Having addressed Ravana with these harsh words, his younger brother, reached in no time, where Rama along with Lakshmana was. The leading monkeys, stationed on earth, espied him on the welkin, resembling in size the summit of the mount Meru, and burning like lightning in the effulgence of his own person. And his four attendants of terrible prowess were adorned with excellent ornaments and armed with armours and maces. He was like unto collection of clouds, powerful as the thunder-bolt, holding an excellent mace, heroic and embellished with excellent ornaments. And beholding him along with four counsellors, the highly intelligent Sugriva, the lord of monkeys, engaged in meditation along with them. And meditating for a while, he spoke unto the monkeys headed by Hanuman the following excellent words- “Behold, there comes Rakshasa, armed with various weapons and followed by four demons to slay us and there is not the least doubt about it.” And hearing the words of Sugriva, the excellent monkeys, taking up huge trees and crags, bespoke him, - “Do thou order us, O king, to destroy these vicious-souled demons. These shall crush them to death, limited as is the tenure of their life.” They addressing each other in this wise, Bibhishana descended from the sky on the northern shore. And beholding Sugriva and all others stationed near him, the highly intelligent Bibhishana. accosted them, at the highest pitch of his voice, saying, - “Liveth there the Rakshasa, Ravana, the lord of demons, and perpetrator of many iniquitous deeds. I am his younger brother known as Bibhishana. By him, slaying the vulture Yatayu, was carried away Sita. from Janasthana. She is imprisoned, brought under his sway, poorly, and being well guarded by the Rakshasis. With various well-meaning words and I reasonings pointed out unto him, the necessity of rendering back Sita unto Rama. And Ravana, possessed by Death, paid no heed to my well-meaning words, like unto one, lying on the brink of death, neglecting the administration of medicine. Being reviled by him and treated harshly like menial, have come to seek Raghava’s shelter, renouncing my children and wives. Do ye soon mention unto the high-souled Raghava, the refuge of all creatures, that Bibhishana hath arrived.” Hearing those words the quick-paced Sugriva, excited with ire, spoke unto Rama, before Lakshmana, saying, - “Forsooth hath an enemy entered secretly in our midst and he shall slay us getting an opportunity like unto an owl killing the crows. O slayer of foes, it now behoveth thee to be particularly careful about the counsels, arrangement of soldiers, polity civil and military and spies of our own party as well as those of the enemies. These Rakshasas are heroic they assume shapes at will, always lie in ambush and secretly bring about others’ ruin- we should not therefore place confidence in them. This must be the emissary of Ravana- the lord of Rakshasas. Entering in our midst, he shall, in sooth, sow dissensions in our camp, or he shall slay us when we are careless, confiding in them. Avoiding the enemies, we should now collect the forest-rangers our friends and servants. lord, this man is Rakshasa by birth and the brother of our foe and so is he our enemy, how can we trust him? Ravana’s younger brother, known as Bibhishana, hath come here with four Rakshasas, to seek thy shelter. O thou the foremost of forgiving persons, consider this Bibhishana, who hath been despatched by Ravana, worthy of being slain. Being impelled by his wicked intention and commissioned by Ravana, this Rakshasa hath come here and secretly by virtue of his illusive powers he shall slay thee, O innocent one, when thou shalt place confidence in him.” Having thus accosted Rama, skilled in the art of speech, that lord of the army, Sugriva, well versed in speech, became silent. And hearing the words of Sugriva, the mighty Rama spoke unto the monkeys, near him, headed by Hanuman, saying, - “Ye have all heard, the words well-grounded in reason, the lord of monkeys hath said, regarding Ravana’s younger brother. It behoveth him, who desireth for perpetual wealth, and is intelligent and capable of giving sound counsels, to advise his friends in difficult matters.” Being thus addressed by Rama (to minister unto him best counsels) all those monkeys, intent upon encompassing his well-being, gave out their respective opinions. “O Raghava, there is nothing beyond thy knowledge in the three worlds. It is only to show thy respect towards us, Rama, that thou dost accost us in this wise. Thou art of truthful vows, heroic, pious, of firm prowess, discriminating, recollecting and having implicit confidence in thy friends. Let the intelligent and capable counsellors deliver their reasonable opinions unto thee.” They speaking thus unto Raghava, the intelligent monkey Angada, spoke as follows for sounding the intention of Bibhishana, - “We should always suspect him since he has come from the side of our enemies, and should not, all on sudden, place confidence in him. The wicked-minded always move about hiding their real self, and bring about peoples’ calamity, taking advantage of their weak points. And great is the disaster thereof. It is always proper to engage in actions, considering what is right and what is wrong. Virtues should always be gathered and vices abandoned. Do thou renounce him unhesitatingly, if dost thou find in himia source of great calamity and do thou embrace him if dost thou find him crowned with many virtues.” Thereupon followed Sarava with words fraught with high import, - “O best of men, do thou speedily despatch emissaries to sound Bibhishana. If dost thou, sounding him well through the instrumentality of sharp spies, find him friendly, do thou win him over to thy side.” Thereupon the wise Jambhaban, arriving at conclusions by virtue of his knowledge of Sastras, began with words, void of defects, - “Surely doth Bibhishana come from the vicious lord of Rakshasas, dead set against us and hath arrived at such bad place and in such bad hour. We should always fear him.” And thereupon followed Mainda, conversant with what is right and wrong, after due deliberation, with words pregnant with reason, - “He is Havana’s younger brother, by name Bibhishana. Let the lord of men ask him everything at first in sweet words. Do thou first ascertain, foremost of men, with what intention he hath come-evil or good and then settle what course to adopt.” Thereupon spake Hanuman, the foremost of the counsellors and well versed in Sastras, in accents sweet, glorious and fraught with high value, - “Even Vrihaspati, (the lord of speech) cannot excel thee, capable,* gifted with the best of intellect and foremost of those skilled in the art of speech, as thou art. And what know speak, O king. I do so, in the interest of Rama’s work and not impelled by my skill in the art of speech, by the pride of being counsellor, by the vanity of being gifted with high intellect or by the desire of speaking for its own sake. What thy counsellors have said for ascertaining the good or evil intention of Bibhishana appeareth to me as most defective and productive of no consequence whatever. It is impossible to sound him without any command.* And even to command him now for the same appears to me as improper. And as regards the despatch of spies, anent what thou hast been advised by thy ministers, I do not observe any utility. And what little I have thought of, I have something to say (regarding Jambaban’s proposal) that Bibhishana hath arrived at such bad place and in such an evil hour. He has really come to very good place and in very good hour. And truly has he performed be coming and sensible action by coming here after duly ascertaining that Ravana is vicious wight and thou art pious person- he is full of vices- thou art gifted with many virtues he is tyrranical and thou art powerful. And what they have said, O king, as regards sounding him through secret spies, appears to me as one requiring great wisdom. An intelligent man, when questioned by any suddenly, suspects many things. And if the new-comer be friend and has come here for his own happiness, how greatly shall his mind be changed by such course? Besides by sudden questioning it is impossible to ascertain the intention of foreigner. Do thou therefore thyself accost him and determine, by his voice, his secret motive. I did not however mark anything of his wickedness while he spoke rather did observe signs of gladness on his countenance. So do not suspect him. The wily can never come fearless and undisturbed. Nor were his words cunning. So do not suspect him. It is not very easy to hide one’s real nature. It manifests itself by force. So this action of Bibhishana is not out of place or season. When accomplished it shall redound to his own interest. Considering well thy preparations for war and Ravana’s vain conduct, hearing of Vali’s destruction and Sugriva’s installation on the throne, he hath, impelled by his good sense, come here, desirous of gaining the kingdom. Taking these into account, it seems prudent to take him to our side. O thou the foremost of the intelligent, have spoken thus considering him sincere. It now behoveth thee to perform what thou thinkest proper.”
* Capable to ascertain the truth of all Sastras. -T.
* To command to relate for what he has come. -T.