Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/471

Rh Ráma, my brother, is no mortal king, but the sovereign of the universe, the Fate of Fate itself, the Supreme Spirit, the imperishable and uncreated God, the benefactor of cows and of Bráhmans, of the earth and of the gods: who in his infinite mercy has assumed the form of humanity, to rejoice his votaries and to break the ranks of the impious; the champion of the Veda and true religion, the saviour of the immortals. Cease to fight against him and humbly bow the head. Raghunáth relieves the distress of every suppliant. O my lord, give him back Sita and worship him with disinterested affection. The lord has never abandoned any one who has fled to him for protection, though he were guilty of having ruined the whole world. Know of a truth, Rávan, that it is the Lord, he who has for name 'the saviour from every calamity,' who has now appeared among us.

Again and again I lay my head at your feet and utter this my prayer: have done with pride, arrogance and conceit, and worship Ráma. These are the words which Saint Pulastya sent in a message to me, and I have at once taken this opportunity of repeating them to you, Sire."

One of his wisest counsellors, Mályaván, was greatly rejoiced to hear this speech. "Take to heart, my son, this admirable counsel which your brother Vibhishan has given you. These two villains who thus magnify my enemies, is there no one here who will rid me of them? "Mályaván thereupon returned home, but Vibhíshan with clasped hands spoke yet again: "In every one's breast, my lord, so the Vedas and Puránas declare, either wisdom or unwisdom finds a dwelling. Where wisdom dwells, there too is every kind of prosperity; and where unwisdom, there is final destruction. In your breast malignant unwisdom has established herself; you take your friends for enemies and your greatest enemy for a friend, being thus extravagantly enamoured of this Síta, who is the very night of Death for the whole demon race.

My brother, I clasp your feet and imploro you to take my words in good part: restore Síta to Ráma; it will be much to your advantage.

Though the words that Vibhíshan spoke were wise and prudent, and supported by the authority of the Vedas and Puránas, the Ten-headed rose in