Vibhishana Asks Only for Love
Bala Kanda, Doha 177
Doha 177 · Movement 2 of 2
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Brahma approaches the youngest brother and offers the same open invitation: ask for a boon. Power, invulnerability, dominion, and supernatural advantage stand available from the Creator.
Vibhishana asks for none of them. His desire is pure and unwavering love for the lotus feet of the Lord, devotion that will not bend beneath family loyalty, royal fear, or the splendour of Lanka.
Within the three requests, the brothers reveal their paths. Ravana seeks protection for the separate self, Kumbhakarna is diverted into sleep, and Vibhishana asks to belong completely to Hari. The future ally of Ram is formed through this single choice.
Before Brahma's open hand, Vibhishana chooses the feet of the Lord.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 177
Source doha177: Brahma invites Vibhishana to ask a boon; he requests pure love for Bhagavant's lotus feet
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 180, 181 · printed pages 178, 179. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-178. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- Brahma then goes to Vibhishana and says 'Son, ask a boon.' Vibhishana asks pure love for Bhagavant's lotus feet. Brahma is the particular boon giver; affectionate Son does not assert Brahma is his birth father.
- Bhagavant is not narrowed to Rama by name in this verse or local Hindi witness. The prior Kumbhakarna request follows Brahma prompting Sarasvati's alteration of his mind; free indulgence interpretation is not adopted.
Artistic choices
- Approved C176 Vibhishana model retained: natural warm brown long oval face, short full black beard, long loose wavy black hair parted centrally below shoulders, no bun/crown/forehead mark, gold studs and thin chain, cream/deep teal robe. Exact age, face and clothing are conventional.
- Awake upward eyes and slightly parted mouth petitioning offscreen Brahma, both hands joined at own chest, two arms/two hands and no knee hands. Cream garden arch, deep rust field and tiny white flowers are artistic; no literal floating feet, named Rama manifestation or boon outcome depicted.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
गए बिभीषन पास पुनि कहेउ पुत्र बर मागु। तेहिं मागेउ भगवंत पद कमल अमल अनुरागु।।177।।
Then Brahma went to Vibhishana and said, "Son, ask for a boon." Vibhishana asked for pure, unwavering love for the lotus feet of the Lord.