Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4204

c9.4204

VIBHĪṢAṆA I. Brother of Rāvaṇa. The son Viśravas was born to Prajāpati Pulastya. Rāvaṇa, Kumbhakarṇa and Vibhīṣaṇa were born to Viśravas by his wife Mālinī. A daughter named Śūrpaṇakhā also was born to them. Kumbhakarṇa and Vibhīṣaṇa went to do penance under the leadership of their eldest brother Rāvaṇa. They did severe penance and obtained various boons. The boon given to Vibhīṣaṇa was to live as a righteous man. After that they came back and defeated Kubera, the ruler of Laṅkā and brought Laṅkā under their control. Rāvaṇa became the ruler of Laṅkā. Kumbhakarṇa and Vibhīṣaṇa lived with their brother in Laṅkā. Rāvaṇa married Mandodarī. Kumbhakarṇa took Vajrajvālā the daughter of Mahābali and Vibhīṣaṇa took Saralā, the daughter of Śailūṣa a Gandharva as their wives, according to Uttara Rāmāyaṇa. Rāvaṇa conquered the three worlds and was ruling as the emperor of the whole world, when Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa went to the forest, with Sītā. Rāvaṇa carried Sītā away to Laṅkā. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, with the help of the monkey-army entered Laṅkā. At this time Rāvaṇa called together his ministers to consider the details about the battle with Śrī Rāma. Every one present except Vibhīṣaṇa voted for the battle. Vibhīṣaṇa advised Rāvaṇa to return Sītā, the stolen property and beg Śrī Rāma for pardon. Rāvaṇa got angry and expelled Vibhīṣaṇa from Laṅkā. Vibhīṣaṇa joined the side of Śrī Rāma and informed him of all the military secrets of Rāvaṇa. In the battle which ensued Rāvaṇa was killed and Vibhīṣaṇa was made the king of Laṅkā by Śrī Rāma. It is stated in Kambarāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa that according to the instruction of Śrī Rāma and at the instance of Indra, Viśvakarmā came to Laṅkā and renovated the city of Laṅkā.