Part 4: Preparations for war

Seeing that his elder brother was not within the sphere of reasoning by speech, like a madman, Bibhīṣaṇa summoned the family-ministers to take counsel. He said: “Gentlemen, ministers of the family, the internal enemies, love, et cetera—these are like demons. Among these even one crushes a careless man. The master is certainly suffering from love. Love alone is hard to subdue; how much more when assistance is given by a desire to dally with another man’s wife. Henceforth, the lord of Laṅkāpurī, though powerful, will soon fall into a very great ocean of calamity.”

Then the ministers said: “We are ministers in name only. You alone are minister by whose counsel such a state of affairs has been pointed out in advance. But what good is counsel to a lord subject to love, like instruction in Jain religion to a people having wrong belief? Rāghava’s men, Sugrīva, Hanumat, and others are gathered together. Who does not support the party of noble men observing the law? The destruction of our family by Aikṣvāka (Rāma) with Sītā as its cause was predicted by the astrologer. Nevertheless, we must do what is suitable for the occasion in accordance with the dignity of heroes.”

Then Bibhīṣaṇa had machines, et cetera mounted on the wall. For ministers look at the future with the eye of counsel.