Vibhishana

Birth and his boon

When Kaikasi asked the sage Vishrava for children, he warned her that her sons would be cruel, because she had come at an inauspicious hour. Moved by her pleading, he promised that her last son would be devoted to dharma. That last son was Vibhishana.

With his brothers Ravana and Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana went to the forest of Gokarna to perform penance. He lived purely and prayed with a calm mind for many thousands of years. When Brahma appeared and offered a boon, Vibhishana asked, “Even in the greatest danger, may my mind always stay fixed on dharma.”

Brahma was delighted. He said that because Vibhishana did not even think of wrongdoing though born a rakshasa, he would also give him the gift of immortality. Later Ravana arranged Vibhishana’s marriage to Sarama, the daughter of the gandharva king Shailusha.

A voice of dharma in Lanka

Vibhishana lived in Lanka in his own palace, and Hanuman, searching the city at night, noticed that his house was marked with signs of worship. When Hanuman was later captured and brought before Ravana, the king ordered that he be killed. Vibhishana rose and said respectfully, “A messenger must never be killed. That is against dharma. Punish him in some other way.”

Ravana agreed, and ordered instead that Hanuman’s tail be set on fire. So Vibhishana’s words saved Hanuman’s life, and Hanuman went on to burn Lanka and return to Rama with news of Sita.

Meanwhile Vibhishana’s family showed kindness to Sita. Sita told Hanuman that Vibhishana’s eldest daughter had secretly come to her, sent by her mother, and told her that Ravana would not give her back. Later, during the war, Vibhishana’s wife Sarama comforted Sita when Ravana tried to deceive her with a false image of Rama’s head.

Leaving Ravana

After the burning of Lanka, Ravana called his ministers. Most of them boasted that they would easily win. Vibhishana alone advised peace. “Give Sita back to Rama with honour,” he said. “Since she came to Lanka, we have seen many bad omens. Rama is righteous and strong. Let us not destroy Lanka for one man’s desire.”

He gave this advice more than once. At last Ravana lost his temper and insulted him in front of the whole court, calling him a disgrace to the family and saying that he secretly wished for his brother’s ruin. Vibhishana rose into the sky with four loyal companions and spoke one last time: “I said these things for your good. Forgive me. Be happy without me.”

Ravana said bitterly that it is safer to live with an enemy or an angry serpent than with a relative who pretends to be a friend but sides with the enemy. Vibhishana did not answer in anger. He knew that by leaving he would be called a traitor, but he could not stay and support a wrong that would destroy Lanka.

Refuge with Rama

Vibhishana flew across the ocean to where Rama’s army was camped. Hovering in the sky, he called out that he had come to take refuge with Rama. Sugriva and several vanara leaders were suspicious. “He is a rakshasa and Ravana’s brother,” they said. “He may be a spy.” Hanuman, however, said that Vibhishana’s words and face showed sincerity.

Rama listened to them all and then gave his decision. “I can never turn away one who comes to me as a friend. Even if Ravana himself came to me for refuge, I would protect him. Whoever comes to me saying ‘I am yours’, I give him safety from all beings. This is my vow.” Vibhishana came down and bowed at Rama’s feet.

Rama asked him about Lanka, and Vibhishana told him of Ravana’s strength and his generals. Then Rama sent Lakshmana to bring sea water, and there on the seashore, before the war had even begun, Rama had Vibhishana anointed as the king of Lanka.

Helper in the war

Vibhishana advised Rama to pray to the Ocean for a way across. In the war he knew the secrets of the rakshasas. He named Ravana’s warriors for Rama, saw through their tricks, and kept the vanaras calm when they were frightened.

His four companions took the form of birds and flew secretly into Lanka to see how Ravana had arranged his army at the gates. Vibhishana reported everything to Rama, so that Rama could place his own leaders where they were most needed.

When Indrajit pretended to kill Sita before the vanaras, Vibhishana explained that it was only an illusion, and that Indrajit had gone to perform a sacrifice at Nikumbhila that would make him unbeatable. He led Lakshmana there, and Lakshmana fought and killed Indrajit before the sacrifice was finished.

When Ravana finally fell, Vibhishana wept for his brother, remembering his courage and learning. Rama told him that enmity ends with death, and asked him to perform Ravana’s funeral rites with honour, which he did.

King of Lanka

After the funeral, Lakshmana crowned Vibhishana king of Lanka again in the city itself. Vibhishana then brought Sita to Rama, and after Sita’s test of fire he offered Rama the Pushpaka chariot for the journey home. He travelled with Rama to Ayodhya and attended his coronation.

Before they left Lanka, at Rama’s request, Vibhishana honoured the vanaras who had fought so bravely, giving them jewels and fine gifts. In Ayodhya he stayed for some time as Rama’s honoured guest and then returned to rule his kingdom.

Years later, when Rama was about to leave the world, Vibhishana came to him. Rama told him to remain on earth and rule Lanka with righteousness for as long as the world endures. Vibhishana bowed and accepted. So the rakshasa who chose dharma over his own family became one of the long-living friends of Rama.