verse no. 2 herein above). Since Shiva was Lord Ram’s ardent and most faithful
devotee, the Lord felt obliged to intervene and help find a way to remove the cause of
unease in Shiva’s heart.
As we shall find soon, this is exactly what has happened. Lord Ram knew the
cause of pain in Shiva’s heart: being a compassionate god himself, Shiva was
tormented by the sufferings of Uma who wanted Shiva to be her husband. So, Lord
Ram advised Shiva to marry her: refer: Doha no. 76 and its preceding Chaupai line
nos. 7-8.
Remember: Lord Vishnu, whose manifested form is Lord Ram, reveals himself
instantly anywhere if his devotee invokes the Lord with intense love and affection
just like the omnipresent ‘fire element’ that can be produced anywhere if the
conditions are proper—refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chaupai line nos. 3, and
5-7 that precede Doha no. 185.
So, when Lord Ram found that Shiva’s heart was ripe with devotion for him, the
Lord immediately revealed himself before Shiva.]’„ÈUÁ’Áœ ⁄UÊ◊ Á‚flÁ„U ‚◊ȤÊÊflÊ – ¬Ê⁄U’ÃË ∑§⁄U ¡ã◊È ‚ÈŸÊflÊH 7H
•Áà ¬ÈŸËà ÁªÁ⁄U¡Ê ∑Ò§ ∑§⁄UŸË – Á’SÃ⁄U ‚Á„Uà ∑Χ¬ÊÁŸÁœ ’⁄UŸËH 8H
bahubidhi rāma sivahi samujhāvā. pārabatī kara janmu sunāvā. 7.
ati punīta girijā kai karanī. bistara sahita kṛpānidhi baranī. 8.
Lord Ram explained to Lord Shiva things in various ways while narrating to him the
birth of Parvati. (7)
The merciful Lord Ram narrated the finer details about the immaculate virtues
of Girijaa (the daughter of the mountains; Parvati or Uma). (8)
[Note—Lord Ram knew the reason why Shiva had decided to renounce his ties with
Uma/Parvati, the daughter of the king of mountains, in her previous birth as Sati.
Shiva had taken a vow that he will not have anything to do with her because she had
taken the form of Sita, the consort of Lord Ram whom Shiva adores as his deity and
Lord God, because it violated the basic principle of Dharma. Refer: Ram Charit
Manas, Baal Kand, from Chaupai line no. 7 that precedes Doha no. 56—to Chaupai
line no. 2 that follows this Doha.
Lord Ram pointed out to Shiva that his vows have been upheld, and that he (Lord
Ram), whom Shiva reveres so much, is very pleased with him and his devotion. But
now if he marries Uma he would not be violating any of the vows he had taken. This
is because Shiva’s vow was that he would not accept Sati in her present form or body
(refer: Baal Kand, Chaupai line no. 2 that precedes Doha no. 57). That tainted body of
Sati has been burnt in fire, and therefore all its impurities have also been burnt with it.
The soul is untainted and eternal; the body commits a sin and is subject to punishment
for those sins, but the soul remains pure and holy.
Shiva was a highly self-realised and enlightened god, and he knew this fact. Lord
Ram only reminded him of it. Lord Ram explained to Shiva that the tainted body of
Sati is already burnt and dead, and that her soul was pure and holy. The soul cannot
be blamed for the mishchief commited by the body. Besides this, Shiva must
remember that he has an obligation to fulfil the desire of his own devotees just like
Lord Ram has towards his devotees. So, since Sati’s death-wish was to be reunited
with Shiva and at the time of death she had invoked Lord Ram to request him to grant
her this single wish (refer: Baal Kand, Chaupai line nos. 5-6 that precede Doha no.
65), he (Ram) was under obligation to fulfil that wish—because the wish of a dying
person must be fulfilled. And therefore, he (Lord Ram) has now come personally to
Shiva to intercede on behalf of Uma that Shiva must forgive her for past sins and
accept her as his wife.