Vibhīshaṇa Śaraṇāgati (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa)
Vibhīshaṇa is the younger brother of Rāvaṇa, the king of Laṅkā. In the Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa (the Rāmacaritamānas) he leaves Laṅkā, crosses the ocean with his four ministers and comes to the camp of Bhagavān Rāma’s vānaras. There he gives himself up to Bhagavān Rāma. This act is called śaraṇāgati (surrender, taking shelter at the feet of Bhagavān Rāma). Sugrīva advises suspicion. Bhagavān Rāma answers with his vow to protect all who seek shelter in him. Vibhīshaṇa falls at his lotus feet and is embraced. Bhagavān Rāma then crowns him king of Laṅkā with sea-water, before the war has even begun.
Vibhīshaṇa’s longing for the feet of Bhagavān Rāma
Vibhīshaṇa crossed the ocean northward. As he came near the vānara camp, his heart was full of longing to see the feet of Bhagavān Rāma. Tulasīdāsa gives him these Avadhi verses.
Dekhihauṃ jāi caraṇa jalajātā
Arun mṛdul sevaka sukha-dātā.
Je pada parasī tarī risi nārī
Daṇḍaka kānana pāvana kārī.
Je pada janaka-sutā ura lāye
Kapaṭa kuraṅga saṅga dhara dhāye.
Hara ura sara saroju pada joī —
Ahobhāgya maiṃ dekhihauṃ teī!
The meaning: “I shall go and see those lotus feet. They are rose-coloured and tender, and they give joy to those who serve. By the touch of those feet the ṛshi’s wife Ahalyā was freed. Those feet made the Daṇḍaka forest pure. Those feet are the ones Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, holds close to her heart. Those feet ran after the false deer. Those feet are the lotus that Bhagavān Śiva carries in the lake of his own heart. What good fortune! Those very feet I shall see today with my own eyes!”
These are among the best-loved verses of the whole Rāmacaritamānas. They show the longing of a bhakta (devotee) for the lotus feet of Bhagavān Rāma, the caraṇāravinda.
Arrival at the vānara camp
Vibhīshaṇa came through the sky to the vānara camp with his four ministers. The vānara guards stopped him. They told Sugrīva that Rāvaṇa’s own brother had come and asked to be received.
Sugrīva went at once to Bhagavān Rāma and said: “Raghuvara! Rāvaṇa’s younger brother Vibhīshaṇa has come with his ministers. He wants your darśana (sight of you).”
Then Sugrīva told Bhagavān Rāma what he feared: “Deva! The rākshasas are kāmarūpins, which means they can take any shape they wish. Their tricks cannot be fully known. Perhaps Vibhīshaṇa has come to cause mitra-bheda (a break between friends) between me and Aṅgada, a split in our alliance. I advise that he be bound at once.”
Bhagavān Rāma’s vow to protect all who seek shelter
Bhagavān Rāma heard Sugrīva with a gentle smile. He said: “Kapīśvara (lord of the monkeys)! You have spoken truly. Your view is sound and agrees with the śāstra. But you know that I have made a vow. I will protect everyone who seeks my shelter. Even if Vibhīshaṇa comes as an enemy, even if he comes to cause division among us, there is no cause for worry. Even if all the rākshasas in the world gathered against us, Saumitri (Lakshmaṇa) could destroy them in a moment. Sugrīva! Whether Rāvaṇa’s younger brother comes to make friends or to spread division, receive him without fear and bring him to me.”
Hanumān heard Bhagavān Rāma state his everlasting vow and was glad. The doubts of Sugrīva and the commanders vanished at once. Aṅgada and Hanumān went with full honour and brought Vibhīshaṇa and his ministers before Bhagavān Rāma.
Vibhīshaṇa before Bhagavān Rāma
From far off, Vibhīshaṇa saw the divine form of Bhagavān Rāma. He saw his long arms, his shoulders broad like a lion’s and his eyes like red lotuses. Tears of joy, ānanda-aśru, came to his eyes and the hair of his body stood up, which is called pulaka. He joined his palms, bowed his head and spoke in a humble voice.
“O Dharma-jña! O Rāma Bhūpāla! Nātha! I am Rāvaṇa’s younger brother. My name is Vibhīshaṇa. I was born in the tāmasa rākshasa family. I heard that you protect all who seek shelter. So I have left Laṅkā and its king. I have given up son, friend, wife and everything else, and I have come to take refuge in you. I have no one but you, O Praṇatārtihara (remover of the pain of those who bow to you)! Protect me! Protect me!”
With these words the great asura fell flat at the lotus feet of Bhagavān Rāma, the ruler of Avadha.
The embrace and the end of his rākshasa nature
Dāśarathi, the ocean of mercy, lifted Vibhīshaṇa up with great kindness. He drew him close and held him to his heart.
Tulasīdāsa says that at the touch of the master of Sāketa, Vibhīshaṇa’s rākshasatva (rākshasa nature) dissolved in that very moment. The darkness within him, which came from his rākshasa birth, was wiped away by the embrace, as darkness goes before the sun.
Bhagavān Rāma then spoke warmly to him: “Vibhīshaṇa! How are you and your companions? You lived day and night among wicked people, yet you kept to the path of dharma. May Bhagavān Rāma never give any living being the company of the wicked!”
Vibhīshaṇa answered: “Kosaleśa (master of Kosala)! Today I have seen you, touched your feet and received your kṛpā (grace). I have gained every blessing. Jagannātha (master of the world)! We are of rākshasa birth. Our nature is evil and our karmas (actions) are impure. But today, by the grace of your merciful glance, my ignorance and all the pāpa (sin) I had gathered are gone. My fear and sorrow have left me and my heart is at peace. Deva! Accept the añjali (joined hands) of your devotee.”
Bhagavān Rāma was greatly pleased and said: “So be it.”
Bhagavān Rāma went on: “Brother Vibhīshaṇa! My nature is well known to Kākabhuśuṇḍi, and to Pārvatī and Parameśvara Śiva. Even a person who carries the greatest pāpa (sin), who has done harm to the whole world, becomes the best of sādhus (holy people) if he comes to me for shelter. Those who worship me in my form with qualities (saguṇopāsakas), who walk the path of dharma and who serve the best of brāhmaṇas, win my love. Laṅkeśa (master of Laṅkā)! You are adorned with every virtue and you are very dear to me.”
Vibhīshaṇa’s prayer for the bhakti of Śiva
Vibhīshaṇa was full of joy. He made one last prayer: “Saumya (gentle) Śrī Rāmachandra! Today my vāsanās (hidden desires) are destroyed and my citta (mind) has become pure. I pray that you give me the same pure bhakti (devotion) to you that Bhagavān Śiva has. Let that pure bhakti be mine.”
Bhagavān Rāma said: “So be it” (evamastu).
Vibhīshaṇa crowned king of Laṅkā
Tulasīdāsa notes the most striking part of this episode. Bhagavān Rāma crowned Vibhīshaṇa king of Laṅkā at once, before the war, in front of the whole army. Sea-water was brought in vessels. Bhagavān Rāma himself performed the rājyābhisheka (royal anointing) and poured the sacred water over Vibhīshaṇa, among the assembled vānaras, Sugrīva and all his allies. At that auspicious moment the devas sounded their dundubhis (drums) and rained flowers from the sky.
Tulasīdāsa then points out a contrast. Rāvaṇa won his powers and his kingdom by tapas (austerity) of ten heads, years of hard austerity in which he offered his own heads. Vibhīshaṇa gained the same kingship by bhakti alone.
The Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa says the consecration took place after Rāvaṇa’s death. In the Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa it takes place at the moment of Vibhīshaṇa’s surrender.
The next day: how to cross the ocean
The next morning Bhagavān Rāma called together Sugrīva, Vibhīshaṇa and the chief commanders. He said: “O Kapīśa! O Laṅkeśa! O Vānara heroes! We must act without delay. For now, this wide ocean stands in our way. We must find out how to cross it.”
Vibhīshaṇa advised that they pray to Samudra, the ocean. Lakshmaṇa advised using the force of the bow. Bhagavān Rāma accepted Vibhīshaṇa’s advice and went to the shore to pray.
Kākabhuśuṇḍi, Pārvatī and Parameśvara
When Bhagavān Rāma says that Kākabhuśuṇḍi and Pārvatī with Parameśvara Śiva know his nature, he points to the frame of the Rāmacaritamānas. In that frame Bhagavān Śiva tells the kathā (the sacred account) to Pārvatī.
Sources
- Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa (Rāmacaritamānas), Sundara Kāṇḍa