| Raavana's rage
was now uncontrollable. "I put up with your talk thus far," he shouted in anger,
"because you are my brother. Else you would by now be dead. A brother, I see, is
one's worst enemy. All the world knows that the envy of brothers brings dishonour and
discomfiture to the brave. They hide their real desire and wait for their time and, when
it comes, do not hesitate to practise their treachery. How true is the complaint of the wild elephants in the story! We are not afraid
of the burning fire. 'We do not mind the hunters and their long spears. The noosed ropes
and the chains can do little harm to us. But the elephants which join the hunters and give
us trouble, these brothers and cousins who turn against us, they are our terror!' Yes. So
long as one is safe and prosperous, the brother smiles and talks pleasantly.
But when danger comes, he is ready to leave. The bee does
not stay with the flower after the honey has been sucked. It goes in search of another
flower. Brothers and cousins are no better than these bees. One cannot trust them in
adversity. If any one else should have spoken as you have done, Vibheeshana, I would have
slain him here and now. Base fellow! You are a disgrace to our race!" |
