Every Dussehra, we gather in open grounds, light the pyres, and watch the towering effigies of Ravana collapse into ashes. The roar of firecrackers fills the night sky, and the ten-headed demon is once again vanquished by Lord Rama. The symbolism is clear—we celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

But amid the festivities, how often do we pause to ask: do we also burn with Ravana the wisdom he carried?

The Story Beyond the Ramayana

What I am about to share is not found in the Valmiki Ramayana or in Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas. It comes from later retellings, folk traditions, and popular lore—yet it is one of the most powerful episodes associated with Ravana’s end.

After Rama’s fatal arrow struck him on the battlefield of Lanka, Ravana lay on the ground, his life slipping away. Rama, instead of merely watching his enemy die, turned to Lakshmana and said:

“Go to Ravana before he breathes his last. Ask him to share whatever wisdom he can. A brute he may be, but he is also a great scholar.”

Lakshmana obeyed, but he stood near Ravana’s head and demanded, almost impatiently, “Demon-king, share your wisdom before you die and redeem your sins.” Ravana, proud even in his dying moments, turned his face away and said nothing.

Lakshmana returned, angry and disappointed. Rama then asked gently, “Where did you stand while speaking to him?”
“At his head,” Lakshmana replied.

Rama smiled, laid down his bow, and walked across the battlefield. He knelt humbly at Ravana’s feet and with folded hands said:

“Lord of Lanka, you abducted my wife, a terrible crime for which I was compelled to punish you. But now you are no longer my enemy. I bow before you. Please share your wisdom so that it is not lost to the world.”

At these words, Ravana opened his eyes and raised his hands in salutation. “If only I had more time as your teacher than as your enemy,” he sighed. “Unlike your rude younger brother, you have approached me as a true student should. I will tell you what little I can before I go.”

Ravana’s Final Teachings

Ravana’s voice carried both regret and insight as he spoke his last lesson:

“Things that harm us lure us easily. We rush towards them with eagerness. But things that are good for us repel us; we find excuses to delay them. This procrastination is the greatest weakness of human life.”

To Lakshmana, he added:

• Suppress greed the moment it arises, and seize even the smallest chance to do good.
• Do not be the enemy of your charioteer, your gatekeeper, your cook, or your brother—they can destroy you from within.
• Never think you are invincible, even when you keep winning.
• Trust the minister who dares to criticize you.
• Never underestimate your enemy—like I dismissed Hanuman as just a monkey.
• Guard your secrets—like I failed to do when I let Vibhishana defect to Rama.
• Do not imagine you can outwit destiny; the stars bring what must come.
• And finally, whether you love God or hate God, let both be total, immense, and uncompromising.

With these words, Ravana breathed his last.

The Demon-Scholar

It is easy to forget that Ravana was not merely a demon king. He was the grandson of Brahma, son of the sage Vishrava, and brother of Kubera, the god of wealth. A polymath, Ravana mastered Ayurveda, music, and political science. His ten heads symbolised his command over the four Vedas and six Shastras.

Rama himself once addressed him as a Maha Brahman. What destroyed Ravana was not his lack of knowledge or strength but his insatiable ego. His learning made him wise, but his pride made him blind.

What We Must Burn on Dussehra

When we burn his effigies tonight, let it not be only Ravana’s arrogance we destroy in fire. Let us also burn the procrastination that keeps us from doing good. Let us burn our greed, our careless pride, and our blind spots.

Ravana’s fall reminds us that brilliance without humility leads to ruin. His last words remind us that wisdom can come even from those we call our enemies—if only we approach them with humility.

Reflections: Ancient Lessons for Modern Times

In today’s boardrooms and offices, Ravana’s words resonate with startling clarity.

• A leader who silences critics soon finds himself surrounded by flatterers and blind spots.
• A professional who delays the “good but difficult” task in favour of the easy distraction falls into the same trap Ravana described.
• A family or team divided by mistrust and petty rivalries mirrors the fissures Ravana warned about.

In our personal lives, too, procrastination often kills more dreams than failure ever does. We postpone the healthy habit, the difficult conversation, the act of kindness—while rushing eagerly into indulgence or convenience. Ravana’s wisdom is not just about kings and wars; it is about us, here and now.

So, this Dussehra, as the effigies burn, let us pause and ask ourselves:
What within me must burn today so that the best in me may rise tomorrow?

That, perhaps, is the true triumph of good over evil.