Chapter 8: Glory of Lord’s name

Synopsis in prose form :

The toddlers Lav and Kush, unlike other children, prefer to play with bows and arrows - apparently reflecting their princely birth.

One day, they bring a toy bow and arrow to Sita and ask her to teach them how to use it. Sita sorrowfully explains that she does not know how to use the bow and arrow. How she wished that their father was there to teach them. At this, the innocent children beg her to take them to their father, so that they can learn archery from him.

Sita, overcome with grief, says that their father has forgotten them and will not come to see them. The children, seeing their mother in tears, comfort her and say that even if they get to know the name of their father, they will chant his name as a mantra and that itself will be sufficient for them to learn all the techniques related to the art of archery.

Song 1 : My pining assuaged

Sita :

Wives of sages visited the hermitage

They would bring their children with them

Lav Kush then would be happy

And played various games with them ||1||

They brought herbs,roots and flowers

When they came to my hermitage

Our love would thus multiply

My pining for Lord would assuage ||2||

Link 1

Lav-kush were learning something.

They were searching their goals within .

Their face was flushed with a glow

Their personality was of ‘Raghukul’ kin

Song 2: Father Rama’s glory of names

Sita’s these two small kids,

Used to sweetly prattle away

They did not like usual toys