Ravana in 'Meghnad Badh Kavya': A Review of Educational Achievement through the Lens of Heroism

Shri Subhadip Sahoo

Abstract: Ravana is rendered speechless by the grief of losing his son. Chitrangada's lament further fuels his thirst for vengeance. The first thunderous blow Ravana suffers in Meghnad Badh is the death of Veerbahu. The gods themselves trembled before the might of this heroic son, yet Rama-a seemingly gentle warrior-defeated him through astonishing strategy. Ravana struggles to comprehend how such an unimaginable event could occur. His disbelief finds voice: The news of Veerbahu's fall shakes Ravana's faith and conscience. A spiritual awakening stirs within him. He interrogates himself deeply, realizing that his own sins hastened his son's downfall. His guilt no longer remains confined to the personal realm; its consequences have engulfed lineage and nation alike. In grieving over Surpanakha's humiliation, Ravana himself descended into wrongdoing. He lost his brother Kumbhakarna and his valiant son Veerbahu prematurely. The best example of the higher education system that developed in Lanka under the supervision of Ravana is the heroic and unparalleled military prowess of Meghnad. It is due to his father's ideals, educational philosophy and knowledge that Meghnad emerged as a unique warrior and strategist. This study argues that heroism is not limited to the boundaries of moral good and evil; rather, heroism lies in the pursuit of knowledge, education, leadership and building civilization. In this new perspective, Ravana is presented not only as a villain, but as a knowledge-based hero and a unique educationist, whose educational legacy is of particular significance in the history of Indian culture and educational philosophy.

Keywords: Meghnad Badh Kavya, Heroism, Character of Ravana, Character of Sita

How to Cite?: Shri Subhadip Sahoo, "Ravana in 'Meghnad Badh Kavya': A Review of Educational Achievement through the Lens of Heroism", Volume 14 Issue 12, December 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 2255-2257, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251227105421, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251227105421