The story goes that after shooting the fatal arrow
on the battlefield of Lanka, Ram told his brother, Lakshman, “Go to Ravan
quickly before he dies and request him to share whatever knowledge he can. A
brute he may be, but he is also a great scholar”. The obedient Lakshman rushed
across the battlefield to Ravan’s side and whispered in his ears, “Demon-king,
do not let your knowledge die with you. Share it with us and wash away your
sins”. Ravan responded by simply turning away.
An angry Lakshman went back to Ram, “He is as
arrogant as he always was, too proud to share anything”. Ram comforted his
brother and asked him softly, “Where did you stand while asking Ravan for
knowledge?” “Next to his head so that I hear what he had to say clearly”. Ram
smiled, placed his bow on the ground and walked to where Ravan lay.
Lakshman watched in astonishment
as his divine brother knelt at Ravan’s feet. With palms joined, and with
extreme humility, Ram said, “Lord of Lanka, you abducted my wife, a terrible
crime for which I have been forced to punish you. Now you are no more my enemy.
I bow to you and request you to share your wisdom with me. Please do that for
if you die without doing so, all your wisdom will be lost forever to the
world”.
To Lakshman’s surprise,
Ravan opened his eyes and raised his arms to salute Ram, “If only I had more
time as your teacher than as your enemy.
Standing at my feet as a student should, unlike
your rude younger brother, you are a worthy recipient of my knowledge. I have
very little time so I cannot share much but let me tell you one important
lesson I have learnt in my life.
“Act TODAY on your good thoughts, plans and projects. DO NOT DELAY for a moment. Postpone your evil thoughts for tomorrow. Both good and evil thoughts come everyday – such is the mind.
Things that are bad for you seduce you easily;
you run towards them impatiently. But things that are actually good for you
fail to attract you; you shun them creatively, finding powerful excuses to
justify your procrastination. That is why I was impatient to abduct Sita but
avoided meeting you. This is the wisdom of my life, Ram. My last words. I give
it to you”.
