Ratnakar was a notorious robber who had committed many robberies and killed many men, women and children in the course of his career. He used to waylay the wayfarers passing through the forests. One day, Rishi Narada while passing through the same forest was caught hold of by Ratnakar. Narada asked him, “Why do you kill people and rob them of their belongings?” Ratnakar said that that was the only way in which he could maintain himself and his family. Narada then asked him whether he was not sorry that he was committing sins and whether any person of his family woald participate in the sins and the resultant karma. Ratnakar said that all members of his family would participate in his karma. Narada then asked him to go and enquire of his parents, wife and child if that was so.
This question had never occurred to Ratnakar before and he now became somewhat perturbed. After chaining Narada to a big tree lest he should escape, he went to his house and asked his parents whether they shared the sins which he committed everyday for maintaining them. They said, “When you were a child we looked after you. Now we have become old and it is your duty to maintain us. Why should we now be answerable for your sins?” He then went to his wife and put the same question to her. She replied, “Is it not your duty as my husband to maintain me? Did I ever ask you to rob and kill for my sake? Why should I share your sins?” All these replies made Ratnakar very despondent and he went to his son and put to him the same question. The son said, “Father, I am a small boy and I am unable to work myself. It is your duty to maintain me and when I attain proper age and am able to work, it would then be my duty to maintain you in your old age. How can I be responsible for your acts at present?” These replies worked a great change in the mind of Ratnakar who ran back to the forest, freed Narada from the chain and fell down at his feet. Rishi Narada in his kindness gave him a mantra consisting only of the name “Rama” and asked him to repeat that name everyday. The robber could not at first pronounce the sacred name but he persisted and went on repeating the name of Rama for a great many months and years. He left all his evil ways and adopted a life of austerity. After many years he attained great heights of spirituality by his devotion and single- mindedness. He became the author of the great epic, Ramayana, in which he wrote about the divine love and deeds of Rama and his consort Sita.