Bengali Ramayana - Part 1

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Gadadhar(Vishnu) along with Lakshmi was reclining

near the Kalpataru tree. Suddenly the Lord wished,

what if I broke up into 4 parts? Suddenly Lakshmana

was there holding a golden umbrella over Rama's head.

Lakshmi is there on Rama's left. Bharata and Shatrughana

are there beside the Lord, fanning him.

PavanNandan(Hanuman) is there too, bowing before the Lord.<br>Narada,

passing by was shocked and surprised to see the Lord in

that shape. He rushed to Brahmalok to ask Brahma, if

He(Brahma) knew what was the matter. He took Brahma with him

to Kailasha and both bowed before Shiva.

<br>Pleased,Shiva asked why they were there. Narada said - "In

Goloka, I saw a wonderful form of Jaggannath. But why is

he in four parts?".<br>Shiva said - "Soon you will

see Vishnu in that form on Earth. Ravana, a Rakshasha

will trouble the people and to kill him, the Lord will

be born on Earth in the house of Dasharatha. He will

be born to three mothers.To fulfill his father's

wish, Rama with Janaki and Lakshmana will go to the

forest. To rescue Sita, Rama will kill Ravana. Sita will

give birth to Luv and Kusha. Any sinner on earth who

has committed GoHatya(killing of a cow) or is

murderer, will be absolved of his sins".<br>Brahma asked -

"Is there such a sinner on earth?". Shiva said, Yes

there is one such sinner.Chavana Muni's son, Ratnakar,

is a dacoit. <br>Assuming the form of holy men,

Brahma and Narada went into the forest where Ratnakar

was lurking.That day no one had ventured into the

forest. Ratnakar was mad, angry, hungry. Seeing 2 holy

men, the dacoit thought, if nothing else, let me kill

them and take their clothes.<br>He raised his mace and

approached Brahma and Narada.<br>He was unable to strike

them, such was Brahma's maya(illusion). Brahma asked

him - Who are you? Ratnakar said - "Forget me and get

ready to die. " Brahma said - "U have sinned. Ur sins

are beyond count. Tell me something, will someone

share your sins with you?"<br>Ratnakar said - "My

family will share my sins." Brahma laughed and said -

"Tie us here and ask your family if they will share

your sins. If they do, come and kill us. If they do

not,we'll see what to do". <br>Tying the holymen securely

against a tree, Ratnakar went home wards.He saw his

father and approached.<br>Ratnakar asked his father "I

kill people to feed u. Will u share my sins". Enraged

his father said "How dare u say such things. Where do

the scriptures say that I have to share your sins.

There was a time when u were the son and I was the

father. Now I am old, our roles have reversed. U are the

father now, I am the child. Its ur duty now to take care

of me and feed me.And, who told u to kill people - I

did not.".<br>Hearing his father, disheartened

Ratnakar went to his mother. "Will u share my sins" - he

asked. "Nine months I bore u, that time my sins did not

touch u, why should ur sins touch me.". Ratnakar then

went to his wife, "Beloved, tell me will u share my

sins." His wife replied -<br>"Lord, when u married me,

before the holy fire, u promised that u wuld take care

of me. I never told u to kill men. U killed them

urself, u have to bear teh sins."<br>Scared, Ratnakar

suddenly started thinking. How will I get rid of my sins.

He thought of the 2 rishis he had tied to a tree. He

went to them.Approaching Brahma, he said "No one is

willing to share my sins. What should I do?". "Go have a

dip in the adjoining stream, and then I'll tell u

what to do".So much were his sins, a look at the

stream, all its water dried up, the fishes started to

die. Going back to Brahma, Ratnakar said "Help me".

Sprinkling some water from his 'kamandulu', Brahma said

"Repeat after me RAMA". The sinful mouth of Ratnakar was

just not able to pronounce RAMA. Brahma though for a

moment and said, Instead of RAMA say MARA and keep

repeating. <br>Constantly repeating MARA, RAMA RAMA started

coming out of his mouth. All his sins were absolved.