The Unyielding Courage of Lav and Kush

Shatrughna unleashed a barrage of arrows at the boys and commanded his soldiers to engage in battle. A fierce confrontation ensued. Lav and Kush demonstrated the skills imparted to them by their guru, Maharshi Valmeeki. Their arrows seldom missed their mark. Eventually, they overpowered Shatrughna and his entire army.

When Lakshman heard that two young boys had defeated Shatrughna, he sought Ram's permission to confront them. Upon seeing the handsome boys, Lakshman suspected they had captured the horse as a mere prank. He attempted to persuade them to release the horse without resorting to violence. The boys smiled but declined, feeling insulted that Lakshman underestimated their abilities. Kush then shot an arrow at Lakshman’s crown.

Lakshman was taken aback by their audacity. Before he could react, Kush’s arrow struck his crown, knocking it to the ground. Furious, Lakshman could no longer restrain himself. A seasoned warrior who had once vanquished Indrajeet, Lakshman retaliated by shooting arrows at Lav and Kush. However, the boys were equally formidable and deflected every one of Lakshman’s arrows.

Lakshman was astounded. Kush then launched a powerful arrow that Lakshman could not withstand. His morale shattered, Lakshman conceded defeat but was eager to learn the identity of these boys. Were they divine beings sent from Heaven? Questions flooded Lakshman’s mind. Yet, he could not return in disgrace; he needed to free the horse for Ram's yagya to succeed.

To avert disaster, Lakshman invoked Ram and released an arrow that injured Kush, causing him to fall to the ground. Lav, observing his brother's valor from a distance, was distressed when he saw Kush lying wounded. He meditated upon Maharshi Valmeeki for his brother’s recovery. Kush immediately rose and prepared to continue the fight. Confident in the skills he had learned from his guru, he even praised Lakshman’s bravery. Impressed by Kush's composure, Lakshman found himself pleased.

But Kush had no choice but to use one of the powerful weapons bestowed upon him by Guru Valmeeki. Struck by this arrow, Lakshman fell to the ground.

Ram’s soldiers, having never encountered such courageous boys, were frightened to death and fled the battlefield. They returned to Ram, reporting that they had left Lakshman injured on the field, and pleaded for his forgiveness. Hearing the soldiers’ account of the brave youths, Ram summoned Bharat. Bharat, who revered his elder brother Ram above all else, approached with folded hands.