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 Ravana whipped up passions in his opening address.
'Suttadhu kurangu' A monkey set fire to Lanka; 'Kettadhu kodi nagar' the entire island was destroyed; 'kilayum nanbarum pattanar' (hundreds of) our relatives and friends died; 'paripavam engaNum parandhadhu' indignity spread everywhere;
'ittadhiv ariyaNai irundadhu en udal' just my body ways lying on this throne.' His speech very cleverly avoids any reference to his misdeed. He harps on just one incident - a mere monkey setting fire to the country protected by the mighty rakshasas. A good politician even in those days, this Ravana, he makes a personal misconduct of his an issue facing the country, involving the dignity of the entire race.
Though protest starts in the first response by an unnamed army-chief, it died its natural death. Ravana is showered with praise of his might, valour, power and what not. The first strong voice of protest starts with Kumbakarna. 'You are speaking about spoiling of the reputation of the race. The canker started the day you imprisoned the wife of another man. It is worsening with the passage of every day, as you keep going to her, fall at her feet and beg her for her love. You should have sought our counsel before venturing into such an expedition. Anyway, it is now too late to think of a remedy. We may not be in a position to return Sita, as it may mean that we are afraid of those weaklings. We will go to the mainland before they move in here and fight with them there.'
Ravana did not react. He did not like this speech but could not say anything. Kumbakarna was his forte. He was in fact superior to Ravana, in physical might. As for physical stature, Ravana would measure up to the height of Kumbakarna, when the latter squatted on the floor. Ravana therefore did not want to pick up a quarrel with his brother.
Indrajit then jumped up in haste. His speech was full of passions and was another attempt in drawing the attention of everyone to the disgrace caused by a monkey. At this point Vibishana intervened. He said:
"Thou art still too young, my boy, to join in this debate. Thy mind sees not whole; thou dost not realise the critical nature of the times we now live in, nor the consequences of the advice that thou givest. Thou art like a blind man who would foolishly attempt to touch up a picture that is being painted by artists.
Even those who had in former times conquered the gods in their might and ruled them in their pride with an iron rod have only fallen ignominiously in the end. For who are the evil ones that ever permanently ruled the Devas? A truce, therefore, to thy childish, foolish talk!" (Translation by Sri VVS Aiyar)
 He then turned to Ravana. In a long peroration, with a respectful opening, he points out that it was not possible for a monkey to set fire to their land.
'ulagin tham manai aanaval karpin vendhadhu alladhu Or vaanaram suttadhu endru unardhal maatchiyO?' The fire that burnt the island was the fire of chastity of Sita, who was the mother of the entire world. Don't think it is just a monkey that set fire to this island.'
He does not stop with that. He goes on to narrate the story of Iraniyan that we saw in an earlier topic
(Narasimavatara and the Art of Problem Solving). He emphasised the point that Iraniyan was much more proud, pompous, valiant and valorous than Ravana. Even such a powerful demon, despite being protected by a complicated boon, had to breathe his last. Therefore, it was wise to accept the mistake of Ravana, to return Sita and to seek the pardon of Rama.
Ravana knew only one way in which to react to wise counsels that do not please him.
Hari Krishnan
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