Shloka 2
Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya
Concise Bhāgavata Account
तस्यापि भगवानेष साक्षाद् ब्रह्ममयो हरि: । अंशांशेन चतुर्धागात् पुत्रत्वं प्रार्थित: सुरै: । रामलक्ष्मणभरतशत्रुघ्ना इति संज्ञया ॥ २ ॥
tasyāpi bhagavān eṣa sākṣād brahmamayo hariḥ aṁśāṁśena caturdhāgāt putratvaṁ prārthitaḥ suraiḥ rāma-lakṣmaṇa-bharata- śatrughnā iti saṁjñayā
Prayed to by the demigods, Bhagavān Hari—the Absolute Truth, Brahman Himself—appeared directly with His expansions as four sons, bearing the holy names Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, and Śatrughna.
Lord Rāmacandra and His brothers, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna, are all viṣṇu-tattva, not jīva-tattva. The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands into many, many forms. Advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam . Although they are one and the same, viṣṇu-tattva has many forms and incarnations. As confirmed in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.39) , rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan. The Lord is situated in many forms, such as Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna, and these forms may exist in any part of His creation. All these forms exist permanently, eternally, as individual Personalities of Godhead, and they resemble many candles, all equally powerful. Lord Rāmacandra, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata and Śatrughna, who, being viṣṇu-tattva, are all equally powerful, became the sons of Mahārāja Daśaratha in response to prayers by the demigods.
FAQs
This verse states that Lord Hari, the Supreme Absolute, manifested by His plenary expansions as four sons—Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, and Śatrughna—fulfilling the request of the demigods.
The verse indicates the Lord accepted sonhood because the suras requested it—implying a divine descent meant to protect dharma and relieve cosmic burdens through His avatāra-līlā.
Remembering that the Supreme can lovingly enter human-like roles inspires trust in God’s personal care and encourages devotees to take shelter of His names—especially Rāma—and live aligned with dharma.