Hanumanji meets Vibhishanji and awakens him

Mandira mandira prati kari sodhā, dekhe jahă tahă aganita jodhā

Hanumanji starts looking for Sitaji in the temples. Hanumanji refers to the abode of demons as a temple. This is Hanumanji’s view; besides, where Sitaji lives is a temple indeed!

In Lanka, Hanumanji sees that Ravan and his wives are asleep, there is wealth and materialistic pleasures all round, thus he knew that Sitaji will not be here. Devotion cannot exist with worldly pleasures.

He then found a house where the Shri Hari’s temple was built separately.

Rāmāyudha ankita gṛha sobhā barani na jāi, nava tulasikā bṛnda tahă dekhi haraṣa kapirāi

Ramji’s weapons were drawn on the house and there was a sacred Tulsi plant at the entrance. Hanumanji thought that this must be a devotee. A devotee in such a place?

This was Vibhishan’s house. Vibhishan was asleep. Hanumanji thought:

Lankā nīsīcara nikara nivāsā, ihā kahā sajjana kara bāsā

This means that nobody is complete. Every noble person has one bad quality and every bad person has at least one good quality within them. Even in Ayodhya, a Manthra exists and amongst all demons in Lanka there is a Vibhishan.

At that time, Vibhishan woke up and,

Rāma rāma tehī sumirana kīnhā, hṛdayă haraṣa kapi sajjana cīnhā.

… he was chanting ‘Ram, Ram’. Hanumanji was pleased that this devotee is one of us. I will enjoy narrating Ram Katha to him.

Hanumanji took the form of a Brahmin. Vibhishan saw him, got up, approached him and bowed to him. This means that Vibhishan is a devotee but one who was asleep. When Hanumanji came, the devotion awakened. Thus it is not sufficient just to chant Lord Ram’s name, perform Lord Ram’s tasks too; work for the society and country.

Vibhishan said, “I feel joyous on seeing you. Who are you?

Taba hanumanta kahī saba rāma kathā nija nāma,
sunata jugala tana pulaka mana Magana sumiri guna grāma.

It is interesting to see that when Hanumanji is asked to introduce himself, he first narrates Ram Katha. Thereafter, he says that I am a messenger of Lord Ram followed by his name. Hearing this, Vibhishan’s eyes filled with tears of happiness.

Hanumanji asks Vibhishan, “How do you live as a noble and good person amongst all these demons?”

Vibhishan replies,

Sunahu pavanasuta rahani hamārī, jimi dasananhi mahῠ jībha bicārī

“Oh Marutnandan, what can I say about my state? I live like a tongue trapped by all 32 teeth.”

Hanumanji said, “That is great! You are lucky!”

“How? I live in fear amongst all these demons!”

“Look. The teeth come later but leave first. No one is born with teeth but we are born with a tongue. The teeth will fall with old age but the tongue will be with you till the end. Thus, you will live in Lanka and these demons will die.”

This way, Hanumanji turned a negative state of sorrow into a positive and happy state.

Vibhishan then asked, “When will Lord Ram shower his mercy upon me?”

“He won’t,” Hanumanji replied, “because you are a devotee who is still sleeping. You must be at the service of God. Look, your brother has kidnapped Maa Sita here. Have you done anything for Maa Sita?”

Sunahu bibhīṣana prabhu kai rītī, karahĭ sadā sevaka para prītī.

“Vibhishan, God always loves his devotees. He will shower His love on you too. Look at me, I am not of a noble family or caste. I am an unsteady-minded monkey. One who takes my name in the morning will not find food all day.”

Can we even think that for a devotee like Hanumanji? No! this shows Hanumanji’s modesty and humility in devotion.

Asa maĭ adhama sakhā sunu mohū para raghubīra, kīnhī kṛpā sumiri guna bhare bilocana nīra

“My friend, see how the Lord has accepted me and made me great,” saying this, Hanumanji’s eyes filled with tears.

Then Hanumanji said, “Listen brother, because both of us consider Lord Ram and Sita as our parents, we are brothers. I have seen our father and you have seen our mother. Find me a way to meet mother and I will get you in touch with our father”.

Vibhishanji told Hanumanji that Sitaji is in the Ashok gardens and to proceed there. Hanumanji arrived at the Ashok gardens and saw Sitaji under a Ashok tree. He bowed to his mother inside his mind. He sat there as twelve hours of the night passed.