Sita’s sons, Luva and Kusha, grew up to be strong like their father, Rama. One day, Rama held a big Ashvamedha yagya. After the yagya, a sacred white horse, adorned with jewels and garments, was taken around to many kingdoms across the region. A declaration was hung around the horse’s neck, that the one who caught the horse would have to fight with the soldiers accompanying the horse. Shatrughna was entrusted with the task of taking the horse. When the horse passed by sage Valmiki’s ashram, Luva and Kusha saw it and decided to catch it. They were not frightened after reading the declaration around its neck. Soon, Shatrughna arrived with his army of soldiers. He tried to persuade Luva and Kusha to let the horse go but the boys were adamant and wanted to fight against Shatrughna’s army. Luva and Kusha were skilled archers and soon defeated Shatrughna and his army. Shatrughna went back and told Rama about the young boys and how they had defeated the army. Rama asked Laxman to go to Valmiki’s ashram and get the horse back from the boys. He also asked Laxman to bring the boys back to Ayodhya.
LUVA-KUSHA AND THE WHITE HORSE
