The Birth Story of Shri Ram

Story

It was a peaceful afternoon, and Priya, Tamana, and their friends were playing by the riverside, laughing and chatting. Nearby, a sage sat meditating under a large tree. His calm smile made him look wise and approachable.

Curious and mischievous Sanjay said, “Let us test the sage’s wisdom. Let us see if he really knows anything, or if he is just pretending to be a wise one.”

All the kids were excited and happy with their prank. They decided to ask the sage about Shri Ram’s birth.

Encouraged by their curiosity, they approached the sage timidly. The sage, noticing their presence, opened his eyes and smiled warmly, inviting them to sit by him. He sensed their curiosity and asked what was on their minds.

Tamana asked, “Can you tell us the birth story of Prabhu Shri Ram? Why did He come to earth?”

The sage nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging their question.

He said, “Shri Ram’s story begins long before he was born. He is the seventh avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu, the protector of the universe.”

“You see, long ago, the earth was troubled by a powerful demon king named Ravana. He had become very cruel and arrogant, making life difficult for everyone, including the gods. The gods prayed to Bhagwan Vishnu for help. Vishnu Ji promised them that he would be born as a human to defeat Ravana and restore peace.”

Sanjay asked,” Why did Vishnu Ji take a human form? Couldn’t he defeat Ravana as a god?”

The sage thought for some time.

All the kids looked at each other mischievously, as if they had put the sage in a tough situation.

But the sage warmly smiled and began to explain, “Ravana, the king of Lanka, was no ordinary being. Through lots of prayers, Ravana had earned great boons from Bhagwan Shiva. These boons made him invincible to gods, demons, and other heavenly beings. However, Ravana’s arrogance had blinded him, and he had not asked for protection from humans or animals, believing them to be too weak to challenge him.”

Vishnu Ji took human form to show that humans, guided by dharma and courage, could overcome even the greatest challenges.

The children listened intently. Tamana asked, “How was Shri Ram born?”

The sage explained, “King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was a wise and just ruler, but had no children. To fulfil his wish, he performed the Putrakameshti Yagna. After the ritual, Agni, the fire god, appeared with a bowl of divine kheer. Agni Dev asked Dasharatha to share it with his three queens—Kaushalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra.

Following Agni Dev’s instructions, the queens consumed the kheer and were soon blessed with sons. Kaushalya gave birth to Shri Ram, the seventh avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu.

The sage narrated to the children how Shri Ram grew up to be an obedient, truthful and righteous being. He saved innocent people from the terror of demons and punished Ravana for his evil deeds, hence restoring peace and happiness in the world.

The sage told the children that Shri Ram showed people how great they could be if they followed the right path.

The children were filled with admiration but also felt guilty. They told the truth to the sage about their prank.

The sage smiled and said, “I already knew of your plan. Rather, it was your test. `You have chosen the path of courage, truthfulness, and righteousness just like Shri Ram by telling me the truth”

As the sun set, the children sat by the riverside, inspired by the tale of Shri Ram and the sage’s wisdom.