“O Rakshasa, It might be possible for a person to live for a long time after forcibly taking away Shachi Devi, a woman of unmatched beauty and wife of the wielder of the thunderbolt [Indra]. But a person who abuses me shall not be released from death even if they were to drink amrita [nectar which grants immortality].” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 48.24)

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जीवेच्चिरं वज्रधरस्य हस्ताच्छचीं प्रधृष्याप्रतिरूपरूपाम्।
न मादृशीं राक्षस दूशयित्वा पीतामृतस्यापि तवास्ति मोक्षः।।

jīvecciraṃ vajradharasya hastācchacīṃ pradhṛṣyāpratirūparūpām।
na mādṛśīṃ rākṣasa dūśayitvā pītāmṛtasyāpi tavāsti mokṣaḥ।।

“Can you explain something to me? Why is it that history repeats itself? I am talking basic stuff, for which ample evidence is available. We can get to the long-term tendencies later, but I am speaking of events within a one hundred year span.

“For instance, people trusted the government. They gradually accepted one restriction after another. Pretty soon, an entire group was being persecuted. They were discriminated against based on a certain characteristic, whether it be ancestry or religion.

“Eventually, there was a resolution. Everything came crashing down for the evildoers. There were promises made to never repeat the same in the future. They came up with new law codes that practically the entire world agreed upon.

“Then, as if the original events never took place, the same began to occur. Over and over, into the perils of delusion, brought about by people who thought they could play God. They thought they could control everything, when any rational person realizes how silly that is.

“How does this take place in a repeat fashion? Is it due to the illusion of maya? Shouldn’t the documented history of guaranteed death put an end to such foolishness? People behave as if there will be no future consequences, that they can remain in the position of dominance forever.”

From Vedic literature, we learn that the tendency to play God dates back to time immemorial. There is the famous history of Ravana, the king of Lanka. He was not self-made. He did not rise to the top on his own effort.

There were, of course, the circumstances of birth. He had to fall into a certain time and place in order to succeed. Then, he consciously and intentionally sought benedictions. He went to a benefactor and asked for specific rewards. Due to the level of his austerities, the benefactors were pleased. Ravana got what he wanted, more or less.

In typical kripana fashion, the miserly Ravana became puffed up over his newly acquired powers. He thought he could dominate the entire world. If he were to show more power and strength than the king of heaven, Indra, who would be left to stop him?

Not realizing that all-devouring time was the cause of his birth and would soon be the cause of his demise, Ravana proceeded with stealing the goddess of fortune, Sita Devi. She was already married and devoted to her husband, Shri Rama of Ayodhya.

Despite his many powers, gifted to him by benefactors, Ravana was too afraid to approach Rama in a fair fight. Based on the word of his advisors, Ravana knew better. He took the cowardly route, and he behaved like a scared dog instead of a courageous lion.

Sita Devi correctly warned him that no one would be able to survive long after taking her. They may thrive after conquering the heavenly realm. They may be feared throughout the world. It may seem as if their domination will last without interruption.

Whatever the externals show, the reality is always the same. No one can become God. It is not a vacant position. It is not a post for someone to achieve. To aspire to it is the embodiment of silliness. Indeed, we see that spirit of endeavor in generation after generation.

This lends support to the claim that the material world is something like a reformatory institution. This is the truth of the matter. The individual souls who want to play God fall to this realm and have full facility to act on their desires.

The wise, through the good fortune of association with saintly people, eventually realize the truth and change their ways. They devote themselves to Vishnu. They live in such a way that others simultaneously benefit. Saintly people are like symbols of sacrifice. They give up personal enjoyment for the sake of others, with the highest welfare in mind.

Even the wicked Ravana could have been saved. He received ample warning. The education was there. The proof was all around. It was in his destiny to learn the hard way, to have everything crashing down, proving the illusion that was his rise to power and fame.

In Closing:

Victory leading to defeat,
Like endless cycle to repeat.

Infinitely in time travelling back,
In every instance to track.

Like Ravana from Ramayana known,
Fate of destruction shown.

Because goddess of fortune offended,
Shri Rama her honor defended.

Categories: questions

Tags: god, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, ramayana, religion