- Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! Ravana was the grandson of Pulastyabrahma. He was an ardent devotee of Siva. He was a great scholar in all the scriptures and the Vedas. Above all, he was a valorous warrior and an expert in archery. Such a person was reduced to total ruin. What could be the secret behind his fall?
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Bhagavan: Viewed spiritually, Ravana's destruction at Rama's hands teaches you that in spite of your physical strength, intelligence, wealth, the might of a large army, the power of your deep penance, if you become a victim of desire of a low order or lust, you will ruin yourself totally.
There is another inner significance to this event. At the gate of Vaikuntha, Heaven, were two guards by name Jaya and Vijaya. They were discourteous to two sages, Sanaka and Sananda who came to visit Lord Vishnu. They cursed the two gatemen and consequently they had to leave Vaikuntha. Then, they prayed to be pardoned and begged them to suggest a way out. As atonement, the sages counselled them to opt for three births as demons, living in utter hatred of Lord Vishnu and dying at His hands, paving thereby the way for their early return to heaven. Thus, Jaya and Vijaya were reborn as the demon brothers, Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu, Sisupala and Dantavaktra, Ravana and Kumbhakarna – all these duos spent their lives in bitter enmity with Vishnu, and died at His hands; this enabled them to reach their original place in Vaikuntha.
Ravana's acts should be viewed in this context. If he entertained any bad motives in abducting Sita, how is it that he did not touch her all through the period of her stay in Lanka? Unless he abducted Sita, Rama wouldn't fight with him. So, to fight Rama in open battle was the only way for Ravana to die at His hands. The climax of the Ramayana, the victory of Rama and the death of Ravana, indicates how Ravana's heart pined for his lord, Rama.
