Question: How did Vibhisana maintain divine consciousness despite being in degrading association for so long?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Lord Brahma’s blessings in reciprocation with Vibhisana’s desire. Lord Brahma was addressed as “loka-guru.” Vibhisana was able to maintain his divine consciousness owing to guru’s blessings.
Additionally, there were his father’s (a great sage in his own accord) blessings when speaking to Kaikasi (the mother), “O lady with a lovely face, he who will be your last son, will be pious-minded and fully in accord with my family. About this, there is no doubt.”
Uttara Kanda, Chapter 9: How did the brothers grow up?
Then both, Kumbhakarna and Dasagriva, of great strength and tormentors of the world, grew up in that big forest. Wanton Kumbhakarna, ever discontented, roamed about the three worlds devouring the great sages fond of righteousness.
The pious-minded Vibhisana, who was ever fully established in rectitude and highly self-controlled, lived on a sparse diet, and was given to the study of the Vedas.
Uttara Kanda, Chapter 10:
The pious-minded Vibhisana, pure and always intent on rectitude, for his part, stood on one leg for five thousand years.
Intent on studying the Vedas, he spent another five thousand years with his arms and head raised, and worshipped the sun. In this manner, Vibhisana, the disciplined soul, spent ten thousand years as though he stayed in the Nandana Vana (Indra’s pleasure-garden).
Lord Brahma said, “Vibhisana, my child, I am highly pleased with you, whose mind is imbued with Dharma, O pious-minded one! Ask for a boon, O ogre of holy vows! Vibhisana, the Dharmatma, always endowed with all good qualities like the moon with its rays, said with folded hands, “I am Krtakrtya (one who has his life’s purpose accomplished), O venerable sir, in that the Loka-guru (the world-teacher) is himself pleased with me.
If you grant a boon to me in your pleasure, O god of holy vows, please give me a hearing: Even when I get into the greatest of difficulties, my mind should remain steady in virtue. O Lord, let the knowledge of Brahmastra (a mystic missile presided over by Brahma) dawn on me untaught. May all the thoughts that come to me in the various stages of life be in accord with Dharma. Let me also perform the duties appropriate to each such stage, O supremely magnanimous one, this I consider to be the best boon.”
There is nothing in the world that those who are devoted to righteousness find difficult to obtain. The Prajapati, being pleased, further said to Vibhisana as follows:
“My son, since you are exceedingly virtuous, it shall be so. O destroyer of your foes, since your mind is not inclined to unrighteousness, even though you are born in the family of Rakshasas, I make you immortal (with a long life).”
