Vibhishan: Learn English(IND) with subtitles - Story for Children and Adults "BookBox.com"

This story is an offering for the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo

VIBHISHAN
A story about Courage,
adapted from Tales of All Times
by The Mother
The demon-king of Lanka
was Ravana of the Ten Heads.
Ravana had stolen lady Sita
away from her husband
and carried her off in his chariot
to his palace
on the island of Lanka.
Sumptuous was the palace
and delightful the garden in which
he imprisoned the princess Sita.
Yet she was unhappy
and every day
she would shed tears,
not knowing
whether she would ever see
her Lord Rama again.
Glorious Rama learnt from
Hanuman the monkey-God
where his wife Sita
was held captive.
He set out with
noble Lakshman, his brother,
and a great army of heroes
to rescue the prisoner.
When the demon Ravana
learnt of the arrival of Rama,
he trembled with fear.
The advice he received
was of two kinds.
A crowd of courtiers
thronged around his throne
saying:
“All is well; have no fear,
O Ravana.
Gods and demons
you have conquered:
You will have no difficulty
in conquering Rama
and his companions,
Hanuman and the monkeys.”
When these noisy counsellors
had left the king,
his brother Vibhishan
entered,
knelt and kissed his feet.
Then he rose and sat
next to the throne.
“O my brother,” he said,
“if you wish to live happily
and keep the throne
of this beautiful island
of Lanka,
give back the lovely Sita,
for she is the wife of another.
Go to Rama
and ask his forgiveness,
and he will not
turn away his face.
Be not arrogant and foolhardy.”
A wise man, Malyavan,
heard these words
and was glad.
He exclaimed
to the king of demons:
“Take your brother's words
to heart,
for he has spoken the truth.”
“Both of you have evil designs,”
replied the king,
“for you take the side of my foes.”
And the eyes of his ten heads
flashed with such fury that
Malyavan fled
from the room in terror.
But Vibhishan,
in the bravery of his soul,
remained.
“Sire,” he said,
“in the heart of each man
there is both wisdom
and foolishness.
If wisdom dwells in his breast,
life goes well with him;
if it is foolishness, all goes ill.
I fear that you harbour
foolishness in your breast,
O my brother,
for you give ear to those
who give bad advice.
They are not your true friends.”
He fell silent
and kissed the feet of the king.
“Wretch!” cried Ravana.
“You too are one of my enemies.
Speak no more
senseless words to me.
Talk to the hermits in the woods
but not to one
who has been victorious
over all the enemies
he has fought.”
And as he shouted
he kicked his brave brother
Vibhishan.
So, with a heavy heart,
his brother rose
and left the king's house.
Knowing no fear,
he had spoken frankly
to Ravana;
and since the ten-headed one
would not listen,
Vibhishan had no choice
but to leave.
Vibhishan's act
was one of physical courage,
for he did not fear
his brother's blows;
but it was also
an act of mental courage,
for he did not hesitate
to utter words
that the other courtiers,
physically as brave as he,
would not have let fall
from their lips.
This courage of the mind
is known as moral courage.

Narration: Maurice Shukla
Music: Jerry Silvester Vincent
SFX: Rajesh Gilbert
Illustrations: Kallol Majumder
Animation: BookBox
Story: Tales of All Times © Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, Pondicherry.

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