One of the first qualities required of a person seeking to surrender is the realisation of his faults and demerits, and his acknowledgement of the same. Vibhishana’s surrender is significant, because Vibhishana starts by introducing himself with a list of his demerits, Akkarakkani Srinidhi said in a discourse.
Vibhishana says he is the younger brother of the wicked demon Ravana. It is this Ravana who killed Jatayu and captured Sita and took Her away to Lanka. There, this Ravana has appointed many asura women to guard Her, Vibhishana says. It might seem that by now, Vibhishana has said enough to be refused the grace of Rama, for what can be worse than such a negative self- introduction? But in fact, this is how anyone surrendering to the Lord should speak, by listing out his or her faults and sins, and craving forgiveness and grace. The very fact that Vibhishana and Ravana have blood ties is a drawback to Vibhishana. The fact that all these years Vibhishana has served Ravana is yet another factor which is not in his favour. And yet, it is with the words that he is the brother of Ravana that Vibhishana announces his arrival. Vibhishana further says he tried his best to persuade Ravana to let Sita go, but his words were of no avail. Since Ravana has not heeded his advice, he has come away.
Once Acharya Ramanuja was delivering a discourse on the Ramayana. He had reached Vibhishana Saranagati. He had a disciple by name Pillai Urangavilli Dasar. When Ramanujacharya was explaining Vibhishana’s surrender, Dasar tried to leave. Ramanujacharya asked why he was leaving. Urangavilli Dasar said that even Vibhishana, who had left behind his wife and family and come to Rama, had been made to wait for some time by the Lord. That being the case, what hope could he (Dasar) entertain regarding moksha? Ramanujacharya replied that moksha was guaranteed to Dasar, for he had an Acharya. Those who had an Acharya were linked to the unbroken line of guruparampara, which began with Lord Narayana Himself. Vibhishana Saranagati, thus, is a significant episode in the Ramayana, and therefore it evoked strong emotions in Pillai Urangavilli Dasar, who heard it being explained in a discourse.
