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| RAMA SWOONED HEARING THE
NAME OF SITA |
Then Kusha told him, "Look, we are the twin sons of Sitadevi. Sage Valmiki
has taught us the Vedas and archery. Our study of the Ramayana, taught by him,
has given us this strength."
Rama then understood that they were his own sons. At the mention of Sita's name,
his agony knew no bounds. Unable to bear that grief, he swooned and fell down.
Sugreeva who was by his side fanned him and after a while Rama recovered.
When Rama and Sugreeva were talking, Neela was stealthily untying the horse.
Seeing that, Kusha aimed an arrow at him. Hit by the arrow, Neela fell to the
ground with a thud. Hanuman, Jambavanta and other heroes surrounded the boys.
But they were all laid on the ground by the boy's arrows.
This enraged Rama. He showered his arrows on the boys. They were not ordinary
arrows. Rama's arrows had killed great heroes like Ravana and Kumbhakarna. But
in front of these boys, even they were ineffective. The
two boys cut all the arrows shot by Rama in the middle of their fight. But the arrows shot by the
youngsters lodged themselves in Rama's body. Rama's horses fell down and his
charioteer too, whole body of Rama was made gory with wounds. In extreme pain
Rama lay down in his chariot.
The boys ran to him. They saw the handsome and dignified form of Rama. The
string of pearls he was wearing looked so fine. They took it off his neck and
tied it in a piece of cloth. They also took away all the precious ornaments worn by Lakshmana,
Bharata Shatrughna. Kusha and Luv were ready to return to their mother. Just
then Luv said, "Brother, one or two in this army may be awake. Let us drag
them to our mother." Kusha agreed. Hearing this, Hanuman told Jambavanta, "Look,
these boys are going to take us to Sitadevi. That should cause no worry. She
will certainly protect us." It happened just like that. Luv heard the two
of them talking. He went to them, and tying them up, dragged them with him. With
them and with the jewels, Luv and Kusha returned to the hermitage.
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| KUSHA AND LUV RETURNING
TO THE ASHRAM WITH THE JEWELS AND THE HORSE |
Sita was in great anxiety, as the children had not returned for such a long time.
The boys who now came back went to her and gave her the
bundle of ornaments. The boys made the two, whom they had dragged thither, prostrate
at their mother's feet. Sita was stunned to see Hanuman and Jambavanta. And the ornaments were
all of Rama, Lakshmana Bharata and Shatrughna. Her heart seemed to stop. She
told her children, "Alas! What have you done! Why do we need these ornaments
of kings? These monkey heroes are great beings. Why did
you shame them thus?Release them at once."
The two boys could not understand why their mother was pained. They took back
Hanuman and Jambavanta. Sita tearfully lamented, "What now? O that all this
should have happened just when Valmiki is not here! What should I do now?" Just
then Valmiki returned to the ashram. He went straight to Sita. He consoled her
saying, "Mother, pray, don't weep. I know all. All that has happened is
for the good. I shall set everything right."
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