Did Vibhishana betray his brother by defecting to Rama’s side?
Just a karmic consequence of something else.
Hare Krishna. Question, was Vibhishan a betrayer of his brother because he left Ravana and defected to the side of Ram? Answer, no. More than a betrayer of his brother, he was a protector of his race.
Vibhishan was a responsible and respectable member of the Rakshasa dynasty and he fervently advised Ravana to desist from a self-destructive confrontation with Ram. When Ravana did not listen to Vibhishan and insulted him repeatedly and more importantly rejected his advice. So, Vibhishan tells his counsellors before making the decision to go to Rama's side that I have three options now.
One is I can try to make an internal rebellion within Lanka and take, I am a member of the royal family so I have to I have a responsibility to the citizens and I have to protect them. They will all be destroyed if Ramana fights with Ram. So, I can try an internal rebellion and seize power from Ravana and then hand Sita over to Ram and thus avoid the war.
Second is I can just renounce the world and go to the Himalayas. And third is that I can go to Rama's side and I can tell Ram that your enmity is with Ravana. Your enmity is not with the Rakshasa dynasty the whole Rakshasa dynasty.
There are good Rakshasa also and they are there to support your cause. So, he can say the first is difficult because Ravana is so powerful and he has captivated the Rakshasa so much that no one will adequate people will not support a coup against him. Second will be irresponsible because then his citizens will be destroyed and he, that will be irresponsible kind of renunciation.
So, therefore he chooses the third option. He goes over to Rama's side not because he wants to betray his brother. He tries to save his brother by giving good counsel but he knows that sticking to his brother's side he will actually be betraying his citizens by sending them on the path of self-destruction and that's why he to protect his citizens when their appointed protector Ravana was taking them to the path of destruction then Vibhishan goes over to Rama's side and as is rightly said Rama tells strongly all the Vanaras and everyone his forces that they should not attack any civilians and after the kingdom is, after Ravana is defeated, there is no plundering of Lanka at all and there is a very graceful and peaceful transfer of power and caring for the citizens of Lanka by Vibhishan thereafter.
Thank you.