Vibhishana Takes Refuge in Lord Rama
Vibheeshana was kicked out of Lanka by Ravana — literally, Ravana kicked him on his chest and said, get out.
After Hanumanji burned down the whole of Lanka, Ravana started reconstruction. Everything was charred. Only black pillars and walls remained. Gold that covered the walls earlier, even that had melted and turned black. In some of the rakshasa houses, only the gold covering inside the house remained as it was.
The rakshasas of Lanka knew that something terrible was going to happen. They were all scared. The confidence that they all had — that their king was invincible — that was gone now. But nobody had the courage to say anything against Ravana.
Lanka needed to be rebuilt and strengthened very fast before the enemy arrived. Ravana sent a message to Viswakarma. He refused. He said he was preoccupied with some other work. Had it been earlier, Ravana would have brought Viswakarma to his knees. Now he can't afford to do that. Enemy is approaching. He can't divert his attention elsewhere.
Asura shilpi Maya was there. He was Ravana's father-in-law. Ravana did not want to expose what happened in front of him. Ravana felt ashamed. How could a monkey do this to Lanka? Ravana entrusted the task of reconstruction to his own son, Meghanatha.
By the time the Lord and the vanara sena reached Lanka, it was almost restored as it was before — mostly.
That time itself some suspicion had come to Ravana's mind — why did the monkey not touch Vibheeshana's house? Kumbhakarna — ok, he was asleep. It would have been against rana neethi. But Vibheeshana? Why did the monkey not harm Vibheeshana? Otherwise, Vibheeshana was in charge of the administration of Lanka. But he was not involved in the reconstruction.
Soon Ravana's court assembled to take stock of the situation. Many of Ravana's ministers — they were trying to pamper him with sweet words.
'Good that that monkey went back. He was alone. There are so many of us. If we had caught him, then a fight would have erupted between us rakshasas for his meat. Now so many of those monkeys are coming — a whole army is coming. Sufficient for all of us to eat.'
Ravana was clever. He didn't fall for all these. Ravana's maternal grandfather was Sumali. His brother was Malyavan. Malyavan stood up and said:
'What, you people were having indigestion at that time when that monkey went around burning the whole of Lanka down? He challenged all of us and went back. Now we have a clear understanding of our limitations. Better return that woman and avoid complete destruction of Lanka.'
Vibheeshana also stood up.
'That is true. If one monkey could do so much, now crores of them are going to come. The king of rakshasas should go across the sea with that woman and return her to her husband and ask for his pardon.'
Ravana stood up and gave one kick on Vibheeshana's chest.
'You better go and join them. You have no place in Lanka anymore.'
Malyavan also left the court silently.
Vibheeshana and four of his ministers arrived. Vibheeshana came and prostrated before the Lord. Sugreeva, as the king of vanaras, was the commander of the whole operation — their part. Other than the vanaras, there were only two humans — the Lord and Lakshmana. Now these rakshasas have come in. What to do with them?
The Lord asked Sugreeva. Sugreeva said:
'How can we trust them? They are rakshasas — mayavis. What if they have come to spy on us? Already two spies sent by Ravana, who came disguised as monkeys, have been caught. How can we trust these rakshasas?'
The Lord said, let it be. But still, Rama doesn't turn away anyone who has come to his refuge. Be it the worst sinner, criminal — Rama will never turn him away.
'And don't worry about what will happen. This Lakshmana here is so powerful — can turn to ashes the whole of rakshasa sena without even lifting his bow and arrows. He has so much power in him.'
Sugreeva bent his head in agreement.
The Lord addressed Vibheeshana as Lankesha. Hanumanji immediately realized what was going to happen. Ravana will be eliminated, and Vibheeshana will be installed as the king of Lanka. Because even a single word that comes from the Lord cannot be untrue.
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