Once there was a burglar named Ratnakar. He used to rob the person of his belongings and with this wealth he looked after his family. This process continued for a long time. One day he was hiding in the forest to rob the passengers. At the same time sage Narad was passing through that forest in which Ratnakar was hiding. As soon as Ratnakar saw him, he threatened him to stop. But sage Nard said that he had nothing to offer him. But Ratnakar was adamant. Sage Narad said to Ratnkar “why do you kill people who are innocent? One has to face the consequences for his own deeds. No one shares the punishment of god for the sins of others.” Sage Narad asked Ratnakar to go back to his home and asked his family members whether they will share his sufferings for the sins he committed for them. This shocked the Ratnakar. He get back to his home and asked the same question to each family members. He said to his family members , “ Is anybody ready to share my sins?" . But every member decline at once. Ratnakar was disappointed. Ratnakar went back to the forest to met sage Narad and asked for forgiveness. Sage Narad asked him to chant the name of God Rama. But for Ratnakar even pronouncing it was difficult. Sage Narad asked him to pronounce it backwards that is 'Mara'. Ratnakar started to chant 'Mara, Mara' sitting there. He continued with this chant for many years.He performed the tapasya with such a devotion that he didn’t moved a single inch from it’s place. The termites made his body their home.Lord Brahma pleased with his devotion blessed him and gave him the name Valmiki because of the termites, which are called Valmik in Sanskrit. So it was the great transformation of a burglar into a sage who wrote the Ramayana.
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