The battlefield of Lanka. Across the field stands Ravana, mounted on his richly decked chariot, a royal parasol above his head, the shine of weapons flashing on every side. On this side stands Rama, the hero of the Raghus, on foot. No chariot, no armor on his body, nothing on his feet. Vibhishana takes in the scene and his heart begins to tremble. This is the very Vibhishana who left his brother, gave up his kingdom, and turned against his whole people to claim Rama as his own. Now, right at the threshold of the war, worry for Rama gnaws at him.
रावनु रथी बिरथ रघुबीरा।
देखि बिभीषन भयउ अधीरा॥
अधिक प्रीति मन भा संदेहा।
बंदि चरन कह सहित सनेहा॥
नाथ न रथ नहिं तन पद त्राना।
केहि बिधि जितब बीर बलवाना॥
Ravana on his chariot, and Raghuvira with none. Seeing this, Vibhishana lost his composure. Tulsidas sets down a fine point right here. This doubt rose from an abundance of love. The deeper your attachment to someone, the more their danger torments you. Vibhishana bows his head at Rama’s feet and asks, with great tenderness: Lord, you have no chariot, no armor on your body, no sandals on your feet. How, then, will you conquer this mighty warrior Ravana?
Rama smiles. There is no alarm in his reply. He calls Vibhishana his friend, and right here the door to the whole Gita swings open.
सुनहु सखा कह कृपानिधाना।
जेहिं जय होइ सो स्यंदन आना॥
Listen, friend, says Rama, the storehouse of grace: the chariot that yields true victory is a different chariot altogether. The whole secret lies hidden in this one line. Rama does not deny that he needs a chariot. His point is that the chariot which delivers victory is one the eyes cannot see. To call Vibhishana, born into the race of demons, his friend, this too is Rama’s own way, a way that keeps no high and low. In the sections ahead, that singular chariot will open up for you, one limb at a time.
Source: Tulsidas, Ramcharitmanas, Lanka Kanda