Home | Biographies

A-J | K-M | N-S | T-Z | Others | Previous

1. Who was Raavan and Preamble to Raavan's Birth
2. Birth of Raavan and The Three Brothers Get Var
3. Raavan's Victory Over Tri-Lok-1
4. Raavan's Victory Over Tri-Lok-2
5. Raavan's Victory Over Tri-Lok-3
6. Shaap to Raavan
7. Raavan and Raam
8. Other Stories of Raavan
9. Raavan's Discourse to Lakshman

This story is not either in Maanas or Vaalmeeki Raamaayan, but it has been very famous. When Raavan was dying, Lakshman was abusing him for his actions. Raam told Lakshman that Raavan was not a fool, he was very intelligent and there is no harm in obtaining knowledge even from an enemy. He should go and get some knowledge from him. Lakshman unwillingly went to Raavan, stood at his head and said - "Hey Raavan, Impart me some knowledge." But Raavan did not answer him. Lakshman waited for a while then came back to Ram and told Him what had happened there. He said - "Raavan considered himself very proud and he didn't even reply me."

Raam asked Lakshman - How did you ask him? Where were you standing?" Lakshman told Him. Raam said - "Lakshman, You were the disciple, he was your teacher. Have you forgotten the etiquette also of a Guru and Shishya? being a Shishya you should have sat in his feet and asked politely and respectfully to impart you the knowledge he has. Go again and do as I have said to you."

This time Lakshman went to Raavan, touched his feet and sat near them. he then politely and respectfully requested him to impart knowledge to him. Then only Raavan imparted him knowledge.

During his discourse Raavan said to Lakshman - "The worst thing which makes a man unsuccessful, is his procrastination nature. I wanted to build stairs from Prithvi to Swarg; I thought I will make the whole seawater sweet; make my golden Lankaa fragrant; control Death completely. I could have done all this easily, but procrastinated on tomorrow did not allow me to do them, and I could not do them. Today I am dying, and that tomorrow never came."

[Enthusiasm, smartness and alertness, discipline and being time bound - these three qualities are said to increase wisdom. if we follow them, they give us the opportunity naturally to become intelligent and we become intelligent.]

Raavan's Works

Raavan was a very learned man. He was the son of Muni Vishravaa and the grandson of Maharshi Pulastya.
He had a thorough knowledge of Ved. It is believed that he recited Ved from all his 10 mouths.
He was no commoner chanter of Saam Ved among the humans or Asur.
He was a great astrologer. The incident about his son Meghnaad's birth chart is the proof of it. He has written "Raavan Sanhitaa"
He possessed a good knowledge of Aayur Ved and political science. He wrote Kumaar Tantram of this subject.
He was a great Veenaa player and his flag had a mark of Veenaa on it.
The parable written above (Raavan's Discourse to Lakshman) shows that even Shesh Jee went to learn from Raavan.

Home | Biographies

A-J | K-M | N-S | T-Z | Others | Previous