Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
354
They set out, their chariots adorned, covering the sky, and arrived at the Hamsa-dvipa, accompanied by their families. ||42|| They stayed on the beautiful shore of that island, adorned with rivers, just as the gods stay on the Nandishvara-dvipa. ||43|| Just as the bodies of the poor tremble all over when the cold season arrives, so too the bodies of the monkeys trembled all over when Vibhishana arrived. ||44|| Lakshmana, who held the Sagara-avarta bow, looked towards the Surya-hasa sword, and Rama, who held the Lakshmi-bhrit-aksha, touched the Vajra-avata bow. ||45|| The ministers, agitated, gathered together and consulted among themselves, and just as the army of elephants gathers in a herd when frightened by a lion, so too the entire army of monkeys gathered in a herd, frightened. ||46|| Then Vibhishana sent his wise and eloquent doorkeeper to Rama. ||47|| When summoned, he went to the assembly, sat down and paid his respects. Then he spoke in order about the conflict between the two brothers. ||48|| Then he said, "O Lord! O Padma! Vibhishana, who is always engaged in the work of Dharma, begs at your feet in this way: O compassionate one who protects the helpless! I have come to your refuge with devotion. So please grant me your favor by giving me your command." ||49-50|| When the doorkeeper said this, a good counsel arose among the ministers close to Rama. ||51|| The minister Matikanta said, "Perhaps Ravana sent him deceitfully, for the actions of kings are strange." ||52|| "Or perhaps the family, which has been stained by mutual conflict, will surely regain its purity, like water." ||53|| Then the wise minister named Mati-sagara said, "It is heard from the mouths of people that there has been a conflict between these two brothers." ||54|| "It is heard that Vibhishana is a follower of Dharma, a great statesman, his mind is cleansed by the water of the scriptures, and he is always eager to do favors." ||55|| "Brotherhood is not the reason here, but their own separate actions are the reason. The effect of those actions is constantly present in the world, creating diversity." ||56||