Shiva Hears Ram Katha at Agastya's Hermitage
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 48
Sortha 48 · Movement 1 of 2
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In Treta Yuga, Shiva travels to the hermitage of Agastya, the sage born from a pot. Sati accompanies him, mother of the world and daughter of Daksha. The forest sage receives them with worship, recognizing in the ash clad visitor the Lord of all.
Agastya begins to narrate Ram Katha. Shiva listens with supreme happiness, absorbed not as a distant sovereign accepting praise but as a devotee drinking the Beloved's story. When Agastya asks about beautiful devotion to Hari, Shiva sees his fitness and replies. Teller and listener exchange places, and for several days the hermitage resounds with Raghupati's virtues.
At last Shiva and Sati take leave and begin the journey home. At that very time, Hari has descended secretly into the Raghu line to relieve the burden of the earth. Obedient to his father's word, the imperishable Lord has abandoned the throne and now moves through Dandaka dressed as a forest exile.
As Shiva leaves the hermitage, the Lord whose story he heard is walking the forest in human form.
Read the passage from the Manas
एक बार त्रेता जुग माहीं। संभु गए कुंभज रिषि पाहीं।। संग सती जगजननि भवानी। पूजे रिषि अखिलेस्वर जानी।। रामकथा मुनीबर्ज बखानी। सुनी महेस परम सुखु मानी।। रिषि पूछी हरिभगति सुहाई। कही संभु अधिकारी पाई।। कहत सुनत रघुपति गुन गाथा। कछु दिन तहाँ रहे गिरिनाथा।। मुनि सन बिदा मागि त्रिपुरारी। चले भवन सँग दच्छकुमारी।। तेहि अवसर भंजन महिभारा। हरि रघुबंस लीन्ह अवतारा।। पिता बचन तजि राजु उदासी। दंडक बन बिचरत अबिनासी।।
Once, in the Treta Yuga, Shambhu went to visit the sage Agastya, the pot-born rishi. Sati, the mother of the world, Bhavani herself, was with him. The rishi worshipped Shiva, knowing him to be the Lord of all.