'In the heart of every man, O king, is found either wisdom or unwisdom – so declare the Vedas and the Puranas; where there is wisdom, there too is every kind of prosperity, but where there is unwise judgement, there at the end is misfortune.

In your heart is lodged unwisdom, so that you take your friends for foes and your enemies for friends, and are extravagantly enamoured of that Sita who is the very night of destruction for all the demon race.

I clasp your feet, brother, and implore you to pay heed to me as one you love, and restore Sita to Rama, so that no harm may befall you.’

Thus did Vibhishana give sound advice supported by the authority of the wise, the Puranas and the Vedas; but when he heard it, the Ten-headed rose in a fury and cried, ‘Wretch, your death is imminent now.

You have always lived, you wretch, on my generosity, and yet, you idiot you take the side of my enemy. Tell me, fool, if there is anyone in the whole world whom I have not vanquished by the might of my arm.

You live in my city but are in love with the hermits! Go, you fool, and join hands with them and preach your moral sermons!’ So saying, he gave him a kick, but Vibhishana clasped his brother’s feet again and again.

Uma, herein lies the greatness of a saint, who returns good for evil. ‘You have done well to strike me,’ Vibhishana said, ‘for you are like a father to me, but your well-being, my lord, lies in worshipping Rama.’