“What is the name of your father?” asked Lakshman.

“Why do you want to know it?” replied Lava. “Come on, let us now fight.”

So saying, he let off one arrow and threw Lakshman with his chariot into the sky, which turned in the air and came down to the ground. Lakshman mounted another chariot and continued letting off arrows at Lava, which the latter cut off one after another in the twinkling of an eye.

Lakshman then let off an arrow which produced kotis of gadas (maces), when Lava made use of the mantra given by Valmiki, which produced kotis of chakras and cut off the gadas. Lakshman then let off a mountain-weapon which produced mountains, but Lava broke them with the diamonds produced by a diamond-weapon.

Thus Lakshman tried his utmost to kill Lava with his arrows, but he could not overcome the boy. The latter said to him, “Why have you stopped now? If your arrows are finished, go back and call your Rama.”

Lakshman did not reply to what Lava had said and indignantly let off more arrows, when the latter used a melody-weapon, which produced melodious sounds and charmed Lakshman, who was an incarnation of the serpent Shesha. Lakshman, having been charmed by the melodious sounds, ceased to fight and began to nod his head with mirth.

Kalajit surrounded Kusha with his troops, but the latter killed them all and joined his brother. Rama was about to send Bharat with more troops to reinforce the army of Lakshman, with instructions that they should use a fascination-weapon and, seizing the two boys, bring them alive so that their mother might not weep for them.

But in the meantime a few wounded warriors went and informed Rama that Lakshman had fallen in the field of war with Kalajit and all the warriors commanded by him. Rama, hearing this, grieved much for Lakshman and immediately despatched Maruti and Bharat with more warriors.

When Bharat saw the boys, just like Rama himself, he said to Maruti, “There is no doubt that the boys are sons of Rama.”

“I should think so,” replied Maruti.

Lava and Kusha saw them whisper to each other and said, “No doubt they will engage us in conversation and take the Shamakarna from us.”

Kusha told Lava to watch the horse, and he himself came up to Bharat and asked him, “You are, I suppose, elder than Lakshman, are you not? You seem to be a brave soldier.”

“Just tell me what is your name, who your parents are, and tell me with whom you have fought before,” said Bharat.

“My name is Kusha,” replied the child.

“Depart from this place,” continued Bharat, “and tell your mother that I have spared your life.”

“I think Rama has sent you here to capture us,” said Kusha. “I now tell you—either fight with me or depart from this place as soon as you can. I do not pursue you. Just go and get your Rama here.”

Bharat got enraged and let off various arrows and weapons at Kusha, which the latter cut off very easily. At last he let off a diamond-weapon at Maruti and made him unconscious.

This news having been communicated to Rama, the latter mounted his chariot and personally came to the field of war with the army of the monkeys. The monkeys threw at the boys mountains, rocks, and trees, which they broke with their weapons, killing many monkey-warriors, while others fled for fear of their lives.

At this time Maruti jumped into the air to lift up the boys with his tail, but Kusha, perceiving his intention, let off a powerful arrow at him which struck the monkey and brought him down. Kusha loudly said, “Oh ugly monkey! You destroyed the Ashoka forest, but here you can do nothing. The throwing of stones and mountains at demons was not war. There is no Dronagiri here. You jumped over the sea and burnt Lanka—there is nothing like that here.”

In the meantime Sugriva threw trees at the boys, but Lava cut them off and made Sugriva, Nila, Jambavant, Angad, Maruti, and other monkeys unconscious.

Looking at this defeat, Rama let off arrows at the two boys, which the latter cut off, and then let off innumerable arrows which scattered throughout the sky without hurting Rama. Looking at the bravery of the boys, Rama asked,

“Children of the Rishis, listen to me. I shall give you what you want. I shall give you a cow which will give you milk. I am pleased with you and will give you whatever you desire.”

“We want nothing from you,” replied the boys, “but on the contrary we will give you whatever you want. You can enjoy your own wealth. We have heard enough of you. You are such a heartless and cruel man that no one like you can be found on this earth. Sita, an innocent woman of virtue, you left alone in the forest. This is most wicked on your part.”

Listening to what they had said, Rama was moved with affection for them and thought of stroking their heads with tenderness. But the boys told him to continue fighting with them.

“Just tell me,” said Rama, “who you are, who your parents are, which Guru gave you education, who taught you Dhanurvidya, science, arts, and mantras?”

The boys heartily laughed and said, “This man does not feel for his brothers, yet he wants us to tell him stories! Sir, first fight with us and then ask us stories. You have killed Ravana and done many brave acts. Now let us see a little of it. We shall never allow you to depart from this place without fighting with us. If you cannot fight with us, return home quietly—or be a sanyasi, because you have neither wife nor children.”

Rama asked, “Tell me who you are, and then I shall fight with you.”

In the meantime, a voice in the sky said, “Rama, do not fight. The boys are your sons.”

As soon as Rama heard what the voice had said, he fell down unconscious. Kusha came up to him and, taking off his mukut, put it on his own head. Lava stripped Lakshman of his ornaments and wore them himself. Having done this, they mounted the chariot of Rama and, tying up Maruti, Sugriva, Angad, Jambavant, and other monkeys to the chariot for the amusement of their mother, drove to their abode.

They told Sita that they had made Rama and his brothers unconscious in the field of war and killed all their warriors. “Here are the monkeys,” said they, “we have brought for your amusement.”

Sita knew them and did not come out, because they might feel ashamed of their state. She said to her sons, “Let the monkeys go away. We shall never keep them here.” The boys then went and untied them. The monkeys came and informed Rama of what they had seen.

In the meantime, Valmiki returned from Patal and, having been informed of what had happened, went and brought all the warriors to life by sprinkling water over them from his Kamandalu (the water pot used by an ascetic). The Rishi then gave the two boys and Sita in charge of Rama, who heartily embraced them.

Shortly after, Rama took leave of Valmiki and returned to Ayodhya with his sons and completed the Ashwamedha.

THE END

Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram! Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

Pavansut Hanuman ki Jai, Sri Ramdut Hanuman ki Jai!

|| OM SAI SHRI SAI JAI JAI SAI || 

|| SHRI SATCHIDANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI ||

Note: This narration is based on Ramavijaya: The Mythological History of Rama (Bombay, 1891, Dubhashi & Co.), a public domain text shared here for free reading.

This is the Marathi Ramavijaya’s closing scene; its sequence differs from the Sanskrit Valmiki Uttarakanda, where the reunion happens after Lava and Kusha recite the Ramayana before Rama.