Some Learnings and Ascetics Seek Out Rama for Protection from Evil Lavana

We looked at some of the characteristics of the kingdom ruled by Rama in the last post. Among many features, it is dispute-free and grievance-free as people are content with their lives and had nothing to complain to their lord. When no human came for justice, a lone dog was the single visitor with a problem. The dog complained that it was unjustly struck on the head by a Brahmin named Sarvartha-siddha. The monk admits that he acted out of frustration due to not receiving alms that day. When Rama asks the dog what justice it desires, the dog requests that the Brahmin be made the head of a monastery. Rama granted the request, and the brahmin, feeling honored, mounted an elephant and proceeded to assume his new role. This surprises everyone, but the dog explains that in a previous life, it had held the same position and suffered greatly due to the responsibilities and challenges of the role and took the lower life. The dog warned that the newly appointed brahmin, being of an angry and impious nature, would bring dishonor upon seven generations of his lineage. It explained that a person who misuses sacred responsibilities and fails to uphold dharma not only falls into disgrace but also dooms his descendants. Thus, the dog took the revenge by asking to appoint the Brahmin as head of Monastery. Despite doing everything accurately and following dharma, the dog fell short of responsibilities of the position and took a lower form in re-birth. We can least think about the Brahmin who is impious, can act out anger and the disgrace he might fall in future incarnations.  

This small story tells three things 1. We should keep right people at right place. Someone who doesn’t belong to a responsible position shouldn’t be put there. 2. If a man is appointed to a position of authority and does not discharge his responsibilities faithfully, he is in grave danger in future incarnations. 3. Any sacred position comes with a crown of thorns and should be held by a right person who can meet its every requirement. This is very pertinent as any imperfect, incomplete person wields lot of power and authority in today’s world or he has been elevated to that position just like the Brahmin was made the head of monastery vengefully. A dog cannot be put on a throne to rule a kingdom for it might act in its own eccentric way. A lowest person who doesn’t know anything cannot be put on a pedestal either. The roles should be clearly cultured, the roles should be clearly cultivated, the roles should be clearly occupied and the roles should be clearly discharged. Else the role assumer might fall into disgrace. This is the essence we get from the laws of the nature through these simple stories. 

In the last post, we had seen Rama resolving a dispute between a vulture and an owl. A vulture and an owl disputed ownership of a nest and sought Rama’s judgment. The vulture falsely claimed the nest, but Rama’s ministers and scriptures affirmed the owl’s right. Rama recounted creation myths, proving trees existed before men, validating the owl’s claim. A celestial voice revealed the vulture was once King Brahmadatta, cursed by a sage to become a vulture. Rama’s touch freed him, restoring his true form. Grateful, Brahmadatta praised Rama for ending his curse. As the tale ends, we can see ascetics seeking out Rama which can be seen in following chapters. 

In chapter 60, the ascetics present before Rama. 

As Rama and Lakshmana conversed, the spring night passed, and at dawn, Rama completed his morning worship and proceeded to the audience chamber to manage state affairs. At that moment, Sumantra approached him and informed him that a group of Sages, led by the illustrious Cyavana, a descendant of Bhrigu, were waiting at the palace gates seeking an audience. These ascetics, who lived on the banks of the Yamuna, had sent Sumantra to announce their arrival, eager to meet the great king. 

Upon hearing this, Rama, always virtuous and duty-conscious, instructed that the revered sages be brought into his presence. Obediently, the chamberlain, bowing with joined palms, ushered in the distinguished ascetics. Over a hundred Rishis, radiant with spiritual energy, entered the palace, carrying holy water collected from sacred places in their loshtas, along with an assortment of fruits and roots as offerings to the king. Rama, delighted with their presence and offerings, graciously accepted them. 

Rama, the long-armed and noble prince, then welcomed the sages warmly, offering them seats and inviting them to be seated as per their comfort. The great Rishis settled onto the magnificent golden seats provided for them. Once they were comfortably seated, Rama, with deep reverence and hands folded in respect, bowed before them and addressed them humbly. 

He inquired about the purpose of their visit, expressing his eagerness to serve them in any way possible. Declaring his devotion to the Brahmins, he assured them that he was ready to fulfill their wishes with joy. He emphasized that his entire kingdom, his life, and all that he possessed were at their disposal, pledging his unwavering commitment to their service. Rama affirmed that his words were spoken with utmost sincerity and truthfulness. 

Hearing Rama’s noble declaration, the assembled Rishis, known for their severe penances and wisdom, joyfully responded with admiration. They praised his unparalleled virtue, stating that no other ruler on earth would have spoken in such a manner. They acknowledged that many monarchs, despite their bravery and strength, often hesitate when faced with difficult tasks, weighing the challenges before committing to them. Rama, however, demonstrated unparalleled devotion and righteousness by offering his assistance unconditionally, without even knowing the nature of the task at hand. 

Filled with delight and reverence for Rama’s selflessness, the sages exclaimed, "Excellent!" They then revealed that they faced a great peril and had come seeking his protection. Recognizing Rama as the embodiment of dharma, they urged him to deliver them from the impending danger. 

In chapter 61, we can look at the story of Madhu 

Upon hearing the plea of the ascetics, Rama asked them what he could do to eliminate the danger that troubled them. In response, Sage Bhargava narrated the origin of their fear, describing the rise of a terrible threat in the form of the Asura Lavana. 

The sage recounted that in the Krita Yuga, there lived a highly intelligent and valiant Daitya named Madhu, the eldest son of Lola. Unlike many other Asuras, Madhu was exceptionally virtuous, respected the Brahmins, and even formed a close bond with the gods. Because of his devotion and unwavering righteousness, he earned the favor of Rudra (Lord Shiva). 

Pleased with Madhu’s exemplary conduct, Shiva granted him a powerful weapon, an extraordinary spear taken from his own trident. While bestowing this weapon, Shiva laid down a crucial condition: As long as Madhu did not use it against the gods or the Brahmins, the weapon would remain with him. Anyone who challenged Madhu in battle would be instantly reduced to ashes by the weapon, which would always return to his hand. 

Overwhelmed by gratitude, Madhu prostrated before Shiva and made a request that the weapon should remain in his family forever. Shiva, while denying this absolute wish, still granted him a partial boon—the weapon would be passed down to his son, but its power would remain only if it was in his possession. 

Empowered by this divine gift, Madhu established a grand kingdom. He was married to Kumbhinasi, the daughter of Vishvasu and Anala, and they had a son named Lavana. Unlike his father, Lavana was inherently wicked and cruel. From childhood, he delighted in causing harm, showing none of the virtues of his father. 

Madhu, though deeply grieved by his son’s evil nature, chose to remain silent. Eventually, he departed from the world and entered Varuna’s abode, passing on the powerful spear to Lavana and explaining its immense power. 

Lavana, now armed with this indestructible weapon, unleashed his natural cruelty upon the world. He terrorized not only humans but also the Three Worlds, particularly tormenting the sages and ascetics who lived in penance and peace. With the might of the divine weapon, he became invincible, ensuring that no one could stand against him. 

The desperate sages sought protection from various kings, but none dared to confront Lavana. Learning of Rama’s great victory over Ravana, his defeat of vast armies, and his unparalleled courage, the sages recognized him as their last hope. 

Sage Bhargava and the other ascetics pleaded with Rama to deliver them from Lavana’s reign of terror. They expressed complete faith that only he had the strength and divine will to overcome this formidable enemy. The sage concluded his appeal by declaring that there was no other king on earth capable of facing this challenge, urging Rama to fulfill his duty and protect them from Lavana’s oppression. 

This concludes chapters 60 and 61 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen the ascetics coming to the presence of Rama to request for his protection from evil forces. A great peril is tormenting the seers in the form of Lavana who then sought after Rama. The immense strength was passed on as a boon by Madhu to his evil son Lavana. Upon receiving the boon, Lavana began a reign of terror, particularly tormenting sages and ascetics. We can see the initiation to counter the asura in subsequent chapters.

Zero Disputes - A Feature of Rama's Kingdom and Rama Resolves Dispute Between Owl and Vulture

We studied last post about the grievance received by Rama from none but a lone dog. It can be worth noting that everyone in the kingdom is extremely content with their lives that none had any issue or dispute to complain to the king for resolution. This is the ideal kingdom which was being ruled and presided over by a noble king Rama for whom the subjects and their happiness is paramount than his own. We also learned few posts back how he left his own spouse Sita over baseless rumors circulated within his Kingdom. A king who gives so much importance to his base doesn’t find any surprise when no one turned up to complain or submit a grievance. It all turned to one lone dog who is waiting for justice in the great kingdom of Rama. This is the status of affairs in the matchless country presided by a spotless king. This should be the biggest takeaway and lesson for modern nations and rulers. But is it the case in present world, at least in judicial sense. We are living in complete opposite world in present times. Take the case of India where Rama once ruled very long back on the very land. Indian judicial system is grappling with a significant backlog of cases. As of 2025, there are over 52 million pending cases across all levels of courts, including the Supreme Court, High Courts, and District Courts. There are more disputes, more cases and millions of backlogs across all levels of judiciary. This includes more than 180,000 cases that have been pending for over 30 years. It turns out that 5 crore people or 50 million people are waiting at the gate to be heard, leaving the millions who are already being heard inside the courtroom. Leaving the ruler at the top, what kind of society are we living in and what kind of society do we aspire it to turn into and how many light years are we behind in creating that Rama’s rule to practically take over.  

Rama, beside an ideal son, ideal husband and ideal father is more than an ideal ruler. In addition to looking at the backlog, we need to look at number of cases not filed and number of disputes already resolved. This turns out to be one land of complaints where no one is happy and content with the state of affairs and everyone has a problem or grievance to resolve. The 5-crore backlog is attributed to factors like shortage of judges, inadequate infrastructure, and a high volume of litigation. For instance, India has only about 21 judges per million people, far below the recommended ratio. Yes, we need to ramp up judiciary, appoint more judges so that people can file more cases and quarrel more. What a state are we progressing towards slowly. The same is the case with U.S. but with a less count. For example, in federal courts alone, there are over 400,000 pending cases. The backlog is particularly pronounced in immigration courts, where over 1.5 million cases are awaiting resolution. Nothing to take away from the ruler or nothing to abuse but as a matter of fact, the President has been involved in over 4000 legal cases throughout his career, spanning personal, business and political matters. Nothing to point finger at and nothing to wrong anyone but this is simply amazing and great going America and also my home nation. Once again, we really need to look inwards, make amends and try to herald that ideal rule in our nations. 

Rama’s administration was rooted in the principles of dharma, the sacred duty of righteousness and justice. His rule was marked by an absence of poverty, disease, and social strife. The land yielded bountiful harvests, and natural resources abounded, ensuring that the needs of the people were met with ample food and security. This abundance was not merely material; it extended to spiritual and social well-being as well. In Rama Rajya, the subjects experienced a balanced life, free from the corruption and exploitation that often-plagued other kingdoms. In this land, there is no one with a complaint or a grievance and all the people lived happily with one another. We can study all other aspects of Rama Rajya in another detailed post but let us reminisce Rama, chant his name and aspire to become a citizen of His kingdom. 

In the continuation of the epic, we looked at the grievance of the dog in last post and how Rama administered justice. When Lakshmana checked the city gate, he encountered a lone, wounded dog whose persistent howling caught his attention. Compassionately, Lakshmana urged the dog to voice its grievance before the revered Rama. The dog, with wisdom beyond its station, acknowledged Rama as the protector of all beings and extolled dharma as the guiding principle of righteous rule. It lamented its own lowly birth, which barred it from entering holy spaces such as temples, royal palaces, or the abodes of brahmins, while recognizing Rama’s virtues as akin to celestial deities. The dog then revealed its grievance: a brahmin named Sarvartha-siddha had struck it on the head without cause. Rama summoned the brahmin, who confessed that, overcome by hunger while seeking alms, he had struck the dog when it hesitated to move. Though the brahmin admitted his fault and sought punishment, Rama’s learned ministers insisted that a brahmin should be exempt from corporal punishment. In an unexpected twist, the dog requested that instead of punishment, the brahmin be appointed head of the holy assembly at Kalanjava Monastery. Rama acceded to the dog’s plea, and the brahmin was honored with the appointment. However, the dog then disclosed its own past life as the assembly’s leader, warning that an unworthy, angry man in power would bring disgrace for seven generations. It concluded by cautioning that misusing authority brings severe karmic consequences. Astonished, Rama listened as the dog departed for Kashi to undertake a waterless fast, seeking spiritual liberation. We can look at other tales in the following chapters. 

In chapter 59d, Rama resolves a dispute between a vulture and an owl. 

In a verdant forest near the City of Ayodhya, atop a mountain threaded with streams and teeming with wildlife, a vulture and an owl had long coexisted until a dispute arose over the ownership of a nest. The vulture, claiming the nest as his, began a bitter quarrel with the owl. In their heated disagreement, both creatures agreed that the matter should be resolved by the lotus-eyed Rama, the revered king known for his justice and compassion. They flew to Rama’s court and, with humility, touched his feet. 

Before Rama, the vulture extolled the king’s virtues, praising him as the protector of humanity, a paragon of beauty, wisdom, and strength akin to the moon, the sun, and the mighty Himalaya. The owl, however, countered with a measured tone, emphasizing that while a king embodies divine aspects, he also possesses human qualities. The owl stressed that Rama’s governance was based on fairness and righteousness, urging him to decide the rightful owner of the nest. Rama then summoned his ministers and learned counselors—scholars, sages, and noble men versed in the Shastras—to weigh the claims. He questioned the vulture about the nest’s origin. The vulture declared that he had occupied the nest since the time when humans first spread over the earth, while the owl asserted that the nest had been built when trees first covered the land, long before man existed. 

Hearing these conflicting claims, Rama admonished his counselors for their untruthfulness and lack of wisdom. He declared that true religion must be founded on truth and righteousness, and only those who speak with integrity are worthy of guidance. The learned ministers concurred with the owl, asserting that the owl’s claim was just and that the vulture’s statement was false. Rama then recited a creation myth from the Puranas, describing how, in the primordial ocean, the sun, moon, stars, and earth were merged. Narayana existed as a cosmic Sumeru, cradling the earth with Lakshmi within his very belly. When Vishnu awoke after a long sleep, a golden lotus sprang from his navel, from which Brahma was born. Later, from wax in Narayana’s ears, two fierce Daityas—Madhu and Kaitabha—were born and, after a bitter conflict with Vishnu, their blood purified the earth, which was then named Medini. This myth served to illustrate that the owl’s claim, rooted in the ancient origin of trees and creation, was true. Thus, Rama pronounced that the nest belonged not to the vulture but to the owl, and that the vulture must be punished for its wrongful claim. 

At that moment, a voice resounded from the sky, cautioning Rama not to slay the vulture, for it had already been reduced to ashes by the power of Gautama’s asceticism. The voice revealed that in a former life the vulture was a noble, truthful king named Brahmadatta. The story recounted how Brahmadatta had once graciously received Gautama, the personification of Time, and offered him hospitality. Yet, when flesh accidentally mixed with Gautama’s food, the ascetic, enraged, cursed the king, transforming him into a vulture. The curse would only be lifted when a future monarch named Rama, born in the Ikshvaku dynasty, touched him. 

Hearing these words, Rama approached Brahmadatta, the vulture, and touched him, thereby releasing him from his curse. Brahmadatta, now liberated from his vulture form, assumed a beautiful, fragrant body, worshipped Rama, and gratefully proclaimed that he was saved from a dreadful fate. This divine intervention underscored Rama’s role as the ultimate dispenser of justice and compassion.  

Thus, in the presence of his learned ministers and the assembly of sages, Rama’s decision not only resolved the dispute between the vulture and the owl but also restored cosmic order, illustrating that true authority must be exercised with fairness, responsibility, and a deep commitment to upholding righteousness. 

This concludes chapter 59d of Uttara Kanda where we studied the continuation of justice being delivered by Rama. After resolving the complaint of a wounded dog, Rama also serves the dispute between an owl and a vulture. A vulture and an owl disputed ownership of a nest and sought King Rama’s judgment. Rama, consulting his ministers, ruled in favor of the owl, as trees existed before men which went against vulture’s case of living in the nest since humans inhabited. Before punishing the vulture, a divine voice revealed he was King Brahmadatta, cursed by a sage. Upon Rama’s touch, the curse lifted, and Brahmadatta regained his human form, thanking Rama for his mercy and justice. After this episode of conversation between Rama and Lakshmana, ascetics seek out Rama which can be seen in subsequent chapters.