Ram's Majestic Yagya: A Tale of Divine Glory and Royal Duty

The yagya was conducted beautifully, pleasing everyone in attendance. They unanimously declared that such a yagya had never been performed before and would not be undertaken again. Even the gods in Heaven had never experienced such an event. Brahmins and beggars received generous gifts and money, leaving everyone satisfied and full of praise for the yagya.

Famous rishis commended Ram for his sacrifice and penance. Maharshi Valmeeki and his students also attended the yagya. Valmeeki foresaw that this yagya would provide Lav and Kush the opportunity to meet their father, Ram. In a dramatic turn of events, Ram would meet and recognize them.

In Ram's kingdom, everyone was joyful and content. Even great rishis had never witnessed such a yagya. Clothes studded with gemstones and gold ornaments were distributed, yet Ayodhya's immense treasury remained abundant. Monkeys and demons also participated in distributing generous donations among the people.

The primary purpose of the yagya was to showcase Ram's power and glory as the king of Ayodhya. The secondary purpose was to ensure the welfare and advancement of Ayodhya's people. The first phase of the yagya was completed smoothly. In the second phase, the Ashvamedh Yagya's horse was allowed to wander freely, leading to a dramatic turn of events.

Upon completion of the yagya, Ram placed a tilak on the horse's forehead and set it free to roam. The horse wandered throughout the kingdom and beyond its borders. Whoever stopped the horse had to battle the king's army. If no one stopped it, it signified acceptance of the king's authority. A note around the horse's neck read, "This horse belongs to Ramachandra, the king of Kosal. Ram is religious, respects his friends, and destroys his enemies. Whoever stops or captures this horse will have to battle Ram. Those who accept Ram's lordship must pay the prescribed tax."

Ayodhya's army, led by the warrior Shatrughna, followed the horse. Ram instructed Shatrughna to ensure that no innocent person was troubled along the way. The kings of the regions the horse passed showed respect to Shatrughna and agreed to pay the annual tax. Eventually, the horse reached Maharshi Valmeeki's ashram, where Lav and Kush were playing. The boys, enchanted by the beautiful horse, decided to play with it. They caught the horse, tied it to a tree, and waited for Ramachandra's army to arrive.