Cast Out of Lanka, Vibhishana Flies Toward the Lotus Feet of Rama
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 42
Doha 42 · Movement 1 of 2
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The instant Vibhishana departs, the demons become as though lifeless. Shiva tells Bhavani that contempt for a saint destroys every welfare at once. When Ravana casts away his brother, his splendor leaves with him, though the towers of Lanka still gleam.
Vibhishana flies toward Raghunayaka in joy, filling the journey with loving visions. He will behold the crimson, tender lotus feet that give happiness to servants. Their touch redeemed Ahalya. Their passage made the Dandaka forest sacred. Janaka's daughter held them against her heart, and they ran after the deceptive deer for her sake.
Those same feet bloom forever in the lake of Shiva's heart. Soon they will stand before Vibhishana's own eyes. The exile looks neither down at the kingdom he has lost nor back toward the brother who struck him. His mind reaches the shore before his body, absorbed in the unimaginable fortune of darshan.
Lanka falls behind while every remembered footstep of Rama draws Vibhishana across the sky.
Read the passage from the Manas
अस कहि चला बिभीषनु जबहीं। आयूहीन भए सब तबहीं।। साधु अवग्या तुरत भवानी। कर कल्यान अखिल कै हानी।। रावन जबहिं बिभीषन त्यागा। भयउ बिभव बिनु तबहिं अभागा।। चलेउ हरषि रघुनायक पाहीं। करत मनोरथ बहु मन माहीं।। देखिहउँ जाइ चरन जलजाता। अरुन मृदुल सेवक सुखदाता।। जे पद परसि तरी रिषिनारी। दंडक कानन पावनकारी।। जे पद जनकसुताँ उर लाए। कपट कुरंग संग धर धाए।। हर उर सर सरोज पद जेई। अहोभाग्य मै देखिहउँ तेई।।
The moment Vibhishana spoke thus and departed, all the demons became as good as lifeless. O Bhavani, disrespecting a saint instantly destroys one's welfare and brings ruin upon all. The very moment Ravana cast out Vibhishana, the unfortunate king lost all his glory. Vibhishana set forth joyfully toward Lord Rama, cherishing many hopes in his heart. "I shall go and behold those lotus feet, crimson and tender, that bestow happiness upon all who serve them." "Those feet by whose touch the sage's wife Ahalya was redeemed and the Dandaka forest was purified." "Those feet which Janaka's daughter Sita held close to her heart, and which chased after the illusory deer." "Those same lotus feet that abide in Shiva's heart. How blessed am I that I shall behold them!"