The story of Rama's visit to Sage Agastya's hermitage and the tale of the king tormented by hunger after death, as narrated by the sage, is indeed a profound and intriguing one.
In this narrative, Sage Agastya recounts the plight of a
king who, despite embracing asceticism in his earthly life, found himself
plagued by hunger even in the afterlife. This hunger persisted because the king
lacked progeny to perform the necessary rituals and offerings that would
sustain him beyond death. As a result, he was left to consume his own mortal
remains to satiate his eternal hunger.
The king's predicament serves as a cautionary tale about the
importance of progeny and the continuation of familial duties even after death
in Hindu tradition. In Hindu beliefs, it is believed that one's descendants
have a duty to perform rites and offerings to ensure the welfare of their
ancestors in the afterlife. Without such offerings, the ancestors may suffer in
various ways, including hunger and deprivation.
Sage Agastya's intervention in this story is significant. By
accepting the ornaments offered by the king, Agastya symbolically releases the
king from his torment. The disappearance of the king's body upon the acceptance
of these gifts signifies his liberation from the cycle of suffering and his
transition to a higher state of existence.
This story underscores the importance of dharma (duty),
karma (actions), and the interconnectedness of life and the afterlife in Hindu
philosophy. It teaches valuable lessons about the consequences of one's actions
and the enduring impact of familial ties and obligations, both in this world
and beyond.