ਰਾਵਨ (raavan)
Meaning: noun: Ravan, the ‘demon-king’ of Lanka, mentioned in the Hindu epic, Ramayana.
Quote:
ਸਰਬ ਸੋਇਨ ਕੀ ਲੰਕਾ ਹੋਤੀ ਰਾਵਨ ਸੇ ਅਧਿਕਾਈ॥
ਕਹਾ ਭਇਓ ਦਰਿ ਬਾਂਧੇ ਹਾਥੀ ਖਿਨ ਮਹਿ ਭਈ ਪਰਾਈ॥
ਰਾਵਣ ਜਿਹੇ ਵੱਡੇ ਰਾਜੇ ਦੀ ਸਾਰੀ ਲੰਕਾ-ਨਗਰੀ ਸੋਨੇ ਦੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਸੀ। ਅਤੇ ਕੀ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਜੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦਰ ਉਤੇ ਹਾਥੀ ਬੱਧੇ ਰਹਿੰਦੇ ਸਨ? (ਅਖੀਰ, ਉਹ ਵੀ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਸੋਨ-ਨਗਰੀ ਵੀ) ਇਕ ਛਿਨ ਵਿਚ ਪਰਾਈ ਹੋ ਗਈ।
sarab soin kee laňkaa hotee raavan se adhikaaee.
kahaa bhaio dar baaṅdhe haathee khin mahi bhaee paraaee.
Lanka, the city of the great Ravan, was all built in gold. And what if the elephants were tethered at his gate? (In the end, he was killed and his entire city) belonged to someone else in an instant. -Bhagat Namdev, Guru Granth Sahib, 693
Message: Ravan, the mighty king of Lanka, who perished in disgrace, is a very pertinent example from the past, mentioned in the verse above. He was very powerful and strong. He waged war against Sri Rama, the king of Ayodhya. Many brave warriors from both sides fell in the battlefield. Ultimately, Ravan was killed.
Great and mighty rulers, having enormous wealth and fighting machinery also leave the earth. In a moment, the kingdom, wealth and possessions, of which one is so proud, become the property of others. Nothing can save one from perishing when the moment arrives and nothing can be taken along to the next world! Nothing should make one proud and haughty.
