When Vibhishana surrenders to Rama, the monkeys are averse to
admitting him. Each has a reason.  The Lord then convinces them,
citing the example of a couple of pigeons that helped out a
hunter.  The hunter trapped a female bird, which requested her
partner to protect him from the cold and ensure that he did not
go hungry. The male bird lit a fire for the hunter and jumped
into it, offering itself as food to the hunter.  Significance of
surrender  While narrating this story, Lord Rama speaks of the
pair of birds in the singular. Both birds played a role in
helping the hunter. The female, despite being captured by the
hunter, requested its partner to keep the hunter warm and well
fed.  The male, being separated from the female because of the
hunter, did not think twice about keeping the hunter
comfortable.  So when both had a role to play, why does Lord
Rama speak in the singular? The reason is to show that when we
surrender to the Lord, it is both the Lord and His Consort who
together save us, Navalpakkam Vas