Causes of Rama's Incarnation
Shiva explains that the Lord incarnates for the protection of dharma, the welfare of devotees, and the destruction of evil. He then describes the specific causes leading to Rama's descent.
Bal Kand · Episode 29 / 59
Episode Text
प्रथम जो मैं पूछा सोइ कहहू। जौं मो पर प्रसन्न प्रभु अहहू॥ राम ब्रह्म चिनमय अबिनासी। सर्ब रहित सब उर पुर बासी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prathama jo maiṃ pūchā soi kahahu। jaum̐ mo para prasanna prabhu ahahu॥ rāma brahma cinamaya abināsī। sarba rahita saba ura pura bāsī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, if you are pleased with me, then please tell me the same thing I asked you before. [It is true that] Rama is Brahman, pure consciousness, imperishable, free from all limitations, and the dweller in every heart and city.
नाथ धरेउ नरतनु केहि हेतू। मोहि समुझाइ कहहु बृषकेतू॥ उमा बचन सुनि परम बिनीता। रामकथा पर प्रीति पुनीता॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nātha dhareu naratanu kehi hetū। mohi samujhāi kahahu bṛṣaketū॥ umā bacana suni parama binītā। rāmakathā para prīti punītā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
O Lord, for what reason did He assume the human form? Please explain this to me, O bearer of the bull-banner. Hearing Girija's extremely humble words and seeing her pure love for the story of Rama—
हियँ हरषे कामारि तब संकर सहज सुजान। बहु बिधि उमहि प्रसंसि पुनि बोले कृपानिधान॥ १२० (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hiyaṃ harṣe kāmāri taba saṃkara sahaja sujāna। bahu bidhi umahi prasaṃsi puni bole kṛpānidhāna॥ 120 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Then Shiva, the destroyer of Kama, naturally wise and a treasure of grace, became very joyful in his heart and, praising Uma in many ways, spoke again—
सुनु सुभ कथा भवानि रामचरितमानस बिमल। कहा भुसुंडि बखानि सुना बिहग नायक गरुड़॥ १२० (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu subha kathā bhavāni rāmacaritamānasa bimala। kahā bhusuṇḍi bakhāni sunā bihaga nāyaka garuḍa॥ 120 (b) ॥
Meaning:
Listen, O Bhavani, to the pure and auspicious story of the Ramcharitmanas, told in detail by Bhusundi and heard by Garuda, the lord of birds.
सो संबाद उदार जेहि बिधि भा आगें कहब। सुनहु राम अवतार चरित परम सुंदर अनघ॥ १२० (ग) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so saṃbāda udāra jehi vidhi bhā āgeṃ kahaba। sunahu rāma avatāra carita parama suṃdara anagha॥ 120 (c) ॥
Meaning:
I will recount that noble dialogue as it happened. Now listen to the supremely beautiful and sin-destroying account of Rama's incarnation.
हरि गुन नाम अपार कथा रूप अगनित अमित। मैं निज मति अनुसार कहउँ उमा सादर सुनहु॥ १२० (घ) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hari guna nāma apāra kathā rūpa aganita amita। maiṃ nija mati anusāra kahauṃ umā sādara sunahu॥ 120 (d) ॥
Meaning:
The virtues, names, stories, and forms of Hari are boundless, countless, and unlimited. Still, O Uma, I speak according to my own understanding; listen attentively.
सुनु गिरिजा हरिचरित सुहाए। बिपुल बिसद निगमागम गाए॥ हरि अवतार हेतु जेहि होई। इदमित्थं कहि जाइ न सोई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunu girijā haricarita suhāe। bipula bisada nigamāgama gāe॥ hari avatāra hetu jehi hoī। idamitthaṃ kahi jāi na soī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
O Parvati, listen: the Vedas and scriptures have sung the Lord Hari’s beautiful, vast, and pure deeds. The cause of Hari’s incarnation cannot be stated as simply, “It is only this” (there may be many reasons, even ones that no one can fully know).
राम अतर्क्य बुद्धि मन बानी। मत हमार अस सुनहि सयानी॥ तदपि संत मुनि बेद पुराना। जस कछु कहहिं स्वमति अनुमाना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāma atarkya buddhi mana bānī। mata hamāra asa sunahi sayānī॥ tadapi santa muni beda purānā। jasa kachu kahahiṃ svamati anumānā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O wise one, listen: our view is that Rama cannot be comprehended by intellect, mind, or speech. Nevertheless, saints, sages, the Vedas, and the Puranas speak as they can, according to their own understanding.
तस मैं सुमुखि सुनावउँ तोही। समुझि परइ जस कारन मोही॥ जब जब होइ धरम कै हानी। बाढ़हिं असुर अधम अभिमानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tasa maiṃ sumukhi sunāvauṃ tohī। samujhi parai jasa kārana mohī॥ jaba jaba hoi dharama kai hānī। bāḍhahiṃ asura adham abhimānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
And, O fair-faced one, I shall tell you the reason as I understand it. Whenever righteousness declines, wicked and arrogant demons grow strong.
करहिं अनीति जाइ नहिं बरनी। सीदहिं बिप्र धेनु सुर धरनी॥ तब तब प्रभु धरि बिबिध सरीरा। हरहिं कृपानिधि सज्जन पीरा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karahiṃ anīti jāi nahiṃ baranī। sīdahiṃ bipra dhenu sura dharanī॥ taba taba prabhu dhari bibidha sarīrā। harahiṃ kṛpānidhi sajjana pīrā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They commit injustices beyond description, and Brahmins, cows, the gods, and the earth suffer. Then, again and again, the compassionate Lord takes various forms and removes the suffering of the righteous.
असुर मारि थापहिं सुरन्ह राखहिं निज श्रुति सेतु। जग बिस्तारहिं बिसद जस राम जन्म कर हेतु॥ १२१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asura māri thāpahiṃ suranhaṃ rākhahiṃ nija śruti setu। jaga bistārahīṃ bisada jasa rāma janma kara hetu॥ 121 ॥
Meaning:
They slay the demons and establish the gods, protect the bounds of their sacred law, and spread their pure glory throughout the world. This is the reason for Rama’s birth.
सोइ जस गाइ भगत भव तरहीं। कृपासिंधु जन हित तनु धरहीं॥ राम जनम के हेतु अनेका। परम बिचित्र एक तें एका॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
soi jasa gāi bhagata bhava tarahīṃ। kṛpāsiṃdhu jana hita tanu dharahīṃ॥ rāma janama ke hetu anekā। parama bicitra eka teṃ ekā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
By singing that very glory, devotees cross the ocean of worldly existence. The ocean of compassion, the Lord, takes on a body for the welfare of his devotees. There are many reasons for Rama’s birth, each more wondrous than the last.
जनम एक दुइ कहउँ बखानी। सावधान सुनु सुमति भवानी॥ द्वारपाल हरि के प्रिय दोऊ। जय अरु बिजय जान सब कोऊ॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
janama eka dui kahauṃ bakhānī। sāvadhāna sunu sumati bhavānī॥ dvārapāla hari ke priya doū। jaya aru vijaya jāna saba koū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
O fair-minded Bhavani, listen carefully as I describe one or two of their births in detail. Jay and Vijay are the two beloved gatekeepers of Hari, as all know.
बिप्र श्राप तें दूनउ भाई। तामस असुर देह तिन्ह पाई॥ कनककसिपु अरु हाटकलोचन। जगत बिदित सुरपति मद मोचन॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bipra śrāpa teṃ dūnau bhāī। tāmasa asura deha tinh pāī॥ kanakakasipu aru hāṭakalocana। jagata bidita surapati mada mocana॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
By the curse of a Brahmin sage, the two brothers received demonic, tamasic bodies. One was Hiranyakashipu and the other Hiranyaksha. They became famous throughout the world as those who humbled the pride of Indra, the king of the gods.
बिजई समर बीर बिख्याता। धरि बराह बपु एक निपाता॥ होइ नरहरि दूसर पुनि मारा। जन प्रहलाद सुजस बिस्तारा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bijaī samara bīra bikhyātā। dhari barāha bapu eka nipātā॥ hoi narahari dūsara puni mārā। jana prahlāda sujasa bistārā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They were famous warriors, victorious in battle. The Lord killed one of them, Hiranyaksha, by taking the form of Varaha, the boar; later he slew the other, Hiranyakashipu, in the form of Narahari and spread the glorious fame of his devotee Prahlada.
भए निसाचर जाइ तेइ महाबीर बलवान। कुंभकरन रावन सुभट सुर बिजई जग जान॥ १२२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhae nisācara jāi tei mahāvīra balavāna। kuṃbhakarana rāvana subhaṭa sura bijai jaga jāna॥ 122 ॥
Meaning:
Those very ones then became the mighty demon warriors Ravana and Kumbhakarna, known to the whole world as great and powerful conquerors of the gods.
मुकुत न भए हते भगवाना। तीनि जनम द्विज बचन प्रवाना॥ एक बार तिन्ह के हित लागी। धरेउ सरीर भगत अनुरागी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mukuta na bhae hate bhagavānā। tīni janama dvija bacana pravānā॥ eka bāra tinh ke hita lāgī। dhareu sarīra bhagata anurāgī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Even after being slain by the Lord, they did not attain liberation, because the Brahmin’s curse was bound to three births. So, out of love for his devotee and for their welfare, the Lord incarnated once again.
कस्यप अदिति तहाँ पितु माता। दसरथ कौसल्या बिख्याता॥ एक कलप एहि बिधि अवतारा। चरित पवित्र किए संसारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kasyapa aditi tahāṃ pitu mātā। dasaratha kausalyā bikhyātā॥ eka kalapa ehi bidhi avatārā। carita pavitra kie saṃsārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
In that incarnation, Kashyapa and Aditi became their father and mother, known here as Dasharatha and Kausalya. In one cosmic age, he thus incarnated and made the world holy through his pure deeds.
एक कलप सुर देखि दुखारे। समर जलंधर सन सब हारे॥ संभु कीन्ह संग्राम अपारा। दनुज महाबल मरइ न मारा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka kalapa sura dekhi dukhāre। samara jalaṃdhara sana saba hāre॥ saṃbhu kīnha saṃgrāma apārā। danuja mahābala marai na mārā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In one age, seeing all the gods distressed because they had been defeated in battle by the demon Jalandhara, Shiva fought a fierce war with him. But that mighty demon could not be killed.
परम सती असुराधिप नारी। तेहिं बल ताहि न जितहिं पुरारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
parama satī asurādhipa nārī। tehiṃ bala tāhi na jitahiṃ purārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The demon king’s wife was supremely chaste. Because of her power, even Shiva, destroyer of the invincible Tripurasura, could not conquer that demon.
छल करि टारेउ तासु ब्रत प्रभु सुर कारज कीन्ह। जब तेहिं जानेउ मरम तब श्राप कोप करि दीन्ह॥ १२३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
chala kari ṭāreu tāsu brata prabhu sura kāraja kīnha। jaba tehiṃ jāneu marama taba śrāpa kopa kari dīnha॥ 123 ॥
Meaning:
By a stratagem, the Lord caused that woman’s vow to be broken and accomplished the gods’ task. When she learned the secret, she cursed the Lord in anger.
तासु श्राप हरि दीन्ह प्रमाना। कौतुकनिधि कृपाल भगवाना॥ तहाँ जलंधर रावन भयऊ। रन हति राम परम पद दयऊ॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāsu śrāpa hari dīnha pramānā। kautukanidhi kṛpāla bhagavānā॥ tahāṃ jalaṃdhara rāvana bhayau। rana hati rāma parama pada dayau॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The compassionate Hari, treasure-house of divine play, accepted that woman’s curse as valid. That very Jalandhara became Ravana in that age, and Rama killed him in battle and granted him the supreme state.
एक जनम कर कारन एहा। जेहि लगि राम धरी नरदेहा॥ प्रति अवतार कथा प्रभु केरी। सुनु मुनि बरनी कबिन्ह घनेरी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka janama kara kārana ehā। jehi lagi rāma dharī naradehā॥ prati avatāra kathā prabhu kerī। sunu muni baranī kabinha ghanerī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
This was the cause of one birth, through which Rama assumed a human body. O sage, listen: poets have described the story of the Lord’s many incarnations in countless ways.
नारद श्राप दीन्ह एक बारा। कलप एक तेहि लगि अवतारा॥ गिरिजा चकित भईं सुनि बानी। नारद बिष्नुभगत पुनि ग्यानी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nārada śrāpa dīnha eka bārā। kalapa eka tehi lagi avatārā॥ girijā cakita bhaīṃ suni bānī। nārada biṣnubhagata puni gyānī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Once Narada gave a curse, and therefore there was an incarnation for that one age. Hearing this, Parvati was amazed and said that Narada was a devotee of Vishnu and a man of wisdom.
कारन कवन श्राप मुनि दीन्हा। का अपराध रमापति कीन्हा॥ यह प्रसंग मोहि कहहु पुरारी। मुनि मन मोह आचरज भारी॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kārana kavana śrāpa muni dīnha। kā aparādha ramāpati kīnha॥ yaha prasaṃga mohi kahahu purārī। muni mana moha ācaraja bhārī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
For what reason did the sage curse the Lord? What offense did the Lord of Lakshmi commit? O Purari, Shiva, please tell me this story. It is most astonishing that delusion arose in the mind of the sage Narada.
बोले बिहसि महेस तब ग्यानी मूढ़ न कोइ। जेहि जस रघुपति करहिं जब सो तस तेहि छन होइ॥ १२४ (क) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bole bihasi mahesa taba gyānī mūḍha na koi। jehi jasa raghupati karahiṃ jaba so tasa tehi chana hoi॥ 124 (a) ॥
Meaning:
Then Mahadeva smiled and said, “No one is truly wise and no one truly foolish. Whatever the Lord of the Raghus makes one become, that person becomes so in that very instant.”
कहउँ राम गुन गाथ भरद्वाज सादर सुनहु। भव भंजन रघुनाथ भजु तुलसी तजि मान मद॥ १२४ (ख) ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahauṃ rāma guna gātha bharadvāja sādara sunahu। bhava bhaṃjana raghunātha bhaju tulasī taji māna mada॥ 124 (b) ॥
Meaning:
I shall tell the story of Rama’s virtues; O Bharadvaja, listen with reverence. Tulsi says: forsaking pride and arrogance, worship Raghunath, the destroyer of worldly rebirth.
हिमगिरि गुहा एक अति पावनि। बह समीप सुरसरी सुहावनि॥ आश्रम परम पुनीत सुहावा। देखि देवरिषि मन अति भावा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
himagiri guhā eka ati pāvani। baha samīpa surasarī suhāvani॥ āśrama parama punīta suhāvā। dekhi devariṣi mana ati bhāvā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
There was a very sacred cave in the Himalaya mountain. Near it flowed a beautiful Surasarī (the heavenly river). The hermitage was supremely pure and lovely. Seeing it, the devarshi was greatly pleased in his heart.
निरखि सैल सरि बिपिन बिभागा। भयउ रमापति पद अनुरागा॥ सुमिरत हरिहि श्राप गति बाधी। सहज बिमल मन लागि समाधी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nirakhi saila sari bipina bibhāgā। bhayau ramāpati pada anurāgā॥ sumirat harihi śrāpa gati bādhī। sahaja bimala mana lāgi samādhī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the beautiful divisions of mountain, river, and forest, Naradji became devoted to the feet of Lord Ramapati. As soon as he remembered Hari, the movement of the curse upon him was halted, and as his mind became naturally pure, he entered into samadhi.
मुनि गति देखि सुरेस डेराना। कामहि बोलि कीन्ह सनमाना॥ सहित सहाय जाहु मम हेतू। चलेउ हरषि हियँ जलचरकेतू॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni gati dekhi suresa ḍerānā। kāmahi boli kīnha sanamānā॥ sahita sahāya jāhu mama hetū। caleu haraṣi hiyaṃ jalacaraketū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the sage's spiritual state, Indra was afraid. He called Kama and honored him, saying, 'For my sake, go with your helpers.' Hearing this, Kamadeva, the fish-bannered one, went off delighted at heart.
सुनासीर मन महुँ असि त्रासा। चहत देवरिषि मम पुर बासा॥ जे कामी लोलुप जग माहीं। कुटिल काक इव सबहि डेराहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sunāsīra mana mahuṃ asi trāsā। cahat devariṣi mama pura bāsā॥ je kāmī lolupa jaga māhīṃ। kuṭila kāka iva sabahi ḍerāhīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Such fear arose in Indra's mind: 'The devarshi seeks residence in my city.' Those who are lustful and greedy in the world are afraid of everyone, like crooked crows.
सूख हाड़ लै भाग सठ स्वान निरखि मृगराज। छीनि लेइ जनि जान जड़ तिमि सुरपतिहि न लाज॥ १२५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sūkha hāḍa lai bhāga saṭha svāna nirakhi mṛgarāja। chīni lei jani jāna jaḍa timi surapatihi na lāja॥ 125 ॥
Meaning:
Just as a foolish dog, seeing a lion, runs away with a dry bone and imagines that the lion might snatch it away, so Indra felt no shame in thinking, 'Naradji will seize my kingdom.'
तेहि आश्रमहिं मदन जब गयऊ। निज मायाँ बसंत निरमयऊ॥ कुसुमित बिबिध बिटप बहुरंगा। कूजहिं कोकिल गुंजहिं भृंगा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehi āśramahiṃ madana jaba gayau। nija māyāṃ basanta niramayau॥ kusumita bibidha biṭapa bahuraṅgā। kūjahiṃ kokila guñjahiṃ bhṛṅgā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When Kamadeva entered that hermitage, he produced spring there by his illusion. Trees of many kinds burst into multicolored bloom; cuckoos began to call, and bees hummed on the flowers.
चली सुहावनि त्रिबिध बयारी। काम कृसानु बढ़ावनिहारी॥ रंभादिक सुरनारि नबीना। सकल असमसर कला प्रबीना॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
calī suhāvani tribidha bayārī। kāma kr̥sānu baḍhāvanihārī॥ rambhādika suranāri nabīnā। sakala asamasara kalā prabīnā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
A delightful breeze of three kinds began to blow, fanning the fire of desire. Rambha and the other young celestial women were all skilled in the arts of love.
करहिं गान बहु तान तरंगा। बहुबिधि क्रीड़हिं पानि पतंगा॥ देखि सहाय मदन हरषाना। कीन्हेसि पुनि प्रपंच बिधि नाना॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
karahiṃ gāna bahu tāna taraṅgā। bahubidhi krīḍhahiṃ pāni pataṅgā॥ dekhi sahāya madana haraṣānā। kīnhesi puni prapañca bidhi nānā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They began to sing with many flowing melodies and played various games with the ball in hand. Seeing these helpers, Kamadeva became delighted and then created many kinds of enchantments.
काम कला कछु मुनिहि न ब्यापी। निज भयँ डरेउ मनोभव पापी॥ सीम कि चाँपि सकइ कोउ तासू। बड़ रखवार रमापति जासू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāma kalā kacha munihi na byāpī। nija bhayaṃ ḍareu manobhava pāpī॥ sīma ki cāṃpi sakai kou tāsū। baḍa rakhavāra ramāpati jāsū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
But none of Kama's arts could affect the sage. Then the sinful Kamadeva himself became afraid out of fear for his own downfall. Who can overstep the bounds of one whose great protector is Lord Ramapati?
सहित सहाय सभीत अति मानि हारि मन मैन। गहेसि जाइ मुनि चरन तब कहि सुठि आरत बैन॥ १२६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahita sahāya sabhīta ati māni hāri mana maina। gahesi jāi muni carana taba kahi suṭhi ārata baina॥ 126 ॥
Meaning:
Then, together with his helpers, Kamadeva became greatly afraid, accepted defeat in his mind, and with very distressed words went and caught hold of the sage's feet.
भयउ न नारद मन कछु रोषा। कहि प्रिय बचन काम परितोषा॥ नाइ चरन सिरु आयसु पाई। गयउ मदन तब सहित सहाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhayau na nārada mana kacha roṣā। kahi priya bacana kāma paritoṣā॥ nāi carana sira āyasu pāī। gayau madana taba sahita sahāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
No anger arose in Naradji's mind. He satisfied Kamadeva with kindly words. Then, bowing his head at the sage's feet and obtaining his permission, Kama departed with his companions.
मुनि सुसीलता आपनि करनी। सुरपति सभाँ जाइ सब बरनी॥ सुनि सब कें मन अचरजु आवा। मुनिहि प्रसंसि हरिहि सिरु नावा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
muni susīlatā āpani karanī। surapati sabhāṃ jāi saba baranī॥ suni saba keṃ mana acaraju āvā। munihi prasaṃsi harihi sira nāvā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Going to Indra's सभा, he told of the sage's gentle nature and all that had happened. Hearing this, everyone was astonished, and they praised the sage and bowed their heads to Hari.