Success from Ramayana.

Our vedic scriptures never gave regard to external success, it was all about internal success. Arjuna's success is not measured with how many he killed in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, it's by seeing how such a powerful warrior surrendered to the order of God and followed it as his life and soul through the battlefield. Any activity in life, how it is transforming you into a person with humility, grattitde and compassion for others is the true measurement of success. Every thing else that comes along like name, fame and wealth are by-products. 

Srila Bhakisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaj beautifully explained who is a great and successful man. He told "A person who can remain virtuous and tolerates his senses in the most tempting situations in life is the greatest". Anyone who does not have any control on his mind and senses, he might win the whole world, but he will lose everything from within and remain unsatisfied. Again the best example is Ravana. He was a Brahman with highest knowledge, he was stonch devotee of Lord Shiva, He had the best children who could defeat the devatas, he had the most beautiful and chaste wife Mandodari, he had the richest kingdom made with Gold, he had the benediction that no one can kill him including Yamaraj, and much more. From material terms he was the most successful person ever.

But only problem was he had uncontrolled mind filled with lust. He kidnapped Sita who was others wife. All his knowledge could not stop him from such an act. His mind did not allow him to hear any advice from others. He remained in depression from within as he neither could enjoy his wifes nor could dare to touch Sita whom he kidnapped. His mind did not allow him to see what he already had in life. It kept on asking him to pursue for more. Finally he lost his life in such useless pursuit.

What I personally learned from Acharyas in our parampara of what  sucess is? Success is to have a "Satisfied Heart". Be greatful for what you have got and invest everything in purification of heart. That's our definition of success of life