Chapter 3: Birth of Lav and Kush

Synopsis in prose form :

Sita would remember the day in Ayodhya when she first realised that she was pregnant. She would remember how she was full of anxiety. She kept the good news a secret from everyone till she could tell it to her own husband, Lord Rama.

Alas! She got banished to the forest soon after that,

for no fault of hers.

On an auspicious day, in the hermitage of Rishi Valmiki, Sita gives birth to lovely twin boys. Rishi Valmiki names them as Lav and Kush. The Sakhis celebrate this occasion.

Link 1:

Fatherly love of Rishi Valmiki

Love and affection from all Sakhis

Talking to the unborn infants

Sita got courage from these ||1||

When the unborn in the womb moved

Memories arose in her heart

Sita remembered the day in Ayodhya

When she realized she was pregnant ||2||

Song 1: First Sign of my pregnancy

The first sign of my pregnancy

I recognized in my mind

For some inexplicable reason

I resolved to steal a tamarind ||1||

Palace was grand, the gardens beautiful

People happy and joyful everywhere

But my heart yearned for solitude

My mind could not rest anywhere ||2||

My heart was feeling cloistered

I had not disclosed the secret

Whom to approach how to tell

How shall I resolve my predicament ||3||

I thought of telling this little bird

And making it my confidante

The innocent bird will tell all

I waited for my husband ||4||

Link 2

At auspicious moment timely

Sita bore twins princely

Happily Valmiki beamed

Lav-Kush names lovely seemed ||1||

All hermitage congratulated her

The forest as if danced joyfully

All Sakhis were very happy

They sang and danced excitedly ||2||

Song 2: Sita has become a mother

Sakhis :

Sita has become a mo