In praise of Rama - Chapter 41

In the previous chapter, we saw Sita enters the fire. , Now we'll see In praise of Rama.

Rama was watching all this with tearful eyes and was greatly confused. At that time all Gods, Kubera, Lord Yama, Lord Indra, Varuna (rain God), and Lord Shiva all came to Lanka and worshiped Rama. They all addressed Rama and said “Rama why are you just watching Sita entering the fire like an ordinary man not realizing that you are the great protector of the world. Why do you not realize that you are the supreme of all the Devas? Before the creation, Ruthadhama was the Vasu who started creation. You are Swayambhu, self-born and the first. You are the eighth Rudra and fifth among the Devas called Sadhya. Your two ears are Aswini Devas and your two eyes are the Sun and the Moon. (In other words he was Lord Vishnu himself). Why are you behaving like a mortal and neglect Sita”?

Rama said to Lord Brahma “I know myself only as a mortal and the son of Dasharatha. Therefore advise me to whom I am related and the reason for which I was born”. Lord Brahma said “Rama listen to me carefully. You are Lord Narayana husband of Goddess Lakshmi. It was you who once took the form of wild boar (referred to Varaha Avatara when he saved the four Vedas from being destroyed by a demon). You are eternal and there is nothing superior to you”. Brahma praised him and described all His attributes. He said that he was omnipresent and omnipotent and if He closed his eyes it was night and it was day when He opened them. He described Vishnu’s previous incarnations. Brahma explained that He took the birth as Rama in the world in order to kill Ravana and other Rakshasas and establish world order and peace.

Then Lord Agni the fire God appeared with Sita Devi on his laps and addressed Rama and said “Rama here is your Sita Devi who is spotless and irreproachable in any way. She was taken by Ravana by force and kept prisoner. She resisted all his attempts and was thinking only of you. Rama you accept her”. Rama was in tears and he said after reflecting “If Sita was not purified by the fire the world would accuse me for accepting her. They will attribute it to my lust for her. I know well Sita’s love and devotion for me. No one can touch Sita because she is like fire. I will gladly accept Sita”. All felt happy and praised Rama. Rama too was happy with his union with his dear wife. Rama though he defended his decision of asking Sita to get purified by fire by saying that he did it for the sake of the world it is no gainsaying the fact that he had been very cruel. Sita had gone through hell as a prisoner of Ravana who tortured her all the time by his advances and his angry menaces. At the first meeting of Rama with Sita the very first words he said was to accuse her angrily and doubt her chastity. But that was Rama who carried out his task as a person who followed the path of truth and Dharma in an intransigent manner so that he could set a role model to the world.

In the next chapter, We'll see Dasharatha speaks to Rama.