Thursday 18 June 2015

277. Vibhishana became a persona non grata.

         Ravana did not at all relish the peroration of Vibhishana. He, Ravana told his brother Vibhishana "One can stay outright  with an enemy or even with a furious snake, but one cannot stay with an adversary claiming himself to be his friend. I know the conduct of kinsmen of your class in all the worlds. These kinsmen are always  rejoiced at the calamities of their kinsman on whom they are dependent. The kinsmen indeed insult and even humiliate that kinsman, who is an efficient and effective leader, a person of education and right conduct and a valiant person. The horrible kinsmen with their concealed thoughts and treacherous minds, terrific ones as they are, always rejoice each other in the adversities of their kinsman on whom they are dependent. Previously in a forest called Padmavana, some maxims were spoken by elephants, which saw men with nooses in their hands. The maxims enunciated by the elephants are 'For us, fire or weapons or nooses are not begetting fear. The terrific kinsmen, incited by selfishness are begetting fear to us. These kinsmen will inform our strategy to our enemies to seize us. There is no doubt about this. Out of all fears, the fear of such kinsmen is very much disturbing and disastrous for us.' It is well known that there is wealth in cows, fear for kinsmen, fickleness in women and austerity in Brahmins. It is now abundantly obvious that you do not like people venerating me, that I am very enormously rich and that I am sitting tight on the heads of enemies. As drops of water fallen on lotus leaves do not get clung to those leaves, so also a friendship does not cling to vulgar ones. As rainy clouds in autumn, even though thundering, cannot get the earth saturated with water, so also friendship does not have tenderness of heart in vulgar people. As a honey bee, even though getting adequate nectar from a flower, does not stick on to that flower due to its eager desire for more, you also belong to that category as friendship does not stick on to vulgar people. As even though trying to drink nectar from a flower of grass, a honey bee cannot get it, so also friendship cannot be extracted from vulgar persons. As an elephant abuses its body by helping itself with dust after taking bath earlier with its trunk, friendship gets an abuse in vulgar persons in the same manner. If any other person had uttered these words in this manner, he would have ceased to exit by now. A curse upon you!"
      Vibhishana could not stomach those harsh words from Ravana. He i.e. Vibhishana felt very much hurt and insulted for rendering good, sensible,  rational, sound, realistic and sober advice. He, therefore, decided to call it a day and bid adieu to his brother Ravana.
          Wielding a mace in his hand and accompanied by four of his very dear pals (of course they were rakshasas, too), he, Vibhishana, soared high into the sky. From there he shouted at his brother 'You are my elder brother. You utter whatever you like. Elder brother is like a father. Even if he is not staying in a right path, he is to be respected. But I am unable  to stomach those highly harsh and unreasonable words from you. Those who have an ill composed mind and who get conceded to undesirable passion do not assimilate the words of prudence spoken by a well wisher. Men who forever speak pleasing words are easy to get. It is hard to find someone who listens to sensible but unpleasing words and accepts it. I could not ignore you being destroyed, as none can ignore a burning house. I do not wish to see you being killed by Rama with his sharp arrows, adorned with gold and each resembling like a blazing fire. Persons who are not  following righteousness will sink down as a dam constructed with sand sinks down, even such persons are highly valiant, strong and skilled in weaponry, when time comes. As an elder brother, bear the words spoken by me, who desires your welfare. Guard this city and yourself along with the rakshasas, by all means. Let all be well with you. I am departing. Feel happy without me. I reiterate that what all I said were for your benefit. It is very unfortunate that you do not like them. Persons whose duration of life is to end, do not accept the salutary words spoken by their well wishers."
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