Malyavan Supports Vibhishana, but Ravana Calls Wisdom His Enemy
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 40
Doha 40 · Movement 1 of 2
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Malyavan, the wise elder minister, hears Vibhishana and rejoices. He tells Ravana that his younger brother is adorned with sound policy and urges him to hold this counsel within his heart. For one instant, truth has a second voice in the hall.
Ravana answers by naming both men fools who praise the enemy. He demands that someone drive them away. Malyavan withdraws to his home, while Vibhishana remains with folded hands and speaks once more. Right understanding and corrupted understanding dwell within every heart, as the Vedas and Puranas declare.
Where right understanding rules, many forms of prosperity arise. Where corrupted judgment rules, calamity is born. Ravana now receives friend as enemy and enemy as friend. Sita is the dark night of doom descending upon the demon lineage, yet his attachment to her grows deeper. Lanka's ruin has entered first as a reversal within its king's own mind.
When Ravana calls truthful counsel hostile, the night that will destroy Lanka has already entered his heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
माल्यवंत अति सचिव सयाना। तासु बचन सुनि अति सुख माना।। तात अनुज तव नीति बिभूषन। सो उर धरहु जो कहत बिभीषन।। रिपु उतकरष कहत सठ दोऊ। दूरि न करहु इहाँ हइ कोऊ।। माल्यवंत गृह गयउ बहोरी। कहइ बिभीषनु पुनि कर जोरी।। सुमति कुमति सब कें उर रहहीं। नाथ पुरान निगम अस कहहीं।। जहाँ सुमति तहँ संपति नाना। जहाँ कुमति तहँ बिपति निदाना।। तव उर कुमति बसी बिपरीता। हित अनहित मानहु रिपु प्रीता।। कालराति निसिचर कुल केरी। तेहि सीता पर प्रीति घनेरी।।
Malyavan, that very wise minister, heard these words and felt great joy. "Dear brother, your wisdom is an ornament. Take to heart what Vibhishana says." "Both these fools speak of the enemy's glory. Is there none here who will drive them away?" Malyavan returned to his home, while Vibhishana spoke again with folded hands. Good sense and bad sense both dwell in everyone's heart, so say the Puranas and the Vedas. Where good sense dwells, there prosperity abounds; where bad sense rules, there calamity follows. In your heart dwells perverted judgment. You regard enemies as friends and friends as foes. The night of doom has come upon the demon clan, and yet your love for Sita only grows.