Shloka 3.17.24
शूर्पणखाया आगमनम् — Surpanakha Approaches Rama
प्रवृद्धनिद्रश्च सदा कुम्भकर्णो महाबलः।विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा न तु राक्षसचेष्टितः।।।।प्रख्यातवीर्यौ च रणे भ्रातरौ खरदूषणौ।
pravṛddhanidraś ca sadā kumbhakarṇo mahābalaḥ | vibhīṣaṇas tu dharmātmā na tu rākṣasaceṣṭitaḥ || prakhyātavīryau ca raṇe bhrātarau kharadūṣaṇau ||
“Kumbhakarṇa too is my brother—very strong, ever sunk in heavy sleep. But Vibhīṣaṇa is righteous, not given to demonic conduct. And in battle my brothers Khara and Dūṣaṇa are famed for their prowess.”
Kumbhakarna is another brother of mine. He is very strong. He is always in deep sleep. Vibhisna another brother. He is righteous free from any demoniac trait. My other two brothers are Khara and Dusana who are wellknown heroes of war.
Dharma is presented as a personal choice not guaranteed by birth: Vibhīṣaṇa is singled out as righteous despite being among rākṣasas.
Śūrpaṇakhā lists her powerful brothers, distinguishing Vibhīṣaṇa as righteous and others as formidable.
Vibhīṣaṇa’s righteousness (dharmātmā) as an inner virtue independent of clan identity.