Vibhishana Names the Four Roads to Ruin and Points Toward Rama
Sundara Kanda, Doha 38
Doha 38 · Movement 2 of 2
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In the center of Ravana's court, Vibhishana names four roads descending into darkness. Desire goes first, promising possession. Anger follows with fire in its breath. Pride raises a golden throne above all counsel, and greed closes its hands around what can never be kept.
These are not distant punishments awaiting another world. They are paths to hell beneath the feet, made visible wherever the next step is taken under their command. Lanka already glitters along their course while its king mistakes the downward road for the height of sovereignty.
Vibhishana does not leave his brother before an abyss without a direction of escape. Abandon them all, he says, and worship Raghuvira, whom the saints worship. Beyond the palace walls, Rama waits at the ocean. Within the warning itself, the way from ruin to refuge has already been opened.
Four roads descend from Ravana's throne, while one act of worship turns the heart toward Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
काम क्रोध मद लोभ सब नाथ नरक के पंथ। सब परिहरि रघुबीरहि भजहु भजहिं जेहि संत।।38।।
Kaama, krodha, mada, lobha: all of these, O Nath, are paths that lead to naraka. Abandon them all and worship Raghuvira, the one whom the saints worship.