The Divine Encounter: Lav and Kush Unveiled

Ram informed Bharat of the situation. While Bharat did not fear the courageous young boys, he was astonished to learn that they had defeated a great warrior like Lakshman. He expressed to Ram that this calamity had befallen the Raghu clan due to the unjust treatment they had inflicted upon Seeta. This statement angered Ram, who retorted, "Bharat, you are afraid of war. If you don't wish to fight, prepare the army, and I will face the boys myself."

Feeling remorseful for upsetting his elder brother, Bharat immediately apologized and set out to confront the mysterious boys. However, guilt weighed heavily on him. After Bharat's departure, Ram began to ponder the gravity of the situation. Despite his deep contemplation, he could not comprehend the reason behind Lakshman's defeat. Lacking confidence in Bharat's abilities on the battlefield, he instructed Hanuman to follow and support Bharat.

Determined to carry out Ram's orders, Bharat instructed Hanuman to gather all their allies who had participated in the great war against Lanka. Hanuman summoned Jambavan, Sugreev, Mayand, Angad, Nal, and Neel. The brave monkeys were stunned when asked to fight two young boys but dared not question Ram's command.

As the monkey army approached from a distance, Lav and Kush prepared for battle. When the monkeys came within range, the boys unleashed a barrage of arrows. Both Hanuman and Bharat couldn’t help but admire the youngsters’ bravery. Bharat shot an arrow at Lav, causing him to fall unconscious. Enraged, Kush chanted a mantra and shot an arrow at Bharat, injuring him. Hanuman began to suspect that the boys were of divine origin.

Meanwhile, Kush revived Lav by removing the arrow that had struck him. News of Bharat's defeat spread rapidly. Ram struggled to understand how the warriors who had conquered Lanka could be so easily defeated. Accompanied by Vibheeshan, he set out for the battlefield. Upon arrival, he was captivated by the handsome young boys and politely asked them to introduce themselves. Lav and Kush, suspecting that Ram was trying to distract them with flattery, ignored his request and replied that he would learn their identity in Heaven.

Ram insisted that he would not fight them unless they revealed who they were. Finally, Lav and Kush disclosed their names and mentioned that their mother was the daughter of Emperor Janak of Mithila. They added that they had never met their father and were unaware of his clan or dynasty. Realizing that Lav and Kush were his own sons, Ram was overwhelmed with divine joy. He understood the source of the boys’ extraordinary power and requested them to release his horse. However, they defied his request. They also told Ram that if he couldn't fight, he could leave the battlefield and return to his palace.