Vibhishana Leaves a Court Ruled by Death for the Refuge of Raghuvira
Sundara Kanda, Doha 41
Doha 41 · Movement 2 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Suspended above Lanka, Vibhishana speaks his farewell where court and city can hear. Behind him stands Ravana's assembly, still bright with gold and power, but its inward ruler is now Death.
Before him, across the ocean, waits Rama, the Lord whose resolve is truth. What Rama determines cannot be broken by fortress, lineage, weapon, or the laughter of ministers. Vibhishana places that unwavering truth against the doomed confidence of the hall he has left.
I go now to the shelter of Raghuvira, he declares. Give me leave and do not blame me. His exile becomes a chosen direction. He is no longer a minister without a hearing or a brother beneath a violent foot. The sky between Lanka and Rama has become the first clear road of his surrender.
Behind Vibhishana lies a court in Death's grasp; before him waits the shelter of Rama's unbroken resolve.
Read the passage from the Manas
रामु सत्यसंकल्प प्रभु सभा कालबस तोरि। मै रघुबीर सरन अब जाउँ देहु जनि खोरि।।41।।
"Rama is the Lord whose resolve is truth itself; your assembly is now under Death's sway. I go now to the shelter of Raghuvira. Grant me leave; do not find fault."