Ramayanaparam -23 Vibhishana Sharanagathi

The story of Vibhishana Sharanagathi is interesting because there is a story behind that too. Vibhishana came from the enemy's camp and told Raama to protect him from his own brother and his people. All the monkeys including Sugreeva and even Lakshmana were against giving asylum to Vibhishana. They said he was a maayavi (magician) and he had come there to cheat and kill Raama and his people. All his babblings are lies and if Raama would give permission, they would kill him and his four ministers who were seeking asylum, in one second. Then Raama told them that he would never disappoint a person who came to him for help and protection. That is adharmam and anybody who seeks his protection will be protected by Him. Then he tells the story of two doves.

 

Once there was a cruel hunter and he not only hunted animals for food, but also for enjoyment. He was walking through a forest and spotted a beautiful female dove. Immediately he aimed and shot an arrow at it and it fell. It did not die at that time. He carried the dove and started walking and a big storm started. He was completely drenched in heavy rains and finally found a big tree and stood under the tree protected from the heavy rain. Fortunately or unfortunately, that was the female dove's home- tree. The male dove was sitting and waiting for his spouse to return and suddenly he saw the female dove, almost dead in the hunter's net. The hunter was shivering and looking for some fire to warm himself.

 

The female dove from the net called and reminded the male dove that the hunter was their guest then and it was the dharma of the host to  honor the guest. She requested him to find some burning twigs to help the hunter. The male dove who was also equally kind and service minded, flew away and  brought a burning twig from some where and gave it to the hunter. Hunter was happy and made a large fire from that stick and warmed himself up. 

 

Then the male dove asked what else he could do for him? He said he was hungry and no food was in the vicinity. The male dove had nothing to offer and decided to give his own body for the meat eating hunter. So it circled round the fire and fell into the fire and died. This moved the hard hearted hunter's mind and his guilty conscience purified his heart and he became a pious person. Immediately, out of his new born kindness, he let the female dove free. But she was heartbroken to see her husband die in the fire and ended her life also in the same fire in front of the hunter.

 

Soon after the death of the female bird, Pushpaka vimanam descended from heaven and the divine bodies of both doves ascended with the Vishnu paarshadaas as a direct result of their supreme sacrifice.

 

Then Rama said:"Sugreeva! The Kapotam (dove) did atithi satkaaram (honoring the guest) to the hunter (who caught his own wife!) when he came to him. Even a dove did protect it's guest who needed help and how can you ask me not to give sharanam to Vibhishana?

Then, eyes filled with tears of devotion and gratitude, Vibhishana said the words below:

"Raamo Vigrahavaan Dharma:" (Raama is Dharma personified). He well deserves the name Dharmanja!

Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshitaa: -Dharma protects those who protect dharma.

Jai Sri Ram