jewel

After the battle was over, Rama was returning to Ayodhya in the pushpak viman and stopped at Agastya’s ashram and offered his gratitude to the sage. Agastya blessed Rama with mantra akshatas and gave him a beautiful, strange jewel that was glowing. Rama knew the nuances of dharma and said, “Maharshi, I am a Kshatriya and it is not allowed for a kshatriya to take anything as a donation, especially from a Brahmin. Only a Brahmin is entitled to accept a Daan(donation).”

Sage Agastya clarified to Rama and said, “Rama, this is not a daan. You are a king and the subjects can offer anything to their king and the king can accept it. It is an offering and is not a daan. While accepting a daan, the hand of the Brahmin is below that of the giver, but while accepting a gift, the king has his hand above the hand of the person offering a gift. Thus there is a difference. Since you are the king of this land, you should accept my offering. Please accept it!”

Rama was curious to know the history of that jewel and Agastya explained the same. “Rama! There was a king who became a Rajarshi because of his great tapas. His name was Suta, and he visited me for receiving blessings and at that time he offered this to me. Since I have no use for it, I was looking for a suitable person to receive it and now you, who are fit to keep it have come.”