Vibhishana: The Brother Who Chose Righteousness

Vibhishana, the youngest brother of Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka, was known for his wisdom and devotion to righteousness. Though he lived in the grand palace of Lanka and was surrounded by wealth and power, Vibhishana’s heart was always guided by dharma, the principles of truth and justice. However, his loyalty to his family, especially his brother Ravana, kept him from speaking out against the increasingly immoral actions of the demon king.

When Ravana kidnapped Sita, the wife of Prince Rama, and brought her to Lanka, Vibhishana tried to counsel his brother to return her and avoid a war with Rama. Vibhishana knew that Ravana’s actions were wrong and would bring destruction to Lanka. But Ravana, blinded by his pride and arrogance, refused to listen. Vibhishana, torn between his loyalty to his family and his duty to dharma, made the difficult choice to leave his homeland and join Rama’s side.

He approached Rama and offered his guidance, knowing that only through Rama’s victory could justice be restored. Rama, recognizing Vibhishana’s sincerity and devotion to righteousness, accepted him and treated him with great respect. With Vibhishana’s help, Rama ultimately defeated Ravana, freeing Sita and ending the reign of the demon king.

However, though Vibhishana had chosen the path of righteousness, he still bore the sorrow of seeing his family and homeland suffer the consequences of Ravana’s downfall. After the war, Rama appointed Vibhishana as the new king of Lanka, trusting him to rule with wisdom and justice. While Vibhishana ruled with fairness, the scars of the war remained, and he carried the weight of his brother’s actions.

Moral:
The story of Vibhishana teaches us that standing for what is right, even when it means going against our loved ones, is the true path of dharma. Vibhishana’s courage to leave his family in order to do good reminds us that loyalty should not come at the cost of morality. However, it also shows that doing the right thing may not come without its own share of consequences, and sometimes, even the just must bear the pain of others’ wrongdoings.