Vibheeshana along with his four ministers, Anala, Sharabha, Sampala, and Praghasa crossed the sea by sky (apparently using a Vimana) and reached the northern shore. Sugreeva and other Vanaras saw them and warned Hanuman that they might be coming to attack them. Vibheeshana who realized this said to them in a loud voice “I am Vibheeshana the brother of wicked Ravana who carried away Rama’s wife Sita from Janasthana. My brother did not heed my good advice and returned Sita to Rama and he insulted and humiliated me. So I had to abandon my wife and sons and am surrendering to Rama for protection. Please inform Rama that I have come”. Sugreeva hurried and informed Rama about the arrival of Vibheeshana and his ministers and said that he was awaiting orders to kill the five rakshasas because they were spies. He said that the rakshasas should not be believed. He compared him to a single owl which would kill many crows. Rama asked all the monkeys to tell their opinion. They were very pleased that Great Rama asked them their opinion. They said that there was nothing that Rama did not know in the three worlds. Then Angada said that he was expressing his view because Rama asked for it and said that they could accept Vibheeshana after ascertaining his intentions. Jambavan was suspicious and Sharabha agreed with Angada. Then Hanuman who is known for his great wisdom stood up and said “Sir I am speaking with your permission. I think we cannot find out if he is a spy unless we give him a task. But at the same time to give him a task is not wise either because we do not know anything about him. Vibheeshana tried to persuade Ravana to return Sita but he did not listen to him. So he abandoned Ravana and come for protection. If he had bad intentions he would not have dared to come. Besides, his face shows that he is speaking the truth. I think we can accept Vibheeshana in our camp but Rama it is your decision which is final”.
Rama spoke calmly. He said
“You are all my well-wishers. Listen to me. Vibheeshana has deserted his
brother and come to me for protection. So I will accept him and give him
protection irrespective of whether he is good or bad. That is my supreme dharma. We do
not desire to take their kingdom because we are not rakshasas. Vibheeshana is
wise and not a brute like others. He is different from Ravana. They are not
ideal brothers. All brothers cannot be like Bharata to me”. Hearing this
Sugreeva still maintained that Vibheeshana might hurt them when they were off
guard. But Rama was steadfast in his dharma of offering protection to anyone
including Ravana if he came asking for his protection.
Rama then ordered Sugreeva
to bring Vibheeshana to him. Rama said that even if he were to be Ravana
himself it would not have mattered to him.
Sugreeva said that Rama had
convinced him and went and brought Vibheeshana who came down from the sky and
fell at the feet of Rama. He said that he was the brother of Ravana and having
been humiliated and banished by his brother came to ask for protection from
Rama. Rama welcomed him with great affection, looked at him as if he were
drinking him with his eyes, and comforted him with kind words. Then Rama asked
Vibheeshana about the military strength of the rakshasas.
Vibheeshana told Rama about
the great boons obtained by Ravana and how he was invincible by celestials,
Rakshasas, and Asuras. He talked about Kumbhakarna’s enormous strength and also
about other rakshasa chiefs in Ravana’s army. Rama replied that he would surely
kill Ravana and all his relations. Then Rama also said that he was going to
crown him as the king of Lanka and he swore by his dear brothers that he would
do it. Vibheeshana promised that he would do his best to defeat the rakshasas
by penetrating their army. Upon hearing this Rama embraced Vibheeshana and
asked Lakshmana to give him a ceremonial bath in the sacred seawater. Then
Rama chanted mantras and to the loud exclaim of all the Vanaras, Vibheeshana
was made the king of Lanka.
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