Ramavijaya - 7

Sita was in the farmily way for the first time, and when she passed six months, Rama took her to his pleasant garden, where they spent some time in pleasure. While they were there, Rama said to Sita, " My sweet heart, you have now passed six months of your pregnancy. Just let me know what you like to enjoy. I am ready to gratify any of your desires." " My love, what I want to enjoy is this," replied Sita, " that you and I should go to a forest where Rishis live, and eat kandamuls} there, and sleep on the bed of Trana on the ground." When Sita expressed her desire, he said to himself, Lo, she suffered so much in the forest and yet she likes to go to a forest." So saying to himself he returned home with her. A few days before Rama went to the garden he had ordered his officers to go round the city at night and hear whether his subjects spoke ill of him. The officers, who had gone round the city, came to Rama and said to him, " We went to every door successively for some days and found that all your subjects spoke well of you except one washerman called, Rajaka, who scandalized you.

One day this Rajaka beat his wife, and consequently she ran to her parents house without his knowledge. Her father intervened and came to the house of his son-in-law with his daughter and requested him to admit her into his house, when Rajaka said, I will never admit her into my house. I am not that Rama, who shamelessly admitted Sita into his house, though she lived under the roof of Ravana for many years. I am a pure washerman. I am the man who clean and remove the dirt and spots on the dresses and clothes of the people and do you mean to say that I will admit your unclean daughter again into my house ? You can take her back. I do not wish to see her face. This is the only man who has scandalized you." As soon as Rama heard these words from the officers, he became exceedingly sorry and, having called Lakshman, said to him, " You see, my brother, that Rajaka has scandalized me, though Sita is faithful and as pious as any thing. That wicked washerman has scandalized me, because I have admitted her into my house. I cannot bear this at all. I, therefore, bade you take Sita to the yonder forest and, leaving her there alone, return to me as soon as possible." " You need not take to your heart what Rajaka has said about yon," replied Lakshman. " There are many wicked persons who are in the habit of scandalizing others. As a wise and prudent man you should not mind it. Let the people say whatever they like. Why do you mind that stupid man ? I shall cut off his tongue." " What you say is right," continued Rama,  but if you cut off the tongue of that man the people will say that we are guilty. It is, therefore^ far better, if we get rid of Sita, so that nobody may speak ill of us." Lakshman hesitated to comply with his wish es, when Rama exclaimed, " If you do not obey me, I shall kill myself on this spot." Finding that Rama was serious, Lakshman immediately got up and entered the room of Sita, who kindly received him and made him sit with her. Lakshman said to her, " Rama has told me to take you to the yonder forest as soon as possible. So, kindly prepare yourself and accompany me there." " Has Rama told you to take me to the forest ?  replied she. " Ah! I am very fortunate. Some days ago he asked him what I wanted to enjoy, and I told him that I liked to pass four or five days in a forest, eat kandamuls there and sleep on the bed of trana. I think, for the same purpose he is going to send me with you. Let us start. I am quite ready." Listening to what Sita had said Lakshman felt much and shed tears for her.

Soon after, Lakshman seated her in a chariot near the river, Janavi, and began to drive it, when she observed bad omens and asked him what those omens indicated. Lakshman, overwhelmed with grief, could not utter a syllable and quietly drove the chariot. When she found him quiet and in grief, she said to him, " Why are you so sorry ? Why don t you speak with me ?" Lakshman still kept quiet and, crossing the river in a boat, landed her in the forest, where there was no human being and

it was inhabited by lions, serpents, tigers, and other animals. She asked Lakshman, " Where are the abodes of Rishis ?" Lakshman did not reply ; but, making a bed of grass, he seated her on it. He then fell at her feet and said with tears in his eyes, " Mother, Rama has left you alone in this forest. I have brought you here, as I could not disobey him." No sooner did Lakshman speak these words than she fainted. While she was insensible, Lakshman prayed to the goddess of the forest and every creature in it to protect her and started for Ayodya. When he went some paces off, Sita came to herself and, standing on her legs, loudly exclaimed ! Lakshuman, kindly return and take me back. Why do you leave me here without any faults on my part ? Kill me and tell Rama of it. Where shall I go in this dreary forest." So saying she violently cried so much that even trees and stones shed tears for her. Lakshman returned to Ayodya and told Rama all about Sita.

Sita wandered in the forest barefooted. She had no shelter there. She often fainted. She said to herself, " It is now useless to live in this world. I should have killed myself but I can not do so. If I kill myself, I shall be guilty of suicide and murder, because the infant child in my womb will also be killed with me." So saying to herself she abandoned the idea of killing herself. In the meantime, the Rishi, Valmika, having heard the yells of Sita, came up to her and said, " Who are you ? What has brought you here ?" " I am a daughter of Janak and wife of Rama," replied Sita. Lakshman left me alone in this dreary forest without any faults on my part. I am quite a stranger here. So I implore you to be my father. " My name is Valmiki," replied Valmiki." Rama knows me well. Your father, Janak, is my friend ; and therefore, I look upon you as my daughter. Two sons will be born to you. They will be more powerful than their father, and will revenge themselves upon those who have left you alone in this forest without any faults on your part." Valmiki then led Sita to his abode, when all the Rishis gathered around him and asked him, " Who is- this woman ?" " This is Sita," replied Valmiki, " Why have you brought her here ? Surely you will get into difficulties on account of her," continued the Rishis. One of the Rishis said, "If she is Sita, tell her to bring that river here." Sita prayed to the river, and it flowed where she was standing. The Rishis were alarmed, and prayed to her for protection. She again prayed to the river and sent her back. Valmiki brought Sita to his abode and took every care of her. After the expiration of nine months, she was delivered of twin sons at midday as bright as the sun, when the wives of the Rishis came and helped her in her confinement. The first born son was the younger and the second born was the eldest. The disciples of Valmiki went and informed the Rishi of the birth of the two sons. Whereupon Valmiki immediately came to his abode and performed the necessary ceremony. He sprinkled water over the younger son with a Icusha and named him Kusha after it. The eldest son having been placed on lavas,} the Rishi, in like manner, sprinkled the water over him and called him Lava. When the two sons became eight years old, the Rishi performed their Vrataband\ and entertained the Rishis for four days. A kamdhenu or a cow supplied them with whatever they wanted. The Rishi taught them the Vedas, mantras, Ramayan, the Purans and dhanurvidya. They thoroughly mastered all sciences and arts and always played with the sons of the Rishis. When they became ten years old, they went on hunting excursions and brought home the animals killed by them. One day Kusha killed a sage on the top of a mountain, who was a brother of Valmiki. He was meditating there in the form of a deer. They dragged the corpse of the sage towards the abode of Valmiki, when the latter asked them on the road what they were doing. " We have brought a deer for you" replied they, " and shall make a seat of its skins for you. Valamiki, having looked at the corpse, found that it was his brother and said to himself " Now both the boys have become very brave. They have even killed a Brahman." So saying to himself Valmiki performed the funeral ceremony of his brother and informed Sita of the valour of her sons, when she said, " What do I know ? It is you who have taught them dhanurvidya, mantras, arts, and all sciences. I implore you, to free them from the sin. " Unless they bring one thousand Brahma Kamals" replied Valmiki, " and worship the god, Siva, with all their heart and soul, they will not be freed from the sin." will you kindly tell us where those kamals can be had ?" enquired the boys. " We will immediately bring them here." " There is a lake called Brahmasarovar near Ayodya," continued Valmiki, " but a number of warriors are posted by Rama to watch it. Those kamals are used by Rama for the worship of Siva." " Pooh!" said the boys, " We shall immediately bring those kamals. Let there be hundreds of brave warriors to watch the lake, we shall punish them and even capture Rama." So saying they hastened to the lake. Kusha went and plucked all the kamals, when the warriors came upon him; but Lava killed many of them. Those who had escaped, went and informed Rama of what the boys had done. Rama was greatly surprised, and praised the valour of the boys. Lava and Kusha brought the kamals and worshipped Siva as directed by Valmiki, and thus they were freed from the sin they had committed in killing the Brahman. One day, while both the boys were shampooing the feet of their mother, Kusha asked her, " In what country we were born ? What is the name of the country and what is our race and who is our father ? "Rama, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrnghna" replied Sita, " are sons of Dasaratha,who was the king of Ayodya and belonged to the solar race. Rama, the eldest son of the king, is your father. I am left in this forest alone, because a washerman scandalized your father on my account. So saying  she shed tears, when both the boys got much enraged at Rama and consoled their mother.

Owing to the injustice done by Rama to Sita there was a terrible famine in Ayodya for twelve years. The people and animals suffered much. The rain fell in torrents. Rama was alarmed and asked the Rishi, Vashista, what the cause of the famine was, when the latter replied, " You have unjustly left Sita in the forest, although she is a paragon of virtue ; and this is the cause of the famine. In order to put it down you

must celebrate an Ashwamedha *." Whereupon Rama with a view to be an emperor or to free himself from sin erected a mandap * on the bank of the river, Sharayu one yojan in length, and invited all kings to that ceremony including Vibhishan, Sugriva, Nala, Nil, Maruti, Sharab, Govaksha, and all other monkeys. Rama, having performed the necessary ceremony, brought the best horse called shamakarna  from his stable and made it stand in the mandap. Vashista tied up to- its fore head a golden Patrika  and wrote on it the following words: " Rama, the king of Ayodya, son of Dasharatha, has let the shamakarna loose. It is guarded by six billions of warriors under the command of Shatrughna,, and any king, who is powerful and mighty, is required to capture the horse and fight with its owner, but if he is unable to do so, he must submit to Rama and pay tribute to him." Rama worshipped the shamakarna and appointed Shatrughna as commander-in-chief of the six billions of the warriors who followed the horse. Rama performed the necessary yagnya for many days in the mandap strongly guarded by Sugriva, Vibhishan, and Maruti. Lakshman, Bharat, and Sumant supplied him with all the necessary things for the purpose. Shatrughna conquered fifty six kings of very large countries, who submitted to him and, having paid tribute- to Rama, followed the prince. The shamakarna of Rama began to gallop on the road on which the abode of Valmiki. The Rishi, Valmiki, had gone to Patal to be present at the yadnya performed by Varun. Before he left for Patal, he had told the boys to watch his abode in his absence. Both the small boys were playing together with other playmates near the abode at the time the shamakarna galloped, when Lava showed the animal to his playmates and, having pulled off the patrika from the head of the horse, read the contents of it. He laughed at what he had read, and said, " Is Rama only a mighty king on earth ? Pooh! I shall capture this horse, and let me see who will fight with me and recover the horse." So saying he tied up the animal to a plantain-tree. All the children of the Rishis were alarmed and said,  No doubt this horse belongs to a king. How dare you capture the animal ? If the king comes here and ask us who has detained the horse, we will surely give your name." In the meantime, some of the warriors came there and, looking at the children of the Rishis, said, " Who are you ? Who has tied up the horse to the plantain-tree ?"  We do not know any

thing about it," replied the children. " There stands the boy who has tied up the horse to the tree and he will tell you why he has done so." In the meantime, Shatrughna and all other warriors reached there. Looking at the tenderness of Lava they coaxed him and went to untie the horse, when the former loudly exclaimed, " I did capture the horse. I stand here to fight with you. Who is your Rama ? Go and tell him that I am ready to fight with him. You say that I am a child but I will kill you. all and put down your pride." The warriors said to themselves, " It is unbecoming on our part to fight with these tender boys. All the kings will laugh at us,, if we fight with them. It is far better to untie the horse and walk quietly." So saying all the warriors went to untie the animal, when Lava let off arrows and cut off the hands of those who went to untie the horse. All the six: billions of warriors at once rushed upon the boy, who let off arrows and defeated them with heavy loss, when Shatrughna drove his chariot but there was no room to move it, as there were heaps of the corpses of the warriors killed by Lava. He however pushed aside the corpses and went where the boy was standing. Finding him just like Rama, he asked him, " Whose child you are ? You have killed all my warriors. I shall now severely punish you. " Very well, I shall see how you will save your life now, replied Lava. Shatrughna got enraged and let off an arrow at the boy, who cut it off in no time. He then let off many arrows which Lava cut off and struck the former with his arrows. At last he threw at Lava the deadly arrow given by Rama to him for use in difficulty, when Lava said, " I do not know how to cut off this, arrow. Kusha has a knowledge of it. If he had not gone to the forest for kandamuls, he would have cut it off. Lava however let off a fiery arrow and cut off a part of the deadly arrow but the remaining half of it struck the boy ; and consequently he fell insensible on the ground. Shatrughna was moved, and having gone near the boy, looked at him attentively. He resembled Rama, Shatrughna applied water to his eyes and brought to his. senses ; and in order to show him to rama he put him into his chariot and proceeded further with the shamakarna. The children ran and informed Sita of the fate of her son, Lava, when she fainted and, coming to herself, violently cried. She exclaimed with grief, " I am helpless and very unfortunate. Which heartless man has seized my child ? ! my son, thou art tender. Thou must have been wounded. Thy eyes must have been broken by the arrows of the enemy. My children are too young. They live upon kandamuls and how will they be strong enough to fight with warriors ? Those who raise a weapon against a child, are not Kshatriyas. How is it that nobody felt pity at the child ? Who has carried off the little wealth i had ? Who has carried off the stick of a blind and lame woman ? If my father, Valmiki, were here, he would go to his rescue* but unfortunately he has gone to patal. Kusha has also gone to the forest, what shall I do now ? Who will get my son back." In the meantime, Kusha returned from the forest and asked his mother where his brother was, when she, with tears in her eyes, informed him of what had happened to Lava.

As soon as he was informed of the fate of his brother, he took up his bow and arrow and ran after Shatrughna and the other warriors. Kusha

called out and said, " Who are you, thieves. Where are you going to take the stolen thing ?" So saying he let off arrows at the army of Shatrughna, when the latter turned round and loudly said, " Child, I shall immediately seize and carry you off with us. So saying Shatrughna

let off ten arrows at Kusha, which the latter cut off and broke the chariot and killed the four horses of the former with nine arrows ; and with three arrows his helmet and chap * were broken. Shatrughna fell on the ground and combated with Kusha, when the latter let off two arrows and cut off his two hands ; and at the same time his head was cut off with another arrow. On the fall of Shatrughna his brother, Nagendranath, let off twenty arrows at the boy but the latter broke off the arrows with one arrow and cut off the head of Nagendranath with an arrow of the size of the half moon. Having done this, he continued the letting off arrows at the warriors, who could not overcome Kusha. The boy killed many billions of warriors and all the kings who had submitted to Rama. Kusha then went and searched his brother, whom he found in the chariot of Shatrughna. He was insensible. Kusha brought him to senses and embraced him affectionately. Lava said, " Let us now go home with the shamakarna." " I am sure, many other warriors will come here to fight with us," replied Kusha. " It is not safe to return home. Let us kill all who will come here to take the horse, and then return home." A few wounded warriors went and informed Rama that Shatrughna and six billions of the warriors were killed by two small boys of a Rishi. Rama was alarmed at the news and immediately despatched Lakshman with a large army to the seat of the war. He, looking at the beautiful boys of the age of twelve years, was greatly surprised at their bravery. The warriors said, " Capture, capture the boys. Where will they go now ?" The boys prayed to the sun, who was pleased with them and presented them with a successful weapon, which Lava took up and attacked the warriors of Lakshman and killed a large number of them, when Lakshman said to Kalajit, " As long as the two boys stand, together, nobody can overcome them. Let us, therefore,, separate them both and seize them." So saying Lakshman separated the boys with the assistance of all his warriors but Lava let off one arrow, which produced kotis of arrows and killed the warriors. Finding Lakshman in a bad position a demon called Rudhi, a great friend of Rama, jumping into the air, came down where Lava was standing, and snatched the weapon from his hands and

flew like a bird, when Lahu also flew with him and, seizing the demon by his hair and turning him like a wheel flung him down and instantly killed him. Lakshman, got enraged and let off at the two boys five arrows as

powerful as lightning, which Lava cut off in a minute. Lava said to Lakshman, " You formerly killed Indrajit. Let me see your valour now. You fasted for fourteen years. No doubt you must have now rest and I shall just give it to you." " What is the name of your father ? asked Lakshman. " Why do you want to know it ?" replied Lava. " Come on, let us now fight." So saying he let of one arrow and threw Lakshman with his chariot into the sky, which turned in the air and came down on the

ground. Lakshman mounted another chariot and continued letting off arrows at Lava, which the latter cut off one after another in the twinkle of an eye. Lakshman then let off an arrow, which produced kotis of * gadas, when Lava made use of the mantra given by Valmiki, which produced koits of  chakras and out off the gadas. Lakshman then let off a mountain-weapon, which produced mountains but Lava broke them with the diamonds produced by a diamond-weapon. Thus Lakshman tried his utmost to kill Lava with his arrows but he could not overcome the boy, when the latter said to him, " Why have you stopped now ? If your arrows are finished, go back And call your Rama." Lakshman did not reply to what Lava had said, and indignantly let off arrows at Lava,

when the latter let off a melody-weapon, which produced melodious sounds and charmed Lakshman, who was an incarnation of the serpent, Shesha. Lakshman,. having been charmed with the melodious sounds, ceased to fight And began to nod his head with mirth.

Kalajit surrounded Kusha with his troops but the latter killed them all and joined his brother. Rama was about to send Bharat with more troops to reinforce the Army of Lakshuan with instructions to Lakshman that they should put upon the boys a fascination-weapon and,

seizing the two boys, bring them to him alive, so that their mother might not cry for them. But in the mean time, a few wounded warriors went and informed Rama that Lakshman had fallen in the field of war with Kalajit and all the warriors commanded by him. Rama, hearing this,

grieved much for Lakshman and immediately despatched Maruti and Bharat with more warriors. When Bharat saw the boys just like Rama, he said to Maruti, " There is no doubt that the boys are sons of Rama." I think so, replied Maruti. Lava and Kusha saw them whisper to each other and said, " ~No doubt they will engage us in conversation and take the shamakarna from us. Kusha told Lava to watch the horse and he himself came up to Bharat and asked him, " You are, I suppose, elder

than Lakshman. Are you not ? You seem to be a brave soldier." " Just tell me what is your name, who your parents are, and tell me with whom you fought before ? * " My name is Kusha," replied the child. " Depart from this place," continued Bharat, " and tell your mother that I have spared your life." " I think, Rama has sent you here to capture us," said Kusha. " I now tell you; either fight with me or depart from this place as soon as you can. I do not pursue you. Just go and get your Rama here." Bharat got enraged and let off various arrows and weapons at Kusha, which the latter cut off very easily. At last he let off a diamond-weapon at Maruti, and made him insensible. This news having been communicated to Rama, the latter mounted his chariot and personally came to the field of the war with the army of the monkeys. The monkeys threw at the boys mountains, rocks and trees which they broke with their weapons and killed many monkey- warriors, and some monkeys fled for fear of life. At this time Maruti jumped into the air to lift up the boys with his tail but Kusha, perceiving his intention, let off a powerful arrow at him, which struck the monkey and brought him down. Kusha loudly said " Oh ! ugly monkey. You destroyed the Asoka forest but here you cannot do any thing. The throwing of stones and mountains at demons was not a war. There is no Dronagiri here. You , jumped over the sea and burnt Lanka. There is nothing like that here." In the meantime, Sugriva threw trees at the boys but Lava cut them off, and made Sugriva, Nila,- Jambuyant,- Angad and Maruti and other monkeys insensible. Looking at this defeat Rama let off arrows at the two boys which the latter cut off and let off innumerable arrows, which scattered throughout the sky without hurting Rama. Looking at the bravery of the boys Rama asked, Children of the Rishis, listen to me, I shall give you what you want. I shall give you a cow, which will give you milk. I am pleased with you and will give you whatever you want." " We want nothing from you," replied the boys, " but on the contrary we will give you whatever you want. You can enjoy your own wealth. We have heard enough of you. You are such a heartless. and cruel man that no one like you can be found on this earth. Sita, an innocent woman of virtue, you left alone in the forest. This is most wicked on your part " Listening to what they had said, Rama was moved with affection for them and thought of stroking their heads with tenderness. But the boys told him to continue fighting with them. " Just tell me," said Rama, " Who you are, who your parents are, which guru gave, you education, who taught you dhanur- vidya, science, arts and mantras The boys heartily laughed and said, " This man does not feel for his brothers. He wants us to tell him stories. Sir, first fight with us and then ask us stories. You have killed Ravana and done many brave acts. Now let us see a little of it. We shall never allow you to depart from this place with out fighting with us. If you cannot fight with us, return

home quietly or be a  sanyasi, because you have neither wife, nor children." Rama asked, " Tell me who you are, and then I shall fight with you. In the meantime, a voice in the sky said,  Rama, do not fight. The boys are your sons." As soon as Rama heard what the voice had said, he fell down insensible. Kusha came up to him and, taking off his mugut, put it on his own head. Lava stripped Lakshman of his ornaments and wore them himself^ Having done this, they mounted the chariot of Rama and tying up Maruti, Sugriva, Angad, Jambuvant and other monkeys to the chariot for the amusement of their mother, drove to their abode. They told Sita that they had made Rama and his brothers insensible in the field of war and killed all their warriors. " Here are the monkeys," said they, " we have brought for your amusement." Sita knew them and did not come out, because they might feel ashamed of their state. She said to her sons, " Let the monkeys go away. We shall never keep them here." The boys then went and untied them. The monkeys came and informed Rama of what they had seen.

In the meantime, Valmiki returned from Patal ; and, having been informed of what had happened, he went and brought all the warriors to life by sprinkling water over them from his  Kamandal. The Rishi then gave the two boys and Sita in charge of Rama, who heartily embraced them. Shortly after, Rama took leave of Valmiki and returned to Ayodya with his sons and completed the ashwamedha.

THE END.