Synopsis : 

Sita dedicates herself to raising Lav and Kush as exemplary individuals, hoping their virtues will lead Lord Rama to recognize them as his worthy princes one day. 

When her Sakhis seek her counsel on raising children, Sita articulates an ideal vision of upbringing, emphasizing knowledge, devotion, truth, love, strength, hard work, and noble values. She reaffirms the spiritual and emotional significance of a mother’s milk in shaping a child’s destiny.

 In a deeply mystical moment, mothers from other species—a dog, swan, tigress, and cow—approach Sita with their maternal anxieties. Sita listens with universal compassion, offering guidance and solace, showcasing her transcendent maternal love.

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Children grow up learning things

With mother as they danced and played

Lav Kush learn from their Guru too

While motherly "Sanskar" Sita conveyed ||1||

The aim of Sita’s life was this

To develop Lav-Kush to such level

When they come in front of father Rama

He'll see them as assets Royal ||2||

Knowing that Sita is knowledgeable

Sakhi’s ask questions that they feel

Oh! Sita tell us today

The way to bring up children well ||3||

You are the queen of Royal 'Raghu' Family

Said a Sakhi in affection

Please give us your knowledge

And show all of us new direction ||4||

Song 1 : Love of Child

Sita:

Guru is venerable in the world

For married woman, so is her husband

Parents give love unbounded

All are by it beholden.

But even more valuable than this

Is the love for one's child in this world

When one loves the child

It is as if they are one's heart and soul .

Song 2: Upbringing

Sita:

Knowledge, devotion and truth,

Be these tonics for your infant.

Love, strength, industriousness,

Feed this recipe to it.

At every step good values

Give to your darling child.

Oh! Mothers, but do remember

The good Lord in your mind.

May they grow from strength to strength,

Your loving daughter or son,

This upbringing will make her or him,

A deserving world citizen.

Song 3 : Tulsi (Sacred Basil) 

Sita:

May  Tulsi1 in Vrindavan2 thrive

Mothers, sisters, friends my  dear,

Tulsi a pristine friend ,   

Gives blessings and  is always near || Refrain ||

In daily worship, offer water

Lamps of faith will light in heart

Silent thoughts Tulsi  will hear 

And become our confidante ||1||

With healing virtues in her  leaves  

Mother Tulsi nurtures lives 

Such a healing may it dwell

In words I speak and in my eyes ||2||

Notes :
1. TULSI :-  Sacred basil plant. In Hinduism, Tulsi  (Sanskrit :तुलसी) is worshipped as a goddess and every part of the tulsi plant is revered and considered sacred.One who waters and cares for the tulsi daily is believed to gain spiritual merit and the divine grace. Tulsi plant has several medicinal uses. 

2. Vrindavan :- A Tulsi Vrindavan is a small stone, clay  or cement etc  holding pot  in traditional Hindu homes that houses the sacred tulsi plant. It is an important part of Hindu culture and is believed to bring positive energy and good luck to a home. 

Song 4 : Mother's Milk

Sita :

It is as pure as 'Ganga' waters

White untainted as Himalaya that towers

Ocean-like courage is in mother's milk

Ambrosial honey is in it of flowers.

Song 5: Qualities in Mother’s Milk

Sita:

Give the child mother's milk, mother's milk.

It has pure qualities of honey,of honey

It has energy in it of the sun, of the sun

It has peace in it of the stars , of the stars

It has purity in it of God, of God.

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Sakhi’s discussed about upbringing of children

Praised little Lav-Kush profusely

My children have good 'Sanskar'

Mother Sita said proudly

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With a tilak on their forehead

And a garland of flowers on their chest

The sons of Sita and Rama
Their minds are wide and vast ॥1॥

Like their mother they are 

Modest and steadfast

and like their Sun like bright Guru
They are  mighty ascetics too ॥2॥

Song 6 : Well-behaved twins

Sita:

Lav kush have become four years old

They are well-behaved twins

They have wisdom like elders

With Veda mantras their day begins||1||

Some times they laugh , some times they cry,
They are my children bright
If ever I feel anxious
They're a source of my delight ||2||

Rishi Valmiki gives them knowledge
They learn each and every thing
They have glowing personae
Unaware gems of Rama the king ||3||

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After play, Lav and Kush grew weary,

In evening, they rested securely.

"Tell us  tales  of Vishnu,"  children implore,

But why does her tongue falter, unsurely?

Song 7 : My dear Lav-Kush

Sita:

Lav-Kush, my tender boys,
They tire playing games and toys || Refrain||

Mother, sing us a lullaby new ,
Tell us tales of Lord Vishnu .

What perils did  people  face, we pray,
What pleas did his devotees convey? ||1||

As Fish, as Tortoise, and as Boar,

As Narasimha, Vamana, he did soar.

Protecting the meek, he stood so tall,
Mystical stories they are  all.||2||

But when to Rama's tale I came,

My  voice grew soft, limbs felt lame.

When the  twins  their slumber slept,
Our life  story I narrated and  wept.||3||

Song 8 : Message to mother’s of different species

Sita:

Like Sakhi’s of hermitage meet me

To share anxieties of their babies

So also mother's of different species

Came to tell me of their worries ||1||

They used to come to me with hope

Told me mutely of their pain

I would diagnose and support

With love caress again and again||2||

The mother of newly born pups

Said her dog brothers come to prey

They come threatening my pups

And trouble me everyday ||3||

I made her sit next to me

With love touched her snout

I will become your scolding bark

They'll run for life when you shout||4||

Swan mother on a flight afar

Alighted as if something was amiss

My children should never lose their path

Please mother bless them for this ||5||

My heart filled with affection

I held the fledglings with delight

Prayed to the Sun and Moon

To guide them in their flight ||6||

The tigress came from forest deep

With her little cubs cute

How can they live independently ?

Oh! Mother tell me this minute ||7||

I touched her udder with my hands

Gave a message of empowerment

If you are brave in thoughts

Your milk has same content ||8||

The mother cow came ringing bells

And stood next to me

How should I serve the world ?

Oh mother Sita ,please tell me ||9||

I happily hugged her in affection

And said in testimony

Whosoever's house you live in,

They'll have peace and harmony ||10||

I should symbolise sacrifice I pray

In the beautiful garden of creation

Energize every species' mother

And be their spirit of salvation ||11||

Ensconced in your inner soul

Through strength and devotion

Is 'AAdi Mata' the timeless divine mother

Who pervades you in salvation ||12||

Song 9: Seeing the Lord perpetually

Sita:

Should you lose your son

Who loved you and smiled

You see him everywhere ,don't you

In every other child.

When the relation with God

Is one of love and pining

You'll see him everywhere

In every living thing

Song 10 : A Mother's Heart

Sita:

A mother's heart, a sacred bloom, 

A haven pure, with love’s perfume  || Refrain || 

A confluence of  sacred shrines,
Warm Sun-rays when dawn shines  ||1||

Goddess Laxmi1 stays with grace, 

With Lotus2 held  in holy place .  ||2||

Notes:

1. Laxmi : Goddess ‘Laxmi’ personifies Shakti (energy).

She inspires truthful thoughts and deeds Dutifulness is her dear synergy. Shakti gives auspicious inspirations, Human development work gets done with ease

This virtue of Shakti is best enshrined  in a pure mind. 

Reference : Ibid  Chapter 15 .

(Goddess Laxmi  is often associated with beauty, fertility and prosperity)

2. LOTUS : The Lotus flower symbolizes purity, beauty, and spiritual growth. The unfolding petals of the lotus represent the expansion of the soul and spiritual awakening.

Song 11 : O  my SAKHIS1, homemakers wise

Sita:

O SAKHIS1, homemakers wise,
This prayer to you, I begin,

Kindle  radiant lamp in  mind

See your inner strength within ||1||

Know  MANTRA2 of prosperity

Gentle words speak all  day long 

Hearts immersed in harmony

SATSANGH3 of the  TRUTH adorn ||2||

Guru’s Writings, scriptures divine,

Aura of pure thoughts gleam

Effulgence of  AMBA4 you enshrine,
Ponder on  this sacred theme ||3||

NOTES:

1. SAKHIS :   Lady friends 

2. MANTRA : Devanagari मंत्र is a sacred syllable, word, or set of words that have spiritual potency. In common parlance,  it is often used to denote a phrase that reflects some basic belief. 

3. "SATSANGH" ( Sanskrit: सत्सङ्ग  Devanagari:सत्संग ) is commonly used to refer to a spiritual gathering or association with truth. It typically involves coming together with like-minded individuals to engage in activities such as singing devotional songs, listening to spiritual discourses, chanting mantras, discussing spiritual topics and in general other topics too of general positive intent and content . 

4. AMBA  (Sanskrit: अम्बा , Devanagari : अंबा ) In Hinduism, Amba is a goddess who embodies the divine feminine principle shakti (Power). She is also known as Uma, Parvati, and Durga. Amba is the wife of Shiva, and she is often depicted as riding on a lion or a tiger. As the goddess of strength and power, Amba is revered by Hindus as a protector and a defender of the faith.

Song 12 : The Sacred Kitchen 

Sita:

Sita Devi cooks a meal

Remembering name of Lord Rama, 

With forest’s bounty ,roots and fruits

Brought by Him and Lakshmana ||1||

In  earthen pot, she adds the portions

Fire of  ‘TRIGUNA1 ’  aglow

Salt and Mustard  wisely used
Pure  thoughts like  water  infused flow ||2||

Notes: 1.TRIGUNA :  Here TRIGUNA refers to the SHAKTI (Power), BHAKTI (Devotion) and MUKTI (Salvation) elucidated in Chapter 15 Ibid.

Song 13 : OH Merciful God !

Sita and Sakhis:

You're Ocean of knowledge

Oh ! Merciful God ,

Take me at your feet please

Oh! My Lord ||Refrain ||

In the sweet songs of birds

Oh ! Merciful God ,

I hear your mystical voice

Oh! My Lord ||1||

In forests ,trees and blossoms

Oh ! Merciful God ,

Let me see you

Oh! My Lord ||2||

There is only one 'Truth'

Oh ! Merciful God ,

Your name has infinite power

Oh! My Lord ||3||

End of Chapter 11

Om Shanti ! Om Shanti ! Om Shanti !