Thus Ramayana clearly teaches the lesson that spiritual wisdom alone saves, and is essential.

Ravana was a great scholar. He mastered 64 distinct fields of knowledge, including the language of animals, birds and insects. He possessed all knowledge, wealth and prosperity that equaled heaven. He used his penance as a means to acquire mastery over the physical world, reposing his faith on the phenomenal world and not on the Creator. He chose not to enquire about the Creator of the phenomenal world. The Universe is the Creator’s property. Rama was the Creator Himself and Sita was Rama’s Power (Shakti). Ravana, giving in to lust, desire and greed, developed hatred and enmity towards Rama and abducted Mother Sita. What was the result? Not only he, but his entire kingdom was destroyed. Despite such high knowledge and prowess, he failed to recognize the Divine within and ruined himself due to a moral lapse. Thus Ramayana clearly teaches the lesson that spiritual wisdom alone saves, and is essential.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba