Ramayana_VOLUME V with index

Ramayana: A Divine Drama – Vol. V
yours The Sugriva asked. If Ravana himself came and asked for pardon
would Rama do the same thing Rama said that if Ravana did get such a good
idea in him, He will surely protect him and make him the king of Ayodhya
itself.
For us, to think that this aspect of surrender is appropriate only to older
people, and that young students do not have to concern themselves with it is
totally wrong. This is the appropriate age when you should surrender to God.
When you grow older, you will then be able to achieve great things with
God’s grace. (SSB 1977 p.166)
When Vibhishana sought Rama’s refuge, Sugriva, Jambavantha opposed
saying, “Swami, You should never believe these Rakshasas. There must be
some ulterior motive behind this act of Vibhishana. So ask him to return to
Lanka.” Then Rama replied, “Once someone says. ‘I am Yours’, whoever he
may be; I will take care of him. So I will not reject Vibhishana,” This is the
testimony of God’s Love. Once you say “I am yours”, then live up to it with
strong faith. Thereafter God will take care of you at all places, and under all
circumstances. I expect and bless you so that you develop strong faith, give up
vices, join good company entertain sacred feelings and attain Divinity,
(Dasara discourses 1998 p.101) (SSS Vol.31 p.364)
The Company we keep:
Vibhishana was a satwic person. When Vibhishana went to surrender to Rama
and seek his protection, people like Sugriva, Angada and others, who were
with Rama, asked whether Vibhishana, who was the brother of Ravana, would
also not have the same bad qualities which were characteristic of his brother.
The reason for this suspicion and for getting a bad name was the company in
which Vibhishana lived. (SSB 1977 p.157)
Good company takes one near to God
In the Ramayana, we see that by his association with Hanuman, Vibhishana,
the brother of Ravana, was transformed into a devotee of the Lord. On the
other hand, Kaikeyi, because of the influences of the evil-minded Manthara,
brought infamy and widowhood upon herself and estranged herself from her
noble son Bharatha. (SSS Vol.18 p .191)
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