THE VAANARA'S DOUBT

It was this noble courage that Raavana lacked. When an evil is being perpetrated, the friends of the evil-doer face a difficult problem. Some are constrained against their better judgment to espouse the wrong cause through gratitude for past kindness, a sense of loyalty, or affinities of blood.

Others think it their duty to try and reform the sinner, regardless of his anger and hatred and consequent danger to themselves and if their efforts fail they part company from the sinner, rather than abandon dharma and give their support to the sinner who persists in crime. They bold that it can never be one's duty to support or co-operate with adharma.

It would indeed be adharma to refrain from doing one's best to reform the sinner or to co-operate in his sin.  In the Raamaayana, Kumbhakarna and Vibheeshana represent these two different types. If Raavana had told Vibheeshana: "Come, let us go to the Dandaka forest and carry off Seeta," it is inconceivable that Vibheeshana could have complied. That is why we respect Vibheeshana.

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