Deep in a dense forest of ancient India, there once roamed a ferocious and notorious bandit known as Ratnakar. The ruthless man took great pleasure in his wicked ways. He robbed and murdered people without remorse. Like a predator stalking prey, he waited in unlikely places and struck when nobody expected him.
The very name Ratnakar, like a haunting melody, echoed through the land, striking terror into the hearts of everyone who heard it.
One day, the bandit prepared to attack a group of travelers, but a wandering sage appeared before him.
“Stop, Ratnakar!” The sage commanded in an authoritative voice.
The startled Ratnakar raised his weapon high. “Who are you to command me, old man?” The bandit roared at the sage.
“I am Narada, a humble devotee of Lord Vishnu,” the sage replied calmly. “I have heard of your evil ways and have come here to help you change.”
“Why should I change?” Ratnakar asked. “I am a powerful bandit. I don’t want to become a weak person like you.”
Sage Narada smiled gently. “By doing such evil deeds, you are earning bad Karma,” the sage spoke in a voice filled with kindness. “If you keep earning bad Karma, you will never feel happy.”
“Don’t waste my time, old man,” The bandit replied, getting annoyed. “If I stop robbing, who will feed my family?”
“Your family?” Sage Narada paused and thought for a second. He then said, “Fine, I will give you a boon. If anyone from your family will take your bad Karma, you can transfer it all to them.”
Suddenly, Ratnakar became interested. “I will take your boon,” he said and hurried home to meet his family.
When Ratnakar reached his home, he went to his parents and asked them to take his bad Karma. “You did all the evil deeds. We have always tried to stop you,” his parents said. “Why should we suffer for you?”
Deeply saddened by his parents’ words, Ratnakar requested his wife and children, but they all refused to take his bad Karma. The bandit’s heart sank in distress as he realized the gravity of his evil deeds.
Feeling overwhelmed by guilt and shame, he returned to Sage Narada. “Nobody is willing to take my bad Karma,” Ratnakar cried like a baby.
Sage Narada felt sorry for the man. “If you promise to change, I will take all your bad Karma.” The sage said.
The bandit was taken aback. “If you take my bad Karma, you will suffer and never feel happy. Are you not scared like the others?”
“I have no fear because my Lord Vishnu will take care of me,” Sage Narada declared. “And I do not mind suffering because changing you means protecting many people from a bandit.”
Tears streamed down Ratnakar’s face as he fell at Sage Narada’s feet. Without hesitation, the sage took all the bad Karma from the bandit. Pleased with Ratnakar’s change of heart, Sage Narada even taught him meditation and devotion.
“Chant the name of Sri Rama,” The sage said before leaving the forest.
Ratnakar became a changed man. He stopped robbing and killing people. Instead, he began chanting the name of Sri Rama throughout the day. He meditated and practiced devotion as the sage taught him.
Over the years, Ratnakar, a fearsome bandit from the lowest caste in society, transformed into one of the greatest sages of all time.
Ratnakar became Sage Valmiki — the sage who authored one of the most amazing epics of all times — The Ramayana, the life story of Lord Rama.
Sage Narada showed that love and compassion can change even a bandit into a sage. And, Sage Valmiki proved that anyone from any caste, community, or profession can become a great sage through hard work, meditation, and devotion.
Like Sage Narada, let us all learn to give love and compassion. Like Sage Valmiki, let us all work hard to become good human beings who do good Karma.
Love,
Sri Devi Om
