, gandharvas and dānavas were to unite against me I would not give up Sītā!’ roared Rāvaṇa. ‘Not even for fear of all the worlds! You are frightened because you have just seen that enormous army. That is why you think it is appropriate for me to return Sītā!. Where is the foe that can beat me in battle!’
‘Do you see those huge monkeys standing there like rutting elephants, like banyan trees on the banks of the Gangā, like sāla trees on Mount Himavān?’ said Śuka to Rāvaṇa. ‘They are the sons of gods and gandharvas. They are immeasurably strong and heroic, they can change their form at will and they are equal to the gods in their strength and valour. There are hundreds of thousands of millions of monkeys like this!
‘See those two handsome monkeys over there, as beautiful as the gods? They are Mainda and Dvivida and they are unrivalled for the skills in battle. They had Brahmā’s permission to drink the nectar of immortality and they are now determined to destroy Lankā with their strength. And behind them, the two monkeys that you see are Sumukha and Vimukha. They are the sons of Yama and they are just like their father. The next one there, the one the size of an elephant, he can churn up the ocean when he is angry. He is the one who came to Lankā and saw Sītā. Look again, you have seen him before! The same monkey has returned! He is Hanumān, son of the Wind, and he is already famous for his leap over the ocean. He is the best of all the monkeys and he can take any form he likes! He is strong and powerful and goes wherever he pleases, just like the restless wind.
