The unexpected turn
When the ogre army marched in, all Vanaras fled. There were only three Vanaras who stood by Rama and Lakshmana – and of course Vibishana…
The reserve forces of Ravana were the core of his army and were scattered all around the world. This strategy of having an army outpost in other countries seems to have been in existence even in those days. In fact Kara and Dhooshana were heading a contingent of Ravana’s army in India. Ravana sent word for his chiefs in several parts of the world and they – three hundred divisions of them – gathered in Lanka. He gave them a quick update – doctored update that is – and placed a strange request before them.
Ravana was really broken down after the death of Indrajit. It is not such an easy thing to withstand the grief of the death of a son. That too such a valiant, loving and affectionate son like Indrajit. A very moving verse occurs when Ravana takes the headless dead body of his son of Indrajit. ‘enakku nee seyyath thakka kadan ellam Engi Engi unakku naan seyvadhaanEn.’ It should have been you, as my son, who should have ignited my pyre. Instead, I am doing this for you my son. Who can be more fortunate than me! But Ravana ordered that the body of Indrajit be kept embalmed for him to perform the rites after beheading his enemies in revenge.
Even though his lust for Sita had been blunted to a great extent after the death of Indrajit, his blind rage and ego have not yet diminished. We still see him exhibiting a pompous and audacious manner in his council with the chiefs of his reserve forces. He narrated them the defeat of all of his kith and kin. But was so very careful not to mention his own defeat. The chiefs were perplexed. ‘nee, ivar elaam madiya enna kaaraNam kol igal seyaadhu irundhadhu?’ ‘Why was it that you did not fight them, when all such stalwarts had lost their lives at their hands?’ Ravana says, ‘I was ashamed of fighting such puny and tiny creatures. I refrained myself because it would not befit my stature.’ , Ravana comes to the field only in the last day, with a determination void of all lust and like the grand warrior he was. And Rama was waiting for Ravana to come back with this attitude to slay him. But that is a discussion for a later day.
Ravana employs all his cunning ways in his address to the chiefs. He tells them, ‘vaanarap perum senaiyai yaan oru vazhi sendru oon arak kuraithu uyir uNbEn.’ I will go myself and kill the vast army of monkeys. ‘neeyir pOi orungE aana matru iruvaraik kOrir endru araindhaan.’ All of you (three hundred divisions of them!) march on those two humans and kill them. Such magnanimity! Ravana to handle such a vast army and this sea of an army to fight just two ‘two-handed’ puny creatures! We see the traces of the humility that he went through in the first day’s war still linger in the mind of Ravana and his request to the chiefs is just a grandiloquent euphemism for ‘just handle those two persons because I am afraid of only those two.’
The reserve forces consisted of ogres of peculiar shapes and massive forms. The poet sings the crude forms and cruel nature of the forces in eighteen verses. When they marched into the field, the entire Vanara army was shocked at the immensity of the ogre army and the size of each. Believe it when I say, more shockingly all of the Vanara army ran away from the battlefield, including the great Jambavan, Nala, Nila and all other veterans of war. Only three of them stood by the side of Rama and Lakshmana – Sugriva, Hanuman and Angada. Of course, Vibishana was there, by their side. The non-fighter. That was a moment for the leader to prove himself. That was a veritable challenge thrown to Sri Rama. He decided to handle this.
The most reliable source of strength
Rama’s judgement pointed only to Vibishana whose wisdom alone could support their valour, in case of an emergency.
It was such a shocking sight to see the reserve forces that even the most courageous of all the Vanaras fled. ‘arathai thindru arung karuNayaip parugi’ (The reserve forces consisted of ogres that) ate Dharma and drank mercy. ‘maRathaip poondu vem paavathai maNam puNar maNaaLar.’ Wore malevolence as their ornament and were wedded to nothing but sin.
We see the peculiar sight in this scene of Angada, the youngest of all monkeys going in search of Jambavan, the senior most of all commanders of the army, the person who enthused the great Hanuman into action, and putting his mind at rest. In fact, Angada had to persuade Jambavan in so many words to come back to the field, enthusing the army so that it is fit for action, mentally.
He then turned to Vibishana for information on the ogre army that had come to the war field. He got the most vital of information on the army that it was the core strength of Ravana and that it consisted of all the rakshasas left on earth. If that army was dispatched, it then remained for Rama to slay Ravana. ‘vaazhi matru avan moola maath thaanai mun varuva.’ What is coming into the war field is the reserve force. ‘aazhi veru ini appurathu illai vaaL arakkar.’ There would be no more rakshasas available after the destruction of this army.
‘kEtta aNNalum muruvalum seetramum kiLara’ Rama heard these words and smiled with supreme confidence and also was unusually angered. ‘kaatugindranan kaaNudhi oru kaNathu,’ he said. ‘I will show who I am in a trice.’ ‘ootin mErkoNda thaanayai bayam thudaithu uravOi meeti kol ena angadhan Odinaan viraindhaan. ‘It is for you to wipe the army clean of its fear and bring them back, Angada,’ Rama said. Hearing these words, Angada rushed to them.
‘ethanai arakkarEnum dharumam aaNdu illai andre,’ Angada told Jambavan. ‘Let there be countless ogres on their side. But what they don’t have is Dharma. Have you ever heard that adharma had ever established its win over Dharma?’ That convinced Jambavan and they returned to the side of Rama, ashamed of themselves. But Sri Rama had already decided to face the situation, all alone, by himself. Not even Hanuman could accompany him, despite his sincere submissions to carry him on his shoulders, as he had been doing thus far, in all other battles. ‘I owe all my victories thus far to you. It was you who saved us on many an occasion. It was due to your efforts that the divine herbs were brought to save the life Lakshmana. But, now it is your duty to stand guard here, along with Lakshmana, protecting this entire army.’
He ordered the army to collect in one place. Lakshmana and Hanuman were ordered to protect the army. In all his forethought of an army chief, Rama told Hanuman, ‘you have to be here with Lakshmana, O brave warrior. For how can Lakshmana handle the situation without your help, if Ravana comes and attacks the army? It would make his task difficult. Apart from that it would cause devastation to the army.’ So saying, he walked to face the entire reserve forces, alone. Before that, he called and instructed Vibishana,
‘Veedana neeym matru un thambiyOdu egi’ Go along with your brother (Lakshmana), O Vibishana. ‘vemmai koodiyOr seyyum maayam therindhanai koori’ You are the one who knows the illusory and treacherous ways they adopt and inform them of their ways in time. ‘needuru thaanai thannai thaanginaai nillai ennin,’ if you do not thus stand by their side and extend your support to them, ‘kEdu uLadhu aagum endraan avan adhu kEtpadhaanan.’ The army would suffer a great deal. And Vibishana did as he was told.
Just look at whom Rama vests all his trust with at this critical moment. Not that he had lost his trust on the Vanara army and its chiefs who ran away. He was so concerned about their welfare and wanted to protect them. He put two of his best men to protect them, along with Sugriva, Angada and others. But his judgement pointed only to Vibishana whose wisdom alone could support their valour, in case of an emergency. An extraordinary tribute indeed.
Not wilder than a cow
That was the only occasion when Vibishana lost his patience and resorted to the use of his weapons, participating in the war directly…
On the one side Sri Rama was obliterating the reserve forces. On the other side, Ravana marched on the Vanara army – as Sri Rama had anticipated earlier, before he went on his one-man mission.
Ravana did not expect that his forces would crumble like a mere thatched structure hit by cyclone. He had to act quickly to stop the speed with which Lakshmana was consuming his forces like forest fire. He therefore decided to fire his ‘mohana astra’ that could kill the entire host. Mohana astra was considered to be one of the potent missiles. ‘moham ondru uladhu mudhalavan vaguthadu munnaaL.’ The mohana astra was created by the Supreme one in the hoary past. ‘aagam atradhu.’ It has no definite shape. ‘kotramum Sivan thanai azhippadhu.’ It can nullify even the victory of Lord Shiva. ‘Egam mutriya vinjayai ivan vayin Evi kaagam utru uzhal kaLathinil kidathuvan.’ I will use it against Lakshmana and his army and make them a prey for crows.
Had Rama not foreseen this situation! Had he not deputed Vibishana to advise Lakshmana of the right thing to do at the right time! Before Ravana could aim it, Vibishana saw the intentions of Ravana and understood that he was preparing for shooting the mohana astra and prompted Lakshmana about it. Not only that. ‘adhu kaNdu mudugi’ Seeing it, and (acting) quickly, ‘anbin VeedaNan,’ Vibishana who was imbued with love, ‘aazhiyaan padaiyinin aruthi enbadhu Odhinaan.’ (Advised Lakshmana ‘Ravana is preparing to shoot the mohana astra.) Use the astra that is presided over by Vishnu and parry it. Only that can stop its devastating effect. Lakshmana did so and the mohana astra was wasted. Ravana was upset that it was due to Vibishana that his victory is still elusive.
He took his trident that was given to him by Mayan, the architect of the rakshasas and also the father of Mandodhari, wife of Ravana and threw it with full force on Vibishana. There was nothing to stop it or counter it. That could have spelt the doom for Vibishana. But the valiant Lakshmana could not allow such a thing to happen to Vibishana who has been granted ‘abhaya’ by Rama. He therefore took the trident on his chest, protecting Vibishana and fell on the ground.
That was the only occasion when Vibishana lost his patience and resorted to the use of his weapons, participating in the war directly. He could not reconcile to the fact that the trident aimed at him by Ravana was the cause for the fall of Lakshmana on the field once again. With his mace in hand he rushed towards Ravana and destroyed his chariot, killing the charioteer and horses as well.
But Ravana did not mind it. He shot several arrows at Vibishana to restrain him for a few moments and moved out of the field shouting, ‘The war is over.’ He knew that Rama could not stand the death of his younger brother and would follow him when he finds Lakshmana lifeless. He was overjoyed and moved away from the field without fighting with Vibishana.
‘vendri en vayamaanadhu.’ Victory is mine now. ‘veedanap pasuvaik kondru inip payan illai.’ There is no use killing Vibishana (who is not wilder than a) cow. And he returned to his palace with the conviction that he had already won.
Hari Krishnan