The thief Ratnakara and Sage Valmiki.

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Ratnakara was asked to chant "mara mara' by the sages. He was a hunter decoit. He understands the language of hunters. Hence the sages desisted from teaching him "Ramanama". He can understand 'maramara' since it was the name of a tree. Ratnakara had the faith and one pointedness. He immediately sat down, closed his eyes and started the chant, 'mara mara'. In a shortwhile, the words jumbled and without his knowledge he was repeating 'rama rama'.Such was his one pointedness, anthill started growing around him. He was oblivious of all this. He was just chanting 'Rama Rama'.See the magical effects of the words. A base metal was transformed to gold by those mysterious sound. Ultimately the theif Ratnakara was transformed into Maharishi Valmiki. In which way Ratnakara was qualified? Yes, he had the faith and one pointedness. He had no formal education. Neither he was pursuing noble profession. He was a decoit and murderer. How the name Rama redeemed him and transformed him is still a mystry. Hence, if we are clever, we too should think of redeeming ourselves by chanting the holy name of "Rama".Sairam.