Part 2: Her twin sons

Now Vaidehī bore twin sons there, named Anaṅgalavaṇa and Madanāṅkuśa. Vajrajaṅgha held their birth-and name-festivals and, noble-minded, rejoiced more than at gaining a son of his own. Both grew up gradually, cherished by nurses, wayward in play, like the two Aśvins living on earth. They became suitable for acquiring the arts, long-armed, suitable for teaching, like young elephants, festivals for the king’s eyes.

Then a far advanced layman, Siddhārtha by name, who had taken the lesser vows, endowed with a wealth of magic powers, expert in the arts and the Āgamas, flying through the air by jumps on pilgrimages to the shrines on Mt. Meru at dawn, noon, and sunset, came to Vaidehī’s house for alms. He was refreshed gladly by Vaidehī with food, drink, et cetera and, questioned by her about his happy wandering, he told about it. Questioned by him also, Vaidehī told her own story from the beginning up to her sons’ birth just as if to a brother. Siddhārtha, expert in the eight kinds of omens,^[1] an ocean of compassion, said: “Why do you grieve uselessly when Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa are your sons? Your sons, with preeminent characteristics, like Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa in person, will soon fulfil your wish.”

Encouraged by these words of his, Sītā begged him persistently and he stayed in her house to teach her sons. Saying, “Your sons are capable of emancipation,” he taught them all the arts so that the two became difficult or even the gods to defeat. With all the arts learned, they reached youth, companions like young Kandarpa and Vasanta.

Vajrajaṅgha married his daughter, Śaśicūlā, borne by Lakṣmīvatī, and thirty-two other maidens to Lavaṇa. For Aṅkuśa he asked Pṛthu, king of Pṛthvīpura, for his daughter, Kanakamālikā, borne by Amṛtavatī. Broad-powered Pṛthu said, “How can one’s daughter be given to some one whose family is not known?” Hearing that, Vajrajaṅgha from anger attacked Pṛthu’s ally King Vyāghraratha, captured him in battle and held him. Pṛthu summoned his friend, king of Potana, to his assistance. For friends, as well as counsel, must be remembered in adversity. Vajrajaṅgha had men bring his own sons to the battle and, though restrained by them, Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa went.

The next day a battle took place between the two armies and Vajrajaṅgha’s army was destroyed by the very powerful enemies. Angered at the destruction of their uncle’s army, Ravaṇa and Aṅkuśa attacked, killing like unrestrained elephants. The enemy could not withstand at all the impetuosity of the powerful pair, like trees that of streams filled by the rains. When King Pṛthu and his army were defeated, Rāma’s sons, smiling, said: “How is it, pray, that you from a known family have fled in battle from us whose family is unknown?” Hearing that speech of theirs, Pṛthu returned and said, “Your family is recognized by me because of that strength. My daughter was asked for Aṅkuśa by King Vajrajaṅgha. Where is such a bridegroom found with complete advantage to me?” With this fitting speech he gave the princess Kanakamālā, who had been sought before, to Aṅkuśa at that very time. King Pṛthu made an alliance with Vajrajaṅgha in the presence of all the kings, desiring Aṅkuśa as a bridegroom for his daughter.

King Vajrajaṅgha encamped there and Muni Nārada came and was entertained by him very well. Vajrajaṅgha said to Nārada among the seated kings: “Pṛthu will give his own daughter to Aṅkuśa, muni. Tell him connected by marriage with us about the family of Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa, so he will be satisfied when the family of his son-in-law is known.” Then Nārada said with a smile: “Who does not know their family of which Blessed Ṛṣabhadhvaja is the bulb for its origin, et cetera. In their family were the cakrins, Bharata, and others, celebrated in story. Who does not know their actual fathers, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa? Jānakī was abandoned by Rāma frightened by scandal arising among the people of Ayodhyā, while they were still unborn.” Then Aṅkuśa laughed and said: “O Brāhman, that was not well done by Rāma who abandoned Vaidehī in a cruel forest. For there are many reasons for criticism of him in that repudiation. Why did he, though intelligent, do this?” Bavaṇa asked, “How far is this city in which my father dwells with his younger brother and attendants?” The muni said, “Ayodhyā, the city in which lives your father, who alone in the world is spotless, is a hundred and sixty yojanas from here.” Lavana said to Vajrajaṅgha respectfully, “We wish to go there and see Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.” He consented to that; and married Aṅkuśa with, Kanakamālā, Pṛthu’s daughter, with a great festival.

Accompanied by Vajrajaṅgha and Pṛthu, Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa went to Lokapura, subjugating many countries. There they conquered on the battle-field its king, who was named Kuberakānta, endowed with fortitude and valor, proud. They conquered Ekakarṇa, King of the Lampākas, and next Bhrātṛśata, king in the plateau Vijaya. Crossing the Gaṅgā, they went to the north of Kailāsa and there they subdued countries beautiful as Nandana. Defeating the kings, Ruṣa, Kuntala, Kālāmbu, Nandi, Nandana, Siṃhala, Śalabha, Anala, Śūla, Bhīma, Bhūtarava and others,^[2] they reached the other bank of the Sindhu and there subjugated many Aryan and non-Aryan kings. Having defeated thus the lords of many countries, they turned back with them and went to the city Puṇḍarīkapura. Observed by the people of the city who murmured, “Vajrajaṅgha is fortunate to have such nephews,” the two heroes went to their home, attended by heroic kings, and bowed to Jānakī’s feet which purified the universe. Sītā kissed them on the head, bathed them with tears of joy, and said, “May you be equal to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.”

They said to Vajrajaṅgha: “Uncle, before this, our going to Ayodhyā was approved by you. Now arrange that. Have Lampāka, Ruṣa, Kālāmbu, Kuntala, Śalabha, Anala, Śūla, and the other kings informed. Have the marching-drums sounded and the directions covered with armies. Now the power of him by whom our mother was abandoned must be ascertained.”

Sītā, weeping immediately, said with sobs: “Sons, what is this unfortunate wish of yours because of that act! The heroes, your father and uncle, are difficult for even the gods to conquer, by whom the lord of the Rakṣases, a thorn to the three worlds, was defeated. If yon are eager to see your father, boys, then go respectfully. For respect is due to the one entitled to honour.”

They replied: “How can respect be shown to the man; even though our father, who abandoned you because he found a cause for hostility? How can we go before him and ourselves speak the words shameful to him, ‘We, your sons, have come.’ A challenge to battle, giving joy even to our powerful father, creating fame for both families, is fitting.” With this reply, even though Sītā wept, they set out for Rāma’s city with great eagerness and a great army;

Ten thousand men, carrying axes and pickaxes, cut the trees, et cetera from their road and made the ground level. They advanced gradually, obscuring all the directions with the armies, and encamped near Ayodhyā, eager to fight, long-armed. Hearing that a large hostile army had come in front (of the city) outside, the two Rāghavas were astonished and amused. Saumitri asked: “Who are these enemies who, eager to die, have come like moths to the fire of the elder brother’s power?” With these words, Saumitri, surrounded by Sugrīva and others, the sun to the darkness of enemies, went with Rāma to battle.

Now Bhāmaṇḍala heard from Nārada that Sītā was in Puṇḍarīkapura and hastened to go there. Sītā told him with tears, “Rāma abandoned me, brother. Unable to bear my desertion, your nephews have gone to fight.” Bhāmaṇḍala said: "Rāma had you abandoned because of impetuosity; but he must not do the second thing: slaughter of his sons. So that Rāghava will not unknowingly kill his sons, get up. We are going there without any delay.” With these words Bhāmaṇḍala put Jānakī in his aerial car and went to the camp of Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa. Princes Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa bowed to Sītā and also to Bhāmaṇḍala introduced by Sītā, "This is your uncle.”

After he had kissed them on the head, seated them on his lap, his body horripilated from joy, he said, stammering: “In the past my sister was the wife of a hero. Now by good fortune she, spotless as the moon, has become the mother of heroes through you. Even if you are the sons of a hero and heroes yourselves, O honor-givers, nevertheless do not make war on your father and uncle. Not even Rāvaṇa was a match for them in battle. How can you undertake a battle with them because of the violent itching of your arms?”

They replied: “Uncle, enough of this timidity from affection. Your sister, our mother here, made such a cowardly speech. We also know that no one is a match for our fathers.^[3] How can we cause shame to them by abandoning battle!” Just as they were saying this, a battle started between their soldiers and Rāma’s soldiers, resembling a whirlpool at the end of the world. Thinking, “May their army of earth-dwellers not be destroyed by Sugrīva and other Khecaras,” Bhāmaṇḍala went to the battle with apprehension. The princes, very strong, rose up for a challenge, their coats of mail loosened by their exceeding horripilation. Sugrīva and other Khecaras, fighting unhesitatingly, asked Bhāmaṇḍala, when they had seen him in the battle, “Who are they?” When they had learned from Bhāmaṇḍala that they were Rāma’s sons, they went to Sītā, bowed, and sat down before her on the ground.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See III, p. 211.

[2]:

These are really names of countries.

[3]:

I.e., father and uncle.