The King Who Went to War for Rāma

Kulasekharan loved to hear the stories of the Purāṇas. He invited elders to recite them and explain the truths they contained, and rewarded them generously. One day an aged yogi was invited to narrate a story from the Purāṇas.

The yogi told the story of the Rāmāyaṇa and of the life of Sri Rāma. As he listened, Kulasekharan was so deeply drawn to Sri Rāma that tears streamed from his eyes, and he was wholly absorbed in the Lord.

The next day the yogi described a battle from the Rāmāyaṇa. Lakshmaṇa asked for permission to fight the rākshasas who had come against them, but Sri Rāma stopped him, asking him to stay and protect Sītā, and stepped out of the hut alone. Seeing Sri Rāma, Shūrpaṇakhā roared to the rākshasas that Rāma had come out, and urged them to surround Him. They closed in on Him on every side, sharp weapons in their hands.

So deeply was Kulasekharan absorbed in the scene that he felt some harm was about to befall Sri Rāma. He rose at once and ordered his army to prepare for war.

The army was bewildered. Whom were they to fight, when the Chola and Pandya kings, their usual enemies, were quiet? But they had to obey their king, and they readied the horses and elephants for battle.

The ministers, however, understood what had happened. They realised that the king had been overcome with emotion, and they asked the yogi to continue the story, so that Kulasekharan would learn that Rāma's battle was already won.

The yogi finished the story: Sri Rāma, single-handed, had defeated all the rākshasas. Hearing this, and hearing of Sri Rāma's greatness, Kulasekharan was overjoyed and ordered his army back to their barracks. Such was the depth of Kulasekhara's devotion to Emperumān.