Page 21 - Ramayana - Eng
P. 21
ā a āṇ a
memory and propagated all over the world. While
Vālmīki was thus contemplating, his disciples, Lava
and Kuśa, who were dressed as ṛṣis, came before him
and touched his feet, as was their daily custom. Sītā
had given birth to the twin brothers while in exile, and
they had remained under Vālmīki’s care ever since.
Sītā’s forced exile had come about when a citizen of
Ayodhyā doubted her chastity after being touched by the
ten-headed monster, Rāvaṇa. Thus, Lord Rāmacandra was
forced to banish her. Their two sons, Lava and Kuśa, were
gifted with fine memories and musical abilities. Moreover,
they were well versed in the Vedas. Physically, the twins
were exact replicas of their father, and musically they were
as talented as the heavenly Gandharvas. Thus, as Vālmīki
gazed fondly upon the twins, he realized that they were fully
qualified to receive the Rāmāyaṇa.
Thereafter, Vālmīki proceeded to teach Lava and Kuśa
the entire Rāmāyaṇa with great care. The twins committed
the entire text to memory. Following Vālmīki’s instructions,
they chanted Lord Rāmacandra’s wonderful pastimes
before great sages, learned brāhmaṇas, and other pious men
pure in heart. The learned brāhmaṇas experienced great
transcendental pleasure in reciting the pastimes of Lord
Rāmacandra. Thus, the brāhmaṇas praised Lava and Kuśa,
rewarding them with many valuable gifts.
From that day Lava and Kuśa began traveling all over
the world, reciting the epic Rāmāyaṇa. In the course of their
wanderings, they eventually came to Ayodhyā. There Lord
Rāmacandra saw the two boys wandering through the city
streets dressed in the garb of ṛṣis. Upon hearing the wide