A Lesson from Ravana

Reading between the lines

- Devdutt Pattanaik

After striking Ravana with a fatal arrow, Ram tells Lakshman to go to Ravana and seek knowledge from him for 'he is an educated Brahmin, his faults notwithstanding.' But Ravana turns his face away from Lakshman who complains to his brother that 'the villain is too proud to share anything even as he is dying'. Ram then casts his weapons aside and falls at Ravana's feet and requests him to share his wisdom. Ravana looks pleased and says, "Ram, you sit at my feet in humility while Lakshman stood at my head demanding my knowledge like an entitled conqueror. You are, indeed, a student worthy of my knowledge. Let me tell you whatever I can before I die. Know this that the mind tends to shun all things good for our life and seek all things bad for our life. To attain wisdom, witness the tricks of the mind. May you succeed where I failed."