While Dasharatha was holding his yajna, the devas spoke to Lord Brahma about Ravana, the rakshasa king. Brahma’s boon to Ravana had made him so powerful that he was now treating the devas and the sages and all creatures very badly and causing them great misery. Brahma’s boon had made Ravana unconquerable by the devas, asuras, gandharvas and all the divine creatures. He had been so confident that he forgot to ask that he should not be killed by a human being. Brahma told the devas about this and asked for Lord Vishnu’s help. Vishnu agreed to help the devas and told them that King Dasharatha of Ayodhya was performing a yajna to obtain children. He, Vishnu, would be born as four sons to Dasharatha, who would destroy Ravana. The devas were delighted.
Gods Plead with Vishnu
