The Golden Hall's Grand Talk
King Ravana sat on his giant throne in Lanka's golden palace hall. Pillars around him glowed with a hidden, fiery light. Music played, but it felt small next to his big voice. He wore a black silk cloak with tiny stars, and his ten heads looked in all directions, his burning eyes shining brightly. "My strength is like a mountain!" he boomed, holding his razor-sharp claws up high. He believed his power made everything he did right. But a quiet, wise man named Vibhishana stood nearby, holding a staff of truth. He wore a soft white drape and looked a little worried. Ravana laughed a big, booming laugh, thinking his way was the only way.
A Gentle Warning
Vibhishana stepped forward, his white drape rustling softly. He spoke in a calm, clear voice, very different from Ravana's roar. "Brother," he began, holding his staff of truth gently, "great strength is good, but kindness is even better. We must think of all hearts." Ravana, with his ten heads, turned some of his burning eyes towards Vibhishana. "Kindness?" he snorted, his sword of empire glinting on his hip. "My strength is my kindness! I take what I want, and that shows how powerful I am!" He puffed out his chest, making the star-spiked border of his cloak shimmer. Vibhishana sighed quietly, knowing it was hard to make Ravana understand.
Seeds of Unrest
Vibhishana tried again later, when Ravana was looking at his many treasures. "Brother," he said, his voice soft like a morning breeze, "true power comes from a happy kingdom, not just shiny gold. If we make others sad, our own joy will shrink." Ravana just waved one of his many hands, his razor-sharp claws catching the light. "Nonsense!" he declared, his ten heads shaking slightly. "My gold makes me happy! My strength makes me happy! Who cares what others think?" He picked up a sparkling ruby, admiring its deep red glow. The uneasy silence in the hall grew heavier, like a big, quiet cloud. Vibhishana saw the worried faces of some palace guards and knew that Ravana's choices were starting to make everyone feel uneasy.
