Rāmāyaṇa is filled with enchanting pastimes of the Lord. Through His wonderful līlās, Lord Rāma instructed the whole world how to behave and how not to, how to surrender and how not to lose the thread of love for God. There are various personalities in the Rāmāyaṇa who surrendered to Lord Rāma in the sojourn of His pastimes, and there are some who never surrendered. Let us explore and reflect on these characters and what we can learn from them. These characters progressively proceed from Bāla Kāṇḍa through the Yuddha Kāṇḍa.

1. Viśvāmitra: From Envy to Enlightenment

Bāla Kāṇḍa describes the struggles and eventual conquest of Viśvāmitra. Initially, he became envious of Vasiṣṭha after seeing the wish-fulfilling cow Kāmadhenu. Though a king, he aspired to gain power like Vasiṣṭha. This led him into a long and complex spiritual journey:

• First Failure: After performing tapasya for 60,000 years, he fell victim to lust when Menakā distracted him.
• Second Failure: Later, he succumbed to anger and cursed Rambhā who tried to seduce him.
• Third Failure: He tried to send Triśaṅku to the heavenly planets by his own power, but failed due to pride and lack of qualification.

However, after repeated failures, he became non-envious, began appreciating Vasiṣṭha, and ultimately attained the status of a Brahmarṣi. That same Viśvāmitra later became the guru of Lord Rāma and surrendered to Him. The Lord even accepted him as His guru, and he also helped unite Rāma with Sītā.

Viśvāmitra underwent a long perilous journey from lust, anger, greed, envy, and pride, and finally purified himself, later becoming the guru of God Himself.

One who was the servant of his senses attained the position of becoming the master of God!

2. Vālmīki: A Moment’s Association

Vālmīki was a hunter, but a moment’s association with Nārada Muni transformed his life completely. That brief contact was enough for him to surrender everything to Lord Rāma. This shows how even a single, sincere association can change the entire course of our destiny.

sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ — sarva-śāstre kaya
lava-mātra sādhu-saṅge sarva-siddhi haya
“The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment’s association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.”
Cc. Madhya 22.54

3. Kaikeyī and Daśaratha: Lost to Bad Association

Kaikeyī was very close to Lord Rāma but lost Him due to her bad association with Mantharā. Daśaratha had everything in the form of Lord Rāma but he was bound by his promise to Kaikeyī and ended up sending Lord Rāma away.

Vālmīki gained Lord Rāma through good association, and Daśaratha and Kaikeyī both lost Him due to bad association.

4. Jaṭāyu: Defeated in Battle, Victorious in Surrender

Jaṭāyu knew he would fail. He knew death was certain, yet he fought Rāvaṇa to protect Sītā. He lost his life but gained eternal glory. Lord Rāma valued his surrender so much that He performed Jaṭāyu’s last rites—something He couldn’t even do for His own father. Such is the Lord’s appreciation for sincere service, even in apparent defeat.

5. Sugrīva: Sense Enjoyment over Service

Sugrīva was helped by Lord Rāma to regain his kingdom and wife. But once he regained them, he became absorbed in sense gratification and delayed assisting Lord Rāma. It took the anger of Lakṣmaṇa to bring him back to his senses. Often, it’s only the chastisement of our spiritual mentors that wakes us up from our spiritual slumber.

6. Sāgara (Ocean God): Humbled by the Lord

Lord Rāma fasted for three days to persuade the ocean to give way, but the ocean didn’t budge. Finally, when Lord Rāma took up arms, the ocean god surrendered. He required the Lord’s wrath to submit. Similarly, many times we don’t surrender until we are held at gunpoint.

7. Vāli: Surrendered Too Late

Vāli only surrendered when he was hit by Lord Rāma’s arrow—on his deathbed. Until then, he ridiculed the Lord’s decision to support Sugrīva. He had the opportunity to surrender earlier but didn’t.

8. Vibhīṣaṇa: Voluntary Surrender

Vibhīṣaṇa was living among demons, yet he chose to leave everything and come to Lord Rāma. Despite his environment, he had a purpose. He surrendered unconditionally and was immediately accepted and honored by the Lord.

9. Rāvaṇa: Surrounded by Saints, but Deaf to Their Words

Rāvaṇa had the best association:
• He had the darśana of Hanumān when Hanumān jumped over to Laṅkā.
• He was surrounded by the divine presence of Mother Sītā for one whole year.
• He had constant instruction from his saintly brother Vibhīṣaṇa.
• Mandodarī was constantly by his side giving him the right advice and support.

But he chose not to listen to anyone. How unfortunate it is to have all the best association, and yet reject it. He had the association of the best devotees in the whole of Rāmāyaṇa, yet he didn’t gain anything by their association.

The Rāvaṇa Within Us:

Sometimes we may be externally like devotees but have the inner consciousness of Rāvaṇa—wanting to keep “our Laṅkā” (ego, control, independence), not wanting to return Sītā (our consciousness) to Lord Rāma. If we do not offer our body, mind, and soul to the Lord, we are no different than the ocean or Rāvaṇa.

Also, we must avoid desiring only the energy or the energetic. Rāvaṇa wanted Sītā without Rāma and Śūrpaṇakhā desired Rāma without Sītā. We must desire both: Sītā and Rāma, Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Only then will our life become perfect.

Whose Example Will We Follow?

In the game of our life, we must ask ourselves:
• Do I want to surrender like Vālmīki – immediately and completely?
• Or will it take repeated chastisement like Sugrīva to wake me up from my slumber of sense enjoyment?
• Will I wait for the wrath of the Lord like the ocean?
• Or will I surrender only on my deathbed like Vāli?
• Or worse – will I never surrender, like Rāvaṇa?

We have to reflect: What will it take for me to surrender?
We have the choice to decide whose examples we wish to follow in our lives.
And that will determine our course of destination.