We saw that there are several versions of why Lord Rama took avatara on earth as a human being, as well as the context when Sri Hari was requested by the Devas to take avatara.
Here is the version as per Valmiki Ramayana.
Dasharatha’s Ashwamedha Yaga and Putreshti Yaga were being performed. Many Devas had assembled there to receive their shares of the offerings made in the yajna. At that time, they complained to Brahma, saying that Ravana, empowered by the boon given by Brahma, was committing atrocities and making life difficult across all the worlds.
Brahma responded, 'I only gave Ravana a boon that he cannot be killed by Devas or Gandharvas. He did not include humans in the list because he never considered them a threat. He thought humans are weak and incapable of challenging him, even without the boon. This means Ravana can be killed by a human being, and only by a human being.'
While this conversation was happening, Bhagawan Vishnu appeared there, holding his shankha, chakra, and gada. He was radiant, wearing peetambara and mounted on Garuda. The Devas bowed before him, praised him, and made their request.
They said, 'O Lord, we humbly request you to divide yourself into four and take birth as the sons of King Dasharatha, who is performing this Putreshti yajna to fulfill his desire for children. Dasharatha and his three wives are well-qualified to be your parents in your human form. Dasharatha is a righteous king, a scholar of dharma, and has the brilliance of a Maharshi. His three wives are comparable to Daksha’s daughters—Hree, Sree, and Keerthi.
'This is necessary because Ravana is cruel and arrogant. He kills Rishis, Gandharvas, and even their wives, the Apsaras, who are simply playing in Nandana Vana in Swarga. Not just us Devas, but all beings, including Munis, Siddhas, and Yakshas, look to you as the last resort. Please be born as a human in Manushya Loka.'
The Devas further requested, 'Please take birth as four—Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. This is because there are four distinct roles to fulfill:
- Killing Ravana.
- Killing Indrajit, Ravana’s son.
- Conquering the Gandharva kingdom, a task for Bharata.
- Killing Lavanasura, a task for Shatrughna.
Each of these tasks has specific demands, which is why we request you to take avatara as four.'
The Lord then reassured them, saying, 'Do not be afraid anymore. I will kill Ravana along with his sons, grandsons, relatives, and friends. I will re-establish dharma, which has been disturbed by Ravana, and rule the earth as a king for 11,000 years.'
The Lord further expressed his resolve, 'Let me take birth as the four sons of Dasharatha. As Jagat Pita, the father of all, Dasharatha is my son. Let me now take birth as the sons of my son, Dasharatha, for the welfare of the world.'
Though the Lord is without birth and death, he desired to take a finite form with a beginning and an end, for the sake of restoring dharma and ensuring the welfare of the world. Only created beings—humans, Devas, Asuras, plants, and animals—experience birth and death. Yet, for the good of all creation, the Lord chose to be born as four sons of Dasharatha.
