Many people have different opinions of Vibhishan. I am merely expressiing my own. I do not mean to offend anyone. A similar discussion did come up in Vanar Sena Club (Started in page 10 and then continues in pages 13, 14).
Thank you Rajnish ji, Suniti ji, Lalitha ji, Mallika ji for expressing your views so elaborately for all to understand.
I may be repeating what is said earlier, but I'm doing so to stress some points.
First of all, one must think from Vibhishan's point of view to understand him. Its perfectly true that no one can stand the humiliation of being literally 'kicked' out in front of the whole court. I can't even imagine how much it would have hurt him. Someone he had respected as a father had disowned him and kicked him out that too for the lust of a woman. No respectable person will stay in the same place after all this. What Ravan did was not correct. Abducting a woman after tricking her husband and brother in law away from her and taking her away when she was helpless was a very cowardly thing to do. Its perfectly true that none of Ravan's ministers were brave enough to speak against him. It takes a great deal of courage to stand up against one's enemies. It takes even more greater courage to stand up against your friends and family when they do something wrong especially when they are elder to you (I know this is a quote from Harry Potter - I'm just quoting it here as it fits the situation and its perfectly true 😉).
A question may arise that why did Vibhishan go to Ram after being thrown out of Lanka. Why didn't he retire to a forest or some other place and spend the rest of his days quietly? The reason, I think, is this . . .
Vibhishan was a true devotee of Lord Vishnu and Lord Ram. Ravan had thrown him out and not even one person from his family or friends or his subjects ever spoke for him. They did not persuade Ravan that he should not throw out his brother fro telling the truth. After all, Vibhishan spoke that way only for Ravan's wellbeing and not that he wanted to hurt him or scold him. When his whole family had deserted him, and when he was so hurt by what his brother did what would a person like Vibhishan do? A true devotee like him will run straight to his lord (the God he worships) and seek shelter at his Lord's feet. This is exactly what Vibhishan did. (I think it was his ministers and friends who advised him to do so and not his mother. I read a story that Kekasi (Ravan's mother) died soon after Ravan had tried to bring the Aatma Linga to Lanka and was thwarted by the devas and Lord Ganesha in this attempt.) When everyone he knew had deserted him is it not natural that he seeked shelter from the one he had worshiped all his life?
Secondly, though its true that Ravan was a great devotee, he had comitted many sins. Like the many asur and rakshas kings before him, he was truly devoted and gained many boons. But when he misused them, he was punished for what he did. It was his devotion that protected him for such a long time. But when he crossed the limit, there was nothing to save him. He brought destruction not only upon himself but upon his whole family.
Thirdly (and most importantly), whether Vibhishan gave out the secrets of his family or not, Ram would have definitely won the war. With Vibhishan's guidance and timely help for to his friends, the war was won sooner. Without Vibhishan, though it may have taken a bit longer, Ram would have definitely won the war. Righteousness always wins. It can never be otherwise. Vibhishan could have told Ram everything about Ravan and others on the first day of meeting Ram. But Vibhishan never told them the secret till there was no other option and he considered it his duty to save the lives of his friends who shelterd him when his family had thrown him out. If Ravan had not thrown him out, Vibhishan too would have died fighting for Ravan.
Vibhishan was never weak. He remained strong even in the most trying of circumstances. Though he knew about Ravan's temper and that his blindness to reason when he was enamoured by women, he still endeavoured to talk sense into his brother. He never craved the throne and accepted it only because it was offerd by the one whom he seeked shelter from. It would have been disrespectful of Vibhishan if he had refused the first thing that was given by his friend and protector. If he had wanted the throne, he need not have joined Lord Ram for it. He could have just stayed back and egged his brother in the wrong path and awaited his brother's demise to snatch the throne. It was also possible that Ram could have claimed Lanka as a part of his own kingdom after his victory. Ram was the king of Ayodhya and if he had conquered Lanka and defeated Ravan, the kingdom of Lanka will belong to Ram. That was the laws of war at those times. And when Vibhishan left Lanka, Ravan had a huge and capable army. He didn't even know that Ram was going to offer him the kingdom. In fact, he just hoped that Ram would grant him shelter and that was all he wanted. Thus, Vibhishan could not have gone to Ram expecting to be given the kingdom of Lanka. Ram offered to make him the king of Lanka and Vibhishan in turn promised to help Ram as a friend. And this he chose to do because Ram was fighting for a righteous cause. Maharishi Valmiki often refers to Vibhishan as sage Vibhishan. This is an acknowledgement of his good character and selflessness.
Its true that Vibhishan joined Ram not because of Ram but because Ram's cause was a righteous one. It is also true that being a true devotee like Hanuman, he recognised the Lord which Ravan failed to do.
That's all for now friends. Again, apologies for such a long reply.
Edited by Vibhishna - 16 years ago
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