Quite an interesting and relevant episode. As always loved your analysis Shruti.
I had expected your analysis on the line ram mentioned - that it is a small difference between Bakthi and Andhbakthi !
Tarinni seems to be a new charecter not heard though!
Absolutely true that this story was so relevant to the current times , when religion is used to justify the violence and a way to reach God etc.
It was beautiful to see the Karuna bhav of narayan to give Mukthi to his devotee along with the supreme Vision at the shortest call !
After all the devotee has spent all his life only in the jaap of Narayan and had chosen the Hinsa path with a blind faith on his father.
Just as you mentioned in your post , it's only those who fear are constantly trying to exercise control over others ( who they think may overthrow ) . We do see a lot of such examples in our present day politics too !
Though in Ravan's case, it is pre planned that he would be killed by Vishnu who is in Rams form( and so , all his scholarly knowledge did not come of use ) , the lesson is for the rest of the mankind to understand the simple knowledge of - whatever is rightfully yours is alone good for you and those that are tried to be sought out through any unfair means shall only end up in ones destruction !
Both Ramayan and MB talks about this and yet many seem to ignore these valuable lessons and endlessly chase behind things that are not rightfully theirs !