When Lord Sri Ramachandra reached the forest with Sita and Lakshmana, they had a hurdle of crossing the river Ganga. When Guha heard about the exile of Lord Rama for a period of 14 years from his kingdom of Ayodhya, he came running to help Him. One of his boatmen was delivering people on the opposite bank of the river when Guha said to Kevat to bring the boat and take Lord Ram along with Sita and Lakshman to the other side of Ganga, the holy river of Hindus.
With all the devotion that he had, Kevat brought the boat near Lord Rama, got down and did namaskaar to Lord Rama. He started and ended his days with prayers to Lord Rama and throughout the day he was well known for talking about the glories of Lord.
Kevat asked Guha whether he could wash Lord Rama’s feet before they stepped into the boat. To which Guha replied that he may wash Lord Ram’s feet after seating him in the boat. But Kevat was obstinate and told Guha that he would like to wash Lord Rama’s feet before he got into the boat. Guha was a little angry at his stubbornness and was about to lose his temper.
Then Kevat decided to explain his point to Lord Rama himself. “Lord, the limited income I have as a boatman is just enough to make both ends meet in life and I am afraid that I cannot afford any more boats due to any unforeseen circumstances. So let me please wash the dust on your feet before you step into my boat.”
Lord Rama smiled looking at Sita Devi and remained silent.
Kevat continued:”Lord, I have heard that the dust from your feet embraced a stone in the forest and it became a woman. My boat is made of quite a lot of pieces of wood and if the dust of your feet fell on my boat, I am afraid the boat would turn into several women. I sincerely cannot take care of any more members in my family. That is why I am requesting to wash your feet and make it dust free before you step into the boat. Please be kind to me.”
Lord Rama appreciated his chaste and naive faith.
After washing their feet Kevat placed his hands on earth and asked Lord to first step on his hand before stepping on to the boat. This way he washed all his sins by having a touch of Lords feet.
After washing the Lord’s feet, Kevat ferried them to the other side of the river. As soon as they alighted from the boat, Goddess Sita immediately took a ring from her finger and handed it over to Lord Rama, indicating him to pass it on to the boatman.
Lord Rama: Here Brother, that is all we can pay you for your kind service. Please accept it!
Kevat: (Shaking his head). No, My Lord! I can’t possibly accept this from you.
Lord Rama: Why?
Kevat: Because people of the same line of work do not charge each other for their services. A barber never takes payment, when he gives a haircut to another barber. Even a washer-man never charges a fellow washer-man.
Lord Rama: Brother, how can you and I be of the same profession? You are a boatman and I am….
Kevat: Lord, both of us do the same work. I ferry people from this shore of the Ganges to the other. You ferry people across the ocean of Samsaara (Bhav-sagar),through the journey of life. How can I accept payment from you? Prabhu! I don’t want anything. But please, as I have made you cross this river today, when my time comes, take me across sansaar saagar [the ocean of material existence!]. That would be your return to me.
Lord was so overwhelmed at this request from Kevat, that he held out his arms and embraced the boatman. Later, the expert ferryman was given adieu from the cycle of birth and death just because of this little service done unto the Supreme Lord!
He also asked Lord for endless devotion to lotus feet of Lord Rama. Lord Rama told that from that day onwards, Kevat need need not take another birth, and granted Kevat – Mukti from material world.
punarapi jananam punarapi maranam
punarapi jananii jathare shayanam
iha samsaare bahudustaare
kripayaa apaare paahi muraare
