Spirit of surrender

The Tirukkural captures the spirit of renunciation and surrender thus: ‘When one attaches himself with the Lord who is free from all attachments, he is bound to eternal happiness.

A new bond is gained when all other bonds are

broken. One is no longer ensnared in delusion.’

Scriptures hail the renunciation of all that one considers

as one’s own and offering oneself wholly to the Lord as the

highest spiritual attainment, the only means by which a jivatma can attain salvation. In a discourse, Damal Ramakrishnan and Perundevi pointed out that Vibhishana exemplifies this spirit when he chooses to leave his ties with Ravana who stands in adharma. Though born in the rakshasa race, Vibhishana is described as a dharmatma, one who is by nature a righteous person. He can never be a part of  adharma.

Generally, the rakshasas engage in severe penance to gain

boons that confer power and invincibility. But Vibhishana

had sought the boon of infinite wisdom, instead of infinite

power, and the tendency to tread the path of righteousness.

Hence he knows all along that Rama is the Lord Narayana

whom he worships and so decides to seek His feet.

He appears before the group of monkeys on the northern

shores where Rama and Lakshmana stay and stands in the

skies along with four other rakshasa warriors. Even as the

monkeys are ready to attack them, Vibhishana, freed from

delusions, speaks fearlessly about the purpose of his coming

to Rama’s camp when war with Lanka is imminent. When

Vibhishana’s plea is accepted, he falls at Rama’s feet, and

once again repeats his wishes: “I know fully well that you

are the refuge for all beings and hence I seek your feet. I

have renounced my friends, wealth, Lanka, etc and come

here. My place, life and well being henceforth belong to

your kindness and grace.”