SITA"S SECOND EXILE 1

When Kush came to know that his brother had been made a captive, he immediately set off the free him. Kush managed to free his brother, and the two brothers then fought against Rama's army. The valiant sons of Sita created havoc in Rama's army. After a fierce battle, Lav and Kush came out victorious. All the mighty warriors in Rama's army were either injured or held as captives.

The two brothers tied Hanuman and Jambuvan with a rope and took them to their mother. On seeing Hanuman and Jambuvan, Sita at once asked her sons to free them. When she came to know that Lav and Kush had held many of that Rama's men as captives, she ordered them to free all of them at once. Lav and Kush dutifully obeyed their mother and released them.

When Lakshmana and Sita met, tears of joy streamed down their eyes. Lakshmana touched Sita's feet and she bedded him with the affection of a long separated mother. When Valmiki told him that Lav and Kush were sons of this elder brother, he set off to Ayodhya at once. When he informed Rama that Sita was living in Valmiki's hermitage with her two valiant sons, Rama asked him to go and bring Sita back along with his sons. Sita refused to return but agreed to send her two sons.

In Ayodhya, Rama received his twin sons with honor due to the royal princes. But when he was told that Sita had refused to return, he sent a message to Valmiki through Lakshmana, asking him to come to his court along with Sita and vouch for her innocence before the people of Ayodhya. He told Lakshmana to ask Sita to return to Ayodhya and take her rightful place beside him by proving her innocence and purity.

Valmiki sent the message that he and Sita would come to the court. Rama was glad to hear his. On the appointed day, Valmiki came to the court with Sita. Before the assembled people, Valmiki said, "O Rama! These twin children are your sons, and Sita is pure and innocent. I shall give up the fruits of all the austerities I have practiced if Sita is impure."

Rama replied, "O virtuous Stage, I recognize these two children as my sons and I have no doubt about Sita's purity. But Sita must prove her innocence by taking an oath so that no doubt remains in the mind of the people of Ayodhya."

Sita, who had been as ideal wife was tired of the repeated allegations of impurity against her. Sita was sure that she never wanted to be doubted again. With folded wanted to be doubted again. With folded hands, she said, "If I have remained pure in mind and body and never thought of anyone but Rama, Mother Earth open your bosom and receive me."