Hearing the words of Rāma, the great saint Agastya replied saying:-0 Rāma, O son of Dasaratha, at the beginning of the golden age, people had no king; but Väsava was the ruler of the celestials. Therefore to obtain a king, men approached Brahmā, the god of gods and said, O deity you have placed Indra as ruler over the celestials; therefore, O lord of creatures, do you also confer upon us a king who shall be foremost among men; by worshipping him we shall be freed from all sins.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण प्रत्युवाच महानृषिः।। आसन्कृतयुगे राम ब्राह्मभूते पुरायुगे। अपार्थिवाः प्रजाः सर्वाःसुराणां तु शतक्रतुः।। ताः प्रजा देवदेवेशं राजार्थं समुपाद्रवन्। सुराणां स्थापितो राजा त्वया देव शतक्रतुः।। प्रयच्छास्मासु लोकेश पार्थिवं नरपुंगवम्। यस्मै पूजां प्रयुञ्जाना धूतपापाश्चरेमहि।।