Why did Ram run after the deer?

Hello! Welcome and greetings to Ram Kahani once again. Let us talk. As I mentioned in the first video, everything Ram did in Ram Leela and all his Leelas were not mere actions (Kriya). Why is that so? How can we say this?

Because even today, some people are not ready to accept it or they discuss that Ram was only considered a God based on the Ramayana. What did he do that we should consider him divine? How can we believe that Ram was an incarnation, just by calling him “Maryada Purushottam”?

In this video, we will explain that Ram was indeed an incarnation of God and what his purpose was in coming to this earth. We will discuss this in detail.

First of all, as I mentioned in the last video, Ram was not born like an ordinary human being. He was born after King Dasharath and his queens consumed the kheer from a Yagya. Therefore, it is said that Ram appeared through divine means rather than through a regular birth.

We have already discussed this point, so there is no need to delve further into it. Now, what was Ram’s purpose? Why did Ram perform Leelas and why did he take incarnation? We will talk about that today.

An important aspect is Kaikeyi asking for two boons from King Dasharath. We know she asked for the throne to be given to Bharat and for Ram to be exiled. Think about what would have happened if Ram had violated this and refused the order. He could have said, “Why should I go to the forest? I don’t want to go.” What if he had told Dasharath, “These are your boons, what do they have to do with me or my mother?”

What would have happened if Ram had responded this way? Would a catastrophe have struck? It is said, “Raghukul reet sada chali aayi, pran jaaye par vachan na jaaye” (The tradition of the Raghu clan is that life may go, but the promise remains). What if this tradition had not been upheld? Why did Ram go to the forest?

The belief is that if Ram had not gone to the forest, the Ram Rajya (ideal kingdom) would not have been established. For Ram Rajya to be established, the roles of Kaikeyi, King Dasharath, and the traditions of the Raghukul were essential. That is why Ram was commanded to go to the forest.

Secondly, Gautam Rishi cursed Ahalya to turn into stone and decreed that when God incarnates, she would be restored to human form by the dust of his feet. Gautam Rishi was a great sage, not an ordinary person. Why would he curse his wife this way and then tell her to wait? He foretold that when Lord Ram incarnates and his feet touch the stone, she would return to human form. This means Ram’s incarnation as a human was already predestined. Thus, Ram’s actions were not mere actions but divine Leela.

The third significant point is the golden deer incident. You and I know there is no such thing as a golden deer. When in the forest, Sita asked for the golden deer. Despite knowing it didn’t exist, Ram went after it. Why did Ram not simply explain to Sita that it wasn’t real? Why did he run after it?

I repeatedly emphasize that this is Ram Leela. If Sita had not been abducted, how would Ravana have been defeated? All this had to happen. For this sequence to unfold, Ram chased the golden deer, Lakshman ran after Ram, the Lakshman Rekha (protective line) was crossed, and Sita was abducted. In this way, Ram began the establishment of Ram Rajya through his Leela.

The fourth and final point: if a king wants to expand his kingdom through alliances, he would typically form friendships with other powerful kings. But if you read the Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas carefully, you will see that Ram did not form alliances with any kings. He befriended Nishad Raj Guha, a Bhil king, Sugriv, Vibhishan, Jatayu, and others from humble backgrounds. By making these alliances, Ram reached Lanka. If Ram had wanted, he could have allied with all the kings along the way. But his purpose in going to the forest was to establish Ram Rajya, where all beings, whether monkeys, birds, or the smallest communities like the Bhils and Nishads, were included. Taking all these sections along is what defined Ram Rajya.

This is why Lord Ram’s actions were part of his divine Leela, showing his adherence to righteousness and establishing an ideal kingdom. Understanding or explaining Ram fully is beyond us, as his Leelas are infinite. “Hari Ananta, Hari Katha Ananta”—the stories of the divine are endless.

I want to emphasize through this video that Ram being Maryada Purushottam, and his commitment to his word, were all parts of establishing Ram Rajya. My Ram Kahani series will continue in this manner.

In the next video, I will discuss the very touching episode of Kevat Prasanga. Many of you might know about it, but I will share some lesser-known aspects. So, stay tuned for my next video. Until then, Jai Shri Ram!