All Bharatiyas will be representing these three things, Kama, Desire, Krodha, anger and Lobha, greed. Ravanasura was highly powerful. He was one of great penance - ‘Tapasvi’. There is no other person greater than Ravana. Ravana who has got all the physical and intellectual strength, is put to ruin because of his desire. What is the use with all the rest? Ravana is so powerful physically and all standards of norms - ‘Laukika, Bhautika, Dharmika, Adhyathmika’.
The vessel may be of gold but if there is a hole in it, the whole contents will be drained out. Ravana has got everything in plenty and prosperity, the entire Lanka is made of gold but he has ruined himself because of desire. Everyone considered him as a wicked man. We pay obeisance to Rama. Ravana is a demon. What is the reason? They got these names based on their actions. Rama stands for truth. Rama has three qualities. Sarve loka hite ratah - He teaches what is good for all the three worlds and follows what is good for the entire universe. The second is Sarve jnana sampannah - He also taught wisdom which is most important in the entire universe. Sarve samudita gunaih - He has got the principle of equanimity. So, He was worshipped as God.
Ravana has none of these qualities. Ravana stands for all pomp, ego, show and exhibitionism. He considers he is the ultimate and that there are none beyond him. ( (DTB Vol.8, pp. 1-2))
Ravana was one who was endowed with all wealth and prosperity. He lacked nothing in terms of comforts and luxuries. He had mastered the 64 categories of knowledge. His capital, Lanka, rivalled Swarga (heaven) itself in its grandeur. Instead of showing regard for Ravana, Valmiki extolled Rama, who gave up the kingdom, donned the robes of an ascetic and lived a simple life in the forest. What is the reason? It was because Rama was the very embodiment of Dharma. Everyone of his actions stemmed from Dharma. Every word he spoke was truth. Every step he trod was based on Dharma. Hence, Rama has been described as the very image of Dharma (Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmah).
What is the inner meaning of the fact that the great sages attached no value to wealth or possessions or intellectual abilities, but esteemed only righteousness as of supreme value? It shows their concern to demonstrate to the world the truth that the world is based on Dharma and that Dharma is vital for the life of man. (SSS Vol.24, p. 205)
A good man by his good conduct achieves greatness. Ravana sought to achieve greatness, but did not strive to lead a good life. Rama’s career is different. He aspired only to be good man and did not seek greatness. (SSS Vol.30, p.91)
Though Rama and Ravana were equally well versed in all forms of knowledge, sage Valmiki extolled Rama as Divine and condemned Ravana as a foolish one. What is the reason? Ravana did not translate into action the knowledge he had acquired; on the contrary he used it for wicked purposes. On the other hand, Rama translated all his knowledge into action and gave joy to one and all. Sarve loka hite ratah (Rama was engaged in the welfare of all). Sarve jnana sampannah (He was the master of all forms of knowledge). Sarve samudita gunaih (He was the embodiment of all good qualities). These are the three aspects that manifested Rama’s divinity. Whoever has these three aspects is essentially divine. (SSS Vol.32 Part1 p.102-103)
Ravana is a Mahatma; Tataki, described as an ogress is also a Mahatma! That is to say, they had superhuman prowess, and mysterious powers. All are Divine; God is the inner motivator of everyone. They are Mahatmas not only in the sense that all Mahatmas; they are Rajasika Mahatmas, enslaved by their emotions and passions, quick to hate and slow to forget the slights inflicted on them. Rama and Lakshmana are Sattvika Mahatmas, embodiments of prowess and powers that righteousness and virtue can endow. A red hot iron hammer can be hammed into shape, by a cold iron hammer, can’t it? So too, a person red hot emotion and passion can be hammered by the hammer that knows no heat of anger or hate. That is the reason Rama was able to defeat Ravana and destroy him. Why? The very word Sattva means strength, power, vigour, vitality. For, virtue is power, goodness is power. A person is angry, because he is weak; he is a bully, because he is a coward, he utter lies, because he is sure he deserves to be punished and he is too weak to welcome it gladly. (SSS Vol.7, p.83)
We know from our mythology that at the time when Ravana lived, there was no other individual who had access to property and wealth any more than Ravana had. Ravana had all the position which one could command. He had all the authority that one could have. In spite of that, the fact that Ravana was subjected to great difficulties towards the end and that he lost his life in battle is note worthy. We should compare with what happened to Rama. Rama intentionally and wilfully gave up all his property, he gave up his kingdom and he went into the forest for several years. Ultimately he was given the honour of having maintained Dharma in the country. From this difference between Ravana who had all the property, position and authority and Rama who willingly gave up all the property, position and authority, we should conclude that we cannot attach any importance to either property, position or authority. We can only attach importance to character and to the pursuit of right conduct. Thus we conclude that money comes and goes and morality grows. It is only in this context that we can say ‘Dharma rakshati rakshitaha’. (SSB 1972, pp. 19-20)
Why is it that the world reveres Rama and revolts at Ravana? Rama is not its uncle’s son or Ravana its stepmother’s child! It is the kinship of spirit, your innate goodness, responding lovingly, adoringly to the goodness of Rama and reacting revoltingly to the wickedness of Ravana. It is not enough, nor is it essential that you should repeat the name of Rama loudly; respect it in fullness of love and admiration. If you have no spring of love in you , dig into your heart with external instruments like- Puja, stotra, etc. And it will start to flow. (SSS Vol.4 p.221)
Ravana sought wealth and gratification of desire, utterly violating the principle of Dharma. Ravana was a scholar par excellence; he had mastered the sixty four disciplines of learning whereas Rama had mastered only thirty two disciplines of knowledge. However, Rama put them into practice and thereby digested them, whereas Ravana failed to digest them. The indigestion on the part of Ravana arose in the form of Kama, which ultimately destroyed him. While Rama was the Embodiment of Dharma, Ravana remained as the embodiment of Kama. Thus, there arose a conflict between Righteousness and unrighteousness. Rama transformed Himself into the embodiment of Sathya, since He followed the principle of Dharma. Since Ravana violated Dharma, he became the Embodiment of Asatya. There is an eternal warfare between Righteousness and unrighteousness, Truth and untruth. It is the duty of everyone to follow and practice the twin principles of Truth and Righteousness. Satya and Dharma are verily the Embodiment of Divinity, and there is no God other than these two. (SSB 1996, p.16)