01
Origins and family
Through severe austerities he gained boons and built Lanka into a wealthy and feared kingdom.
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Character Chronicle
Ramayana · King of Lanka and formidable antagonist
Ravana
Brilliant scholar and powerful ruler whose arrogance and abduction of Sita brought about his fall.
RamayanaTen headsGreat
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Biography
The story of Ravana
Ravana is brilliant scholar and powerful ruler whose arrogance and abduction of Sita brought about his fall. Son of sage Vishrava and Kaikesi; brother of Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana and Surpanakha.
Through severe austerities he gained boons and built Lanka into a wealthy and feared kingdom.
He mastered scripture, music and warfare, but repeatedly used power to dominate gods, sages and kingdoms.
After Surpanakha's humiliation, he abducted Sita and rejected every counsel to return her.
Rama killed him after a vast war; his learning could not save him from the consequences of pride and desire.
Life journey
Four defining chapters
02
Rise and relationships
He mastered scripture, music and warfare, but repeatedly used power to dominate gods, sages and kingdoms.
03
Defining crisis
After Surpanakha's humiliation, he abducted Sita and rejected every counsel to return her.
04
Final phase and legacy
Rama killed him after a vast war; his learning could not save him from the consequences of pride and desire.
Great knowledge cannot compensate for the refusal to respect another's freedom.
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