When he said this, Vibishana, Ravana's youngest brother, interrupted the young man. "You do not know what you are saying." He addressed Ravana: "I speak in sorrow. You are
everything to me: a father, leader, and guru. What grieves me is that you are about to lose the position which you have attained through so much effort. I speak from my heart, with
sincerity, and after much deliberation; I cannot shout like others and I have not the daring to speak challengingly. But I am speaking what I feel is the truth. Please listen to me fully
without losing your patience. What really set this city on fire was not the torch at a monkey's tail, but the flame that rages in the soul of a woman called Janaki. A man loses his
honor and name only through lust and avarice. You have acquired extraordinary powers through your own spiritual performances but you have misused your powers and attacked the very gods that gave you the power, and now you pursue evil ways. Is there anyone who has conquered
the gods and lived continuously in that victory? Sooner or later retribution has always come. Do not be contemptuous of men or monkeys. Remember that you have never asked
for protection from human beings; remember also that Nandi cursed you when you lifted the Kailas mountain, saying that your end would come through a monkey; and later when you
attempted to molest Vedavathi, seizing her by the hair, did she not curse you before jumping into fire, saying that one day she would be reborn and be responsible for the end of
your island as well as your life?
"If you look deeply into the signs of the times, perhaps all these three curses are working out. But maybe you could still avoid disaster. Remember that as long as you keep Sita a
prisoner, you and your subjects will have no peace. Think of Rama's heritage, Dasaratha's achievements, and all the other glorious deeds of the members of the Ikshvahu race.
They are not ordinary men nor are the monkeys supporting them mere monkeys. The gods have assumed that form, only because you have had immunity from the gods
conferred on you. Now a word more. Release the goddess you have imprisoned. And that will prove to be the most meritorious achievement of your career."
Ravana glared at his brother and said with a bitter laugh,"You began with agreeable sentences and sentiments but you go on prattling away like a madman. Is it out of fear or
out of love for those human beings? You remind me that I have not asked for protection from human beings. Does one have to ask for such a thing? Did I ever ask for the blessing
of being able to lift Kailas? You speak without any thought. You think I have conquered the gods because of the boon conferred on me by them. I do not have to wait for anybody's
boon to do what I please. Nobody's curse can ever touch me.
"Why are you lost in such admiration for Rama? Because he snapped the old rusty bow of Shiva? Or sent his arrows through the trunks of those seven decaying trees? Lost his
kingdom because of a hunchbacked woman? Killed Vali without daring to come up before him? Lost his wife through a very simple trick that I tried? I am astonished that after all
this he has not taken his own life but continues to breathe and move about! And indeed you are his admirer! You think that he is likely to be an incarnation of Vishnu. What if he is?
I am not afraid of Vishnu or anybody. Particularly Vishnu, who has been the most defeated god, having never won a single battle."
After saying this, Ravana cried, "Let us now go forth for battle." He looked at Vibishana and said, "Let those who like, come with me."
Vibishana made one more attempt to stop him. "Don'tgo," he pleaded.
"Is it because he is Vishnu?"
Ravana asked contemptuously. "Where was he when I imprisoned Indra, and destroyed his mighty elephants by plucking their ivory tusks out of their heads? Was this God a baby then? When I seized the three worlds, defeating even Shiva and Brahma,
where was this God of yours? In hiding? Did this God abandon his gigantic universal form and reduce himself to human size in order to make it easier for us to swallow him?
Don't follow me if you are afraid, but stay in this vast city, which is spacious and comfortable. Don't disturb yourself," Ravana said and, clapping his hands, laughed uproariously.
Still, next day Vibishana visited him privately and tried to hold him back with further arguments. This infuriated Ravana. "You hate our own kinsmen and you have begun to
admire and love Rama and Lakshmana. At the thought of them, your eyes are filled with tears, and you melt to the bone in tender feeling. You want to gain the friendship of my
avowed enemy. I suspect you have planned your future with deep thought. You are treacherous. I remember now that when that monkey was brought before me and I ordered him
to be destroyed and eaten by our servants, you interceded, saying that we should not kill an emissary. I now realize that you were carried away by the rantings of that monkey when
he sang the praise of his master and narrated his
achievements. You simpleton! You wanted this country to be destroyed by fire, I know. You have your deep-laid plans, I know. I should not live any more with this poison called my
younger brother. Now leave me. If I do not kill you, it is because I do not want to earn the odium of murdering a younger brother, but if you persist in staying before me, you
will die by my hand."
When he heard this, Vibishana withdrew with four others, but before parting he said, "It is your misfortune that you are swayed by the words of mean minds and are deaf to justice and fair play. I fear that your entire race is going to be annihilated. I will now go away as you order. I tried to tell you what seems befitting. You are still my leader and chief but I leave you. Forgive my mistakes or if I have hurt your feelings."
So saying, Vibishana crossed the seas and reached Rama's camp on the other shore, where the monkey armies were gathered in an enormous array.