Hearing the words of the high-souled monkey, Ravana, bereft of his
senses by wrath, ordered that he should be put to death. On the death of
that one who had proclaimed his own position of being an envoy, having
been ordered by the wicked-minded Ravana, Vibhishana did not agree (with
the decision). And knowing that the lord of Rakshasas was wroth and that
that affair[406] was at hand, Vibhishana, resolved to act according to
justice, began to reflect as to what was to be done. Having arrived at a
decision, that one skilled in speech, paying homage unto that conqueror
of foes, his elder brother, spoke unto him in words eminently good,--"O
lord of Rakshasas, forgive me and renounce thy wrath.[407] Extend thy
favor unto me, and hear these words of mine. Lords of the earth, endowed
with integrity and knowing high and low, never put messengers to death.
The taking the monkey's life, O king, is opposed to morality and
repugnant to social usage; and it is also unworthy of thyself. Thou
understandst morality, art grateful and versed in the morality of
sovereigns, and canst distinguish between high and low among beings, and
even thou knowst the prime sense of things. If discerning persons like
thee come under the governance of passion, mere toil is the pains that
are undergone to master the scriptures. Therefore, O destroyer of
enemies, be pacified. O lord of Rakshasas, difficult to approach,
consider what is proper or otherwise, and then do thou mete out
punishment to the envoy." Hearing Vibhishana's speech, Ravana lord of
Rakshasas, overcome with a mighty wrath, answered,--"O slayer of foes,
to slay the sinful doth not cause sin. Therefore shall I slay this
monkey, worker of iniquity." Hearing these words grounded in
unrighteousness, evil every way, and worthy of the base, that foremost
of intelligent ones, Vibhishana, spoke words couching supreme
import,--"O lord of Lanka, be propitious. O Sovereign of Rakshasas,
listen to speech containing the significance of virtue and profit. O
king, an envoy is not to be put to death on the occasion of his
discharging his proper functions. This righteous people say everywhere
unto all. Surely this is an overgrown enemy; and he hath perpetrated
immense injury (unto us). But say the good, envoys are not to be slain,
albeit many are the punishments that have been assigned for messengers.
Disfigurement of the body, stripes, shaving of the head,--one of these
or all combined,--these are said to be the punishments that should be
inflicted on envoys. But I have not heard of the punishment of death
being a penalty of the envoy. Why doth one like thee, having one's
intelligence rendered meek as respects righteousness and profit, and
capable of proceeding on certain decisions on the merits or otherwise of
things,--come under the sway of passion? Those possessed of power never
give way to anger. Neither in religious discussion, nor in social
concerns, nor in appropriating the right sense of the scriptures, is
there any that can approach thee, O hero. Verily thou art the foremost
among celestials and Asuras. Invincible to the gods and Asuras
themselves gifted with prowess, high spirits and intelligence, thou hast
in battle oftentimes put to the rout the chiefs of celestials and
monarchs. Those heroes that have heretofore mentally entertained enmity
against such a one as thou, foe of deities and Daityas,--heroic and
valient and unconquerable, have not been deprived by thee of their
lives.[408] Nor do I see any good that may likely accrue to us from the
slaying of this monkey. Let thy vengeance descend on those that have
despatched the monkey. Whether honest or otherwise, this one hath been
commissioned by others. Advocating interest not his own and identifying
himself with another, an envoy doth not merit the being put to death. O
king, if this one be slain, no other sky-ranger whatever would show
himself unto us. Therefore, O captor of hostile capitals, do not seek to
slay this one. Thou shouldst spend thyself on celestials with Indra (at
their head). On his being killed, another see I not who, O thou that
lovest warfare, can move those haughty sons of a king to take up arms
against thee. And, O bringer-in of joy unto the heart, it is not proper
for thee, invincible to celestials and Asuras gifted with prowess, high
spirits and intelligence, to disappoint the Nairitas (as to their
eagerness for encounter). They are devoted to thy good, and are heroic
and intent on thy well-being, born in lines having high and fiery
virtues, and endowed with intelligence, --the flower of those bearing
arms--and have been maintained by thee. Therefore let a portion of the
forces, having received thy order, march to-day, and bring (hither)
those foolish princes. It is meet that thou shouldst display thy prowess
before foes." Thereat, the lord of the night-rangers, that potent enemy
of the celestials and the foremost of Rakshasa monarchs, lending free
play to his intellect, accepted the excellent words of his younger
brother.
[406] The destruction of Hanuman.--T.
[407] The commentator says, the passage means,--_'Give up thy promise
(to slay Hanuman) and abate thy anger.--T._
[408] There is a particle _api, even_, which stands in the way of this
_sloka_ fitting in with the context.--'_Even_ those heroes who
have _mentally etc_' is a lame reason why Hanuman, who had wronged
Ravana so outrageously in overt acts, should be let off.--T.