We have arrived at the auspicious moment of birth of Lava and Kusha, the twin sons of ideal couple Rama and Sita. Let us recall some backdrop here. After the final battle with Ravana in which Rama emerged victorious, Rama and Sita are reunited, and Rama’s rule began in Ayodhya when he was enthroned as King following elaborate ceremony. Few days have passed when the noble couple lived with content after the lengthy exile and painful days of abduction. However, rumors swirled in the kingdom about the chastity of Sita as she lived in the captivity of Ravana for some time and the virtue of Rama in accepting her back. Despite Sita proving her purity through the Agni Pariksha (trial by fire), Rama, as a king, prioritized his duty to uphold his people's trust and maintain the integrity of his rule. Rama made the painful decision to send Sita to the hermitage of sage Valmiki in the forest. Lakshmana carried out the orders of Rama and left Sita in the abode of Valmiki. It can be noted here that Rama left Sita, his own better half and ideal form of womanhood over the priority he has given to the duties as a king. He prioritized greater good and people welfare over his deep personal bond and familial relationships. He terminated the immense attachment to Sita and became detached as a husband and father, leaving her in forest when she is about to give birth to his valuable progeny. Once again, this points to his unwavering dharma as a noble king over personal desires, meeting societal expectations against personal truth and immense personal sacrifice. Succinctly, he prioritized kingdom over personal self, and this is how the story panned out as it passed down to generations leading to the clues of his heart which never falters. Though Rama is largely separated, it is a celebration time in the abode of Valmiki as Sita gives birth to twins which can be seen in following chapters.
We are following Shatrughna as he sets out to fight Lavana following Rama’s detailed guidance. After a month's march, Shatrughna paused and visited Sage Valmiki, who warmly welcomed him. There, Shatrughna learned about King Saudasa, an ancestor cursed by Sage Vasishtha to become a cannibal after being tricked by a Rakshasa. Known thereafter as Kalmashapada, Saudasa later regained his throne. The fertile land near Valmiki’s hermitage was the site of Saudasa’s Ashvamedha sacrifice. After respectfully hearing the tale, Shatrughna rested at the hermitage, ready to continue his mission at dawn. The night brings a surpise in the form of birth of Lava and Kusha.
In chapter 66, the birth of Rama’s descendants – Lava and Kusha can be seen.
During the night Shatrughna spent in the leaf-thatched hut at Sage Valmiki’s hermitage, a momentous event occurred. Sita, Rama’s consort, gave birth to twin sons. At midnight, the youthful ascetics of the hermitage hurried to Valmiki with the joyous news, informing the sage that the blessed Sita had safely delivered two children. They urged the great Rishi to perform protective rites to safeguard the newborns from evil influences.
Hearing their request, the venerable Valmiki proceeded to the spot where Sita lay with her infants. Upon seeing the twin boys, radiant and full of life like divine offspring, his heart swelled with joy. With profound reverence and care, Valmiki undertook the Rakshasa Rite to protect them. Using a handful of Kusha grass with roots intact, he chanted sacred mantras to bless the children.
Valmiki then declared that the names of the twins would be derived from the ritual itself. Since the firstborn would be rubbed with the blessed Kusha grass, he would be named Kusha. The second child, carefully dried and purified with the same sacred grass, would be called Lava. Thus, the sage pronounced that the two boys would henceforth be renowned as Kusha and Lava, destined for fame.
Following Valmiki’s instructions, the female ascetics, having purified themselves, reverently received the Kusha grass from the sage and carefully applied it to the two newborns, completing the protection rite with utmost devotion.
Meanwhile, Shatrughna, who was still resting at the hermitage, heard the delightful tidings. He was informed of the birth of the twins, their divinely ordained names, and the auspicious circumstances of their arrival. Overjoyed, he approached the hut where Sita lay and respectfully greeted her, offering heartfelt blessings, “O Mother, be you happy!”
For Shatrughna, the night, coinciding with the rainy season of the month of Shravana, passed swiftly and joyously, filled with the auspicious atmosphere of Sita’s twin sons’ birth.
At the break of dawn, after completing his morning devotions with proper rites and prayers, Shatrughna, with joined palms, bowed respectfully to Sage Valmiki. Having received the sage’s blessings, he prepared to continue his mission to defeat the demon Lavana, as instructed by Lord Rama.
Resuming his journey, Shatrughna marched for seven days with his army until he reached the banks of the Yamuna River. There, he decided to rest at a renowned hermitage inhabited by illustrious Rishis. These sages, famed for their wisdom and piety, welcomed the prince warmly. Among them, the venerable sage Kancana stood out as their leader.
In the tranquil surroundings of the hermitage, Shatrughna spent the night engaging in meaningful conversations with the ascetics. They shared with him the ancient and inspiring legends of great Rishis, including the tales of Cyavana, a revered figure from the illustrious lineage of Bhrigu, and other esteemed sages. These discussions, filled with wisdom and devotion, brought Shatrughna great delight.
Thus, filled with spiritual nourishment and inspiration from these sacred exchanges, Shatrughna rested peacefully, preparing for the next phase of his noble mission with renewed strength and determination.
In chapter 67, we can look at the story of Mandhata.
As night descended, Shatrughna sought guidance from the sage Cyavana, son of Bhrigu, regarding the strength and power of the demon Lavana. With respectful curiosity, Shatrughna asked the sage about Lavana’s weapon, inquiring who the demon had previously slain using his fearsome shaft in battle.
Cyavana, known for his virtue and wisdom, answered Shatrughna with a story that revealed the formidable might of Lavana. He recounted the tale of Mandhata, a descendant of the great King Ikshvaku and son of Yuvanashva. Mandhata was an extraordinary monarch, famed throughout the three worlds for his valor and strength. His conquests were so complete that he placed the entire earth under his dominion. Yet, Mandhata’s ambition knew no bounds, and he soon aspired to ascend even higher—to conquer the celestial realms and claim Indra’s throne among the gods.
This bold intention caused great alarm among the deities. Indra, the King of Heaven and Slayer of Paka, decided to confront Mandhata. Addressing the powerful king in appeasing tones, Indra pointed out that Mandhata’s conquest of the earth was not yet complete. There still remained a formidable obstacle—Lavana, the Rakshasa son of Madhu, who dwelled deep within the forest and refused to acknowledge Mandhata’s sovereignty.
At Indra’s words, Mandhata was deeply shamed. Though his pride was wounded, he accepted Indra’s statement and withdrew with bowed head. Returning to earth, Mandhata concealed his anger and swiftly gathered a mighty force of servants, infantry, and cavalry to challenge Lavana. With great determination, he dispatched a messenger to summon Lavana to battle, instructing the envoy to deliver words of harsh challenge.
However, when the messenger reached Lavana, the outcome was grim. Before the envoy could finish speaking, Lavana, filled with savage rage, seized the messenger and devoured him on the spot. When the messenger failed to return, Mandhata, enraged, launched a furious attack against Lavana, raining a storm of arrows upon the demon.
Yet Lavana, undaunted, took up his terrible trident—an unrivaled weapon imbued with devastating power. With mocking disdain, the demon hurled the flaming trident at Mandhata and his army. The weapon's might was so overwhelming that it reduced the king, his soldiers, and all his forces to ashes instantly. After completing its dreadful work, the trident returned to Lavana’s hand, leaving no trace of Mandhata’s once-glorious army.
Thus, Cyavana explained, it was by the terrible power of Lavana’s trident that the mighty Mandhata, celebrated among men, met his end. The sage warned Shatrughna that Lavana’s strength lay primarily in his possession of this trident; without it, the demon was vulnerable.
Encouraging Shatrughna with confident assurance, Cyavana revealed that the following morning would present a perfect opportunity. Lavana, driven by hunger, would venture forth in search of food, leaving his trident behind. It would be then, in that brief window before Lavana could arm himself, that Shatrughna must strike.
Cyavana concluded by affirming that victory was within Shatrughna’s grasp. The defeat of Lavana would liberate the world from his tyranny, and Shatrughna’s name would be celebrated for generations to come. Thus, with the sage’s detailed counsel and a heart filled with courage, Shatrughna prepared for the battle that would define his destiny.
This concludes chapters 66 and 67 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Sita giving birth to twins when Shatrughna came to the hermitage of Valmiki. The kids will one day reach Rama and re-unite with his father and we can wait for the story. Before that it can be known that Rama is completely unaware and retracted to himself serving as king when Lava and Kusha are born. There are no major festivities in the kingdom, nor the people are aware of this until much later. The newborns are under the custody of Valmiki who gets the fortune to overlook the divine mother and her infants at their momentous time. This episode is touched upon with minimum importance in the book as the story follows the trial of Shatrughna pursuing Lavana. Shatrughna takes leave of Valmiki and reaches Cyavana who narrates the story of Mandhata getting slayed by Lavana with his powerful trident. We can look at how these words of caution alerts Shatrughna as he encounters and kills Lavana in subsequent chapters.
No comments:
Post a Comment