RamaayaN by Valmiki 28 Birth of Kusha and Lava

RamaayaN by Valmiki  28

MadanMohan Tarun

Birth of Kusha and Lava

When children of Rishis, staying with Valmiki, went to play on the bank of Ganga, saw a lonely woman sitting and weeping continuously on the sand of Ganga. Some of them went running to Valmiki and told him what they had seen. The Rishi immediately left his hermitage and came near the place, where the woman was sitting and crying with painfully and helplessly without any stop. Rishi could realize at the first glance that the lady before him was not an ordinary woman. She looked like flames of fire surrounded by smoke. Rishi introduced himself to her and asked who was she? Knowing that the rishi was none other than famous Valmiki, whose name she had heard several times with respect from her father in-law Dashrath, Sita told him everything what had happened to her. Rishi could mark that she was pregnant. He addressed Sita as daughter and requested her to stay in the hermitage with the wives of other rishis who live there as women hermits. They will take full care of her. Sita agreed to his words and joined other women- hermits and started leading a life of hermit there. Women hermits took full care of Sita as their daughter.
Rishis living on the bank of Yamuna River complained to Ram about the atrocities committed on them by Lavanaasur, the son of famous Madhu, brother of Kaitabha, who were finally killed by lord Vishnu. They told him that Lavnaasur, who rules Madhupuri and areas around, has made their life impossible there. He eats away huge number of men, women, lions, tigers and other animals daily. Rishis requested Ram to give them protection from the atrocities of Lavanaasur. Ram was aware of Lavnaasur, his strength and weaknesses. He collected all necessary details about him from rishis and assured them that they will be free from Lavanaasur soon. Rishis paid respect to Ram and left Ayodhya being fully convinced of the end of the rule of terror of Lavanaasur or ever.
Ram decided to take action against Lavanaasur without any delay. He consecrated Shatrughna as the king of Madhupuri and asked him to bring end to the rule of terror under Lavnaasur forever.  Shatrughna bowed his head before him as an assurance to follow his orders. Ram told him about the strength and weaknesses of Lavnaasur, the son of mother Anala and mighty Madhu. Being pleased of the deep penance of Madhu, Lord Shiva had given him a powerful trident which never fails. While giving his weapon to him he had put a condition that it will remain with him till he remains respectful to Brahmins and gods. It will turn the enemies into ashes as and when used on them. It will remain with his son after him. Ram gave Shatrughna an effective weapon to counter the trident, Lavnaasur had.
Shatrughna sent his well equipped army to Madhupuri a month earlier, before he himself left for the same.
Shatrughna stopped for a night at the hermitage of Valmiki on the way.
Sita delivered twins on the same night.
Rishi named her elder son as Kusha and the younger as Lava.
Shtrughna paid respect to Sita, before he left for Madhupuri.
 (Inspired by Valmiki)