Storybook 3

King Rama has no equal, as he is the most true and most fair king in all the land. His nomination of Hanuman as Monkey of the Year is not taken lightly because his opinions are highly regarded. In this rare interview, King Rama discusses how Hanuman's value lies not only in his physical abilities, but also in his ability to judge the character of others justly. King Rama specifically speaks of Hanuman's defense of the demon Vibhishana, Ravana's own brother, in the midst of many who refused to show mercy and desired to kill Vibhishana. This interview took place shortly before the opening of The Great War Museum that now preserves the memory of Ravana's defeat. Due to the Monkey of the Year celebration, Hanuman has been spotlighted in the opening exhibits for his deeds during The Great War.

Chaitanya: King Rama, I appreciate the time you have taken to speak with me.

Rama: You're very welcome, Chaitanya. I rarely do interviews, but I know that you are fair in writing and do not exaggerate the truth.

(The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as the people became anxious for the opening of the museum.)

CH: Thank you, majesty. I know your time is short so I will get right to it. Hanuman is clearly someone you admire and respect. Why?

RM: Yes, I do respect Hanuman very much. He has continually proven himself to me through both his words and actions. He is not a follower, but a leader.

CH: How so?

RM: Well, when we were faced with fighting Ravana, it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between friends and foes. When the brother of Ravana, Vibhishana, came to me asking for protection and the honor of fighting with me, I was unsure of what to do. Many in my company immediately did not trust Vibhishana and wanted to...

(Here King Rama was interrupted by a council member seeking direction on the exact time King Rama wished to open the museum.)

RM: I apologize greatly for the interruption. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. Many wanted to get rid of Vibhishana because they believed he was a spy, but Hanuman came to his defense. Hanuman took Vibhishana by the hand, which only one does with a comrade, and brought him to me. Hanuman told me of how Vibhishana had defended him against Ravana and that he believed Vibhishana to be a man of his word. When King Sugriva saw and heard this, however, he was outraged and came against Hanuman. Sugriva was not unwarranted in his accusations as Ravana had already sent spies to our camp. Vibhishana's connection with Ravana was one that would cause many to question his character.

CH: What did Hanuman say to encourage your belief in Vibhishana's character?

RM: It was not so much what he said, but the passion with which he defended Vibhishana. I mean, King Sugriva and Hanuman are close friends, but Hanuman was willing to go against Sugriva for Vibhishana. And he did so with so much zeal! He even called out Sugriva for not knowing what he was talking about. (Laughs) It was actually pretty funny.

CH: Oh, really? In what way?

RM: Well, Hanuman said something to the tune of, "How would you know? You were home drunk in bed while I was in Lanka!" You probably had to be there, but I am so glad that I decided to follow Hanuman's advice because Vibhishana has proven himself to be a worthy cohort and friend. He fought honorably in the war against Ravana, and for these reasons I chose him to be the king of Lanka. Vibhishana rules Lanka with a just hand.

(A chant began in the crowd as many shouted, "Han-u-man, Han-u-man!" and others "King Rama!")

CH: It sounds like it may be time for you to go, but I do thank you again for your time. You have given more insight into the character of Hanuman and now I can see clearly why you nominated him for this award.

RM: Thank you, Chaitanya. You have a most worthy character as well, and be sure I will never forget your honor.

Author's Note: In this story, I wanted to focus more on how Hanuman could ascertain the character of others, and how he would fight for those in whom he believed. He and Sugriva are fast friends, but Hanuman makes his own decisions based on his personal knowledge. He is most definitely a leader and not a follower. Reading the story again, I felt that Sugriva might have even been a little jealous of how Hanuman treated Vibhishana as a friend. This may have fueled his desire to get rid of Vibhishana. In this story, I focus less on the minute details and more on how Rama views Hanuman. Rama has insight into Hanuman's character that goes beyond what many see. Hanuman may be a monkey who can jump across the oceans, but he is also someone who knows what is right and fair. I think that Rama has the unique ability to see beyond appearances, and I tried to show this with his interactions with Chaitanya. I decided to have the setting be at a museum opening because it would be appropriate for the King of Ayodhya to be a part of this important event. I think Hanuman would be spotlighted in the exhibit because he did much to secure the success of Rama's army. Without him it seems all would have been lost.

More Than What Meets the Eye:

Hanuman Defends Vibhishana to King Rama