Jain Ramayana Part 3

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 80

JAIN RAMAYAN
our destruction. Maricha and Saran may not give you the right suggestion. They may not condemn your ignoble action but I am the younger brother of the Emperor of Lanka, a prince of the blood royal and therefore it is my duty to make you realise the truth. You may not relish my counsel. You may not accept my suggestion.
But if you are willing to accept my suggestion, and if you realise the wisdom underlying it, you must at once put an end to the preparations for the war and we must make preparations to receive Shri Ram and Lakshman with cordiality and hospitality. We have witnessed already the tremendous heroism and the prowess of Hanuman, the staunch follower of Shri Ram. We have known his terrible powers of destruction."
Vibhishan paused for a few moments; heaved a long sigh: turned towards Ravan and said in a serious and elevated tone:
"Dear brother! When I say all this, you should not think that I have any doubt regarding your extraordinary heroism, superhuman abilities and your militaric genius and prowess. At the same time, I am not also belittling your greatness, but I want you to realise the eternal truth that the final victory will be won only by truth and justice not by might. Kindly realise and remember that in the present situation, truth and justice are not on your side.
You possess boundless wealth, limitless splendour and incomparable might like Indra, the king of gods, but I am unable to understand why you are prepared to lose all these things for the sake of a woman who belongs to another man.”
Ravan's agitation knew no bounds. Silence reigned supreme in the war-council. All were speechless. No one was capable of speaking a single word. All were in a great conflict. All of a sudden, Indrajit stood up in great excitement. He began to speak bitterly reprimanding Vibhishan and repudiating his arguments.
“You are a coward by birth. You yourself are preparing the way for the total devastation of our Rakshasa dynasty. From your venomous utterances, it is evident that you are not