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THE WAY OF LIFE
strong desire to become a man of virtues. Only then will you love virtues. It is not important whether you have a certain virtue or not. It is important that you must have a love for virtues.
RAVANA'S LOVE FOR VIRTUES
A terrible war took place between Ravana and King Sahasrakiran on the bank of the river Reva. Ravana achieved a victory over King Sahasrakiran but he was amazed by the extraordinary valour and heroism of King Sahasrakiran. He captured King Sahasrakiran. But a great sage came flying through the trackless skies and entered Ravana's camp. Ravana found out that he was the father of King Sahasrakiran. At once, he released Sahasrakiran from captivity and then in his court, he expressed a whole-hearted admiration for Sahasrakiran's heroism. He treated Sahasrakiran as his brother, returned his kingdom to him and said to Sahasrakiran, “You are my brother and you ask for any area or kingdom. I will surely give it to you”.
King Sahasrakiran said, “Oh! You lord of Lanka! Now I have no interest in a Kingdom. I have no fascination for royal splendour. I have renounced the worldly pleasures and splendours. On account of my good fortune, that revered sage arrived here. I will dedicate my life to his feet. I will become a sadhu and endeavour to achieve spiritual progress. I will endeavour to break off the bondages of karma.
Ravana was stupefied on hearing the sublime words of Sahasrakiran. He was overwhelmed with joyful emotions by Sahasrakiran's nobility and renunciation. He shed tears of joy. He whole-heartedly admired Sahasrakiran's virtues. Sahasrakiran received initiation into the charitradharma at the feet of his father, who was a great sage.
The virtues of self-sacrifice and the spirit of renunciation were not present in Ravana but surely, he had great faith in those virtues and a great veneration for them. He loved and respected those virtues. That is why, in his life, he never treated
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