"Vibhishan mere paas ek Mitra ke bhaati aya hai. Dharmatma kabhi bhi sharan mei aaye vyakti ko niskaashit nahi karte." Shri Ram said.

"Yeh baat se kya fark padta hai Shri Ram ki woh kis aashaye se aya hai. Jo vyakti aapda ke samaye apne bhai ka saath chhod de, uss par hum kaise vishwas kar sakte hai ? Jo vishwasghaati apne bhai ke saath khada nahi huya vipatti ke samaye, woh dusre sambandho ke saath kyu khada hoga ?" Sugreev disagreed respectfully.

"Tumne uchit kaha hai Sugreev. Kintu, hume kisi nishkarsh pe pahuchne se pehle sabhi paksh se vichaar karna chahiye. Raja ko 2 tarah ke khatre hote hai. Ek andhruni arthat swayam ke log aur ek bahaari arthat dusre rajya. Kabhi kabhi, apne hi logo se ek vaidh alochan bhi Raja ki adhruni khatra lagta hai. Vibhishan ne Ravan ka virodh, Lanka ke hit hetu kiya tha, kintu Ravan ko laga ki woh vidrohi aur shatru hai. Iss stithi mei, apne praano ki chinta kar, Ravan of tyaagna, vishwasaghaat nahi hai." Shri Ram said.

He also had sharp insights and a good understanding of human psychology, which told him one more thing.

"Aur mujhe lagta hai ki Vibhishan ko Lanka ke Raaj-paath ki abhilasha hai. Yadi iss stithi mei hum use swikar ke vachan de ki vijay par hum use Lanka ka Raja bana denge toh woh humare saath vishwasaghaat nahi karega. Apetu prasann ho humari sahayata karega. Waise bhi Sugreev, Bharat jaisa bhai milna aur tumhare jaisa mitra milna kathin hai. Aur isse yeh bhi siddh hai ki Rakshas ek dusre par vishwas nahi karte, jo humare liye laabh dayak hai." Shri Ram said.

Sugreev was not convinced but the son of Kaushalya had made up his mind to accept Vibhishan. Shri Ram it was the right thing to do morally and strategically.

He asked the younger brother of Ravan to be sent in and once Vibhishan came to see him, he fell on the feet of Shri Ram.

"Apne bade bhai Ravan se kashtmaye roop se apmaanit ho, mai apne parivaar, Lanka aur apne bandhuo ka tyaag kar aapki sharan mei aya hu. Meri samapatti, mera jeevan aur mera sukh, sab aapke aadhin hai." Vibhishan said earnestly.

Shri Ram welcomed him with compassion, he understood the struggle of Vibhishan. But he was also pragmatic, Shri Ram knew the importance of the brewing war for which Vibhishan's knowledge as an insider would be immensely helpful, something Devi Sita had also advised him for in her message through Hanuman.

Shri Ram made Vibhishan sit beside him, wasted no time to observe him and make out his intentions.

"Mujhe Rakshas sena ki shaktiyon aur durbaltao ke baare mei vistaar poorv batao, Vibhishan." Shri Ram asked.

Vibhishan didn't hesitate, he explained the security arrangements of Lanka and gave details about the strength of Ravan's armies. He also elaborately described Ravan and his ket commanders.

There were two conclusions, first that Lanka was a force to reckon with. And second, judging Vibhishan's answer, body language, tone and tenor, it was clear he was a friend indeed.

"Sab meri pratigya dhyaan se sune. Ravan aur uske mantri jisne bhi shaktishaali ho, mai unka vadh kar Vibhishan ko Lanka ka Raja banayunga. Mai vachan deta hu ki tab tak Ayodhya nahi lautunga jab tak Ravan aur uske kul ka sarvanash na kardu !" Shri Ram declared.

"Toh sab mera bhi pran sune. Rakshas sena ka vadh karne mei aur Lanka par vijayi praapt karne mei, Mai Shri Ram ki sahayata apne sampoorn kshamta aur samarthya se karunga." Vibhishan also let his resolve be known.

And this candid, unambiguous declaration helped to alleviate the doubts that many Vanars had in their minds about Vibhishan's intentions, even after Shri Ram welcomed him.

"Vibhishan, humari sabse badi duvidha hai samudra paar kar Lanka pahuchna. Kya itni badi Vanar sena le jaane ke liye koi maarg hai ?" Shri Ram asked.

Vibhishan pondered for a moment, until a plan stuck him.

"Prabhu, aap Sagaro ke samrat Varun dev se sahayata kyu nahi maangte ?" Vibhishan suggested.

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A/N

You guys will be shocked to know... That Valmiki Ramayan mei Ram Naam se patthar nahi taere the....

Actually Ram Setu, as it is called Nal Setu in Valmiki Ramayan, was a full fledged and impressive construction of a bridge, which is told in detail. Believe me it is a civil engineering marvel.

Ram naam se patthar taerna is there in later retellings, which is I suppose made to show the power that is there in the name of Shri Ram. It's poet's bhakti-bhaav.

So even though, the stones didn't float magically, Ram naam ki mahima is still the same 🙏

Kyuki patthar Sagar mei taere ya na taere, tum Ram naam lo toh Bhav Sagar mei awashya taer jaaoge 🙏