Hanuman Nataka (critical study)
by Nurima Yeasmin | 2015 | 41,386 words
This page relates ‘The character of Vibhishana’ of the English study on the Hanuman-nataka written by Shri Damodara Mishra in the 11th century. The Hanumannataka is a Mahanataka—a fourteen-act Sanskrit drama dealing with the story of Rama and Hanumat (Hanuman) and presents the events in the lifes of Rama, Sita, Ravana and Hanuman (the son of Anjana and Vayu—the God of the Winds) based on the Ramayana story.
9.7. The character of Vibhīṣaṇa
Vibhīṣaṇa’s ideals of life greatly differ from those of his brother Rāvaṇa. Dharma is the guiding principle of his life. Vibhīṣaṇa is a true devotee of God and a man of action. He is the follower of dharma. In the Hanumannāṭaka, Vibhīṣaṇa shows himself as a righteous and conscientious councilor, whose conscience is aroused when he sees that his brother Rāvaṇa has lost control of him in his anger and rashly decides to kill Hanumān against all laws of dharma and social custom.
With Hanumān’s feat of destroying his counsellors, asks them about their advice of what they think is proper for him to do in such a situation. Then all the counsellors urge him to engage in battle with Rāma. But Vibhīṣaṇa, reading the signs of the time in the turn of fate against Rāvaṇa, says that a fight against heroic and virtuous Rāma and his Vānara army and a refusal to return Sītā will be suicidal for Rāvaṇa and the whole Laṅkā. It is on this background that he, in the interest of whole Laṅkā and out of brotherly love, tries to pacify Rāvaṇa’s blind anger, which he sees has taken command of him, and to restrain him from entering the dire consequences of it.[1]
Thus it is seen that Vibhīṣaṇa again as a righteous, faithful and well-wising counsellor, yet in contrast to his earlier characteristics, his loyalty to Rāvaṇa is not a blind loyalty to his kindred, but a loyalty coupled with a deep responsibility and desire for their welfare. Rāvaṇa at last says that he never makes free Sītā.[2] Rāvaṇa’s blind anger and passion, caused him to rebuke Vibhīṣaṇa as a treacherous kinsman and give a kick to Vibhīṣaṇa with his left leg.[3]
His calmness, wisdom and resourcefulness of character are reflected when he says the army of Laṅkā to hand over Sītā to Rāma.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
[2]:
jānāmi sītāṃ janakaprasūtāṃ jānāmi rāmaṃ madhusūdanaṃ ca /
vadhaṃ ca jānāmi nijaṃ daśāsyastathā’pi sītāṃ na samarpayāmi// ibid., VII.11
[3]:
iti vāmacaraṇena vibhīṣaṇaṃ tāḍayāmāsa ibid., VII,p.103