Having thus reassured the saint, the Lord disappeared, and Nârad took his way to Paradise chanting Râma’s praises as he went.
Siva’s two followers saw him on the road rejoicing and in his right mind. In great alarm they drew near, and clasping his feet made their supplication: “O great saint, we are not Brâhmans, but servants of Mahâdeva, and have reaped the fruit of our great sin: in your mercy remove the curse.” Said the compassionate Narad: “You must both be born as demons of vast power, majesty and strength; but when you have subdued the universe by the might of your arm, Vishnu shall take upon him human form, and dying in battle at his hands you shall attain to salvation, nor ever be born again.” After bowing their head at his feet, both went their way and in due course were born as demons.
In one age this was the reason why the Lord became incarnate, to gladden the gods, to comfort the saints, and to ease earth of its burdens.
Thus Hari’s births and actions are many and various, but all of them glorious and beneficent. In every age He has manifested himself and wrought many excellent works; and on each occasion great saints have sung his acts in holy strains of choicest verse, relating marvellous histories of diverse kinds, which the wise hear without any amazement. For as Hari is without end, so are there endless verses about him, which are heard and repeated by scripture and the faithful. The delightful adventures of Râmchandra could not all be sung in a myriad ages. This story that I have now told, Bhavâni, shows how Hari’s deceptive power can infatuate even saints and sages. He, the Lord, is sportive, gracious to suppliants, accessible to his servants, and a remover of all sorrow.
Siva’s two followers saw him on the road rejoicing and in his right mind. In great alarm they drew near, and clasping his feet made their supplication: “O great saint, we are not Brâhmans, but servants of Mahâdeva, and have reaped the fruit of our great sin: in your mercy remove the curse.” Said the compassionate Narad: “You must both be born as demons of vast power, majesty and strength; but when you have subdued the universe by the might of your arm, Vishnu shall take upon him human form, and dying in battle at his hands you shall attain to salvation, nor ever be born again.” After bowing their head at his feet, both went their way and in due course were born as demons.
In one age this was the reason why the Lord became incarnate, to gladden the gods, to comfort the saints, and to ease earth of its burdens.
Thus Hari’s births and actions are many and various, but all of them glorious and beneficent. In every age He has manifested himself and wrought many excellent works; and on each occasion great saints have sung his acts in holy strains of choicest verse, relating marvellous histories of diverse kinds, which the wise hear without any amazement. For as Hari is without end, so are there endless verses about him, which are heard and repeated by scripture and the faithful. The delightful adventures of Râmchandra could not all be sung in a myriad ages. This story that I have now told, Bhavâni, shows how Hari’s deceptive power can infatuate even saints and sages. He, the Lord, is sportive, gracious to suppliants, accessible to his servants, and a remover of all sorrow.
There is neither God, man, nor saint whom unreality has not infatuated. Reflect upon this and worship the great Master of the unreal.
Hear, O daughter of the Himâlaya, a second reason, which I will proceed to relate at full length, why the uncreated, the passionless, the incomparable Brahm became King of Kosala. The lord, whom you saw roaming in the forest with his brother in hermit’s attire; at whose doings, Bhavâni, you in Sati’s form lost your senses, and still to this day have a touch of disease; the recital of his adventures will heal all your sickness. All his sportive acts in that incarnation I am now about to tell as best I can.” O Bharadvâja, on hearing Sankara thus speak, the modest and affectionate Uma smiled for joy, while her lord continued: “The cause of the incarnation.”
Hear, O daughter of the Himâlaya, a second reason, which I will proceed to relate at full length, why the uncreated, the passionless, the incomparable Brahm became King of Kosala. The lord, whom you saw roaming in the forest with his brother in hermit’s attire; at whose doings, Bhavâni, you in Sati’s form lost your senses, and still to this day have a touch of disease; the recital of his adventures will heal all your sickness. All his sportive acts in that incarnation I am now about to tell as best I can.” O Bharadvâja, on hearing Sankara thus speak, the modest and affectionate Uma smiled for joy, while her lord continued: “The cause of the incarnation.”