Neev:
Hey everyone, welcome back to Mythical Masala with Neev! After a few exciting episodes exploring other epic tales, we’re finally diving back into one of our favorite sagas—the Ramayana. 

If you remember, the Ramayana is the legendary story of Prince Rama, his courageous journey through exile, Sita’s abduction by Ravana, his fierce battles against evil, and the timeless bond between him, Sita, and his loyal brother Lakshmana. It’s an adventure full of heroic feats, divine interventions, and even a few surprising twists that keep us on the edge of our seats!

Cohost:
Absolutely! Think of it as the ultimate epic road trip—filled with flying monkeys, the mighty Hanuman, and moments so emotional they’ll tug at your heartstrings. If you are new, this is your opportunity to go and binge listen to all the previous episodes.

Neev: That’s right! And now, in today’s episode, we’re zooming in on the final twists in Ayodhya—the dramatic, heart-wrenching moments that reshape Rama’s destiny.

Cohost: If you thought all stories have a happy ending - think again! 

Neev: Yes, that’s why our podcast is not called Mythical Fairytale, is it now! 

Cohost: Haha! Absolutely right!

Neev:
Well then. Get ready for a blend of bittersweet drama, royal duty, and a few surprising revelations as we explore the end of the Ramayana. Let’s jump right in!

Neev:
Our tale picks up in Ayodhya right after King Rama’s grand coronation—a day of celebrations, smiles, and epic feasts. The palace was buzzing with joy, and as the guests departed, one devoted soul stayed behind: Hanuman. When someone remarked on Hanuman’s unmatched loyalty to Rama, the monkey god literally tore open his chest to reveal that Rama and Sita resided there. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve!

Cohost:
It’s an amazing image—loyalty so strong that your heart becomes a living home for love. But amidst this display of divine devotion, dark whispers began to stir among the citizens.

Neev:
Exactly. Rama, ever the wise and just king, sent his trusted advisors into the streets to hear the people’s concerns. One advisor, Bhadra, reported that many citizens believed if Rama could accept Sita after her abduction by Ravana, then ordinary people should be allowed the same freedom. And as if that wasn’t enough, the very next day, another messenger arrived with startling news.

Cohost:
Imagine a washerman in a heated argument, shouting, “I’m no Rama—I can’t just accept my wife after she’s been away so long!” Suddenly, the entire kingdom was buzzing with controversy.

Neev:
These persistent murmurs troubled Rama deeply. Gathering his brothers, he spoke with a heavy heart: “My dear brothers, your wisdom has always guided me in ruling our kingdom, but now our people are unsettled. Though the gods have proven Sita’s purity through Agni and the devas, our subjects remain unconvinced.” His voice trembled as he continued, “For their comfort, I must make a painful choice. I am willing to sacrifice even myself—or any of you—if it means keeping the peace. So why should Sita be any different?”

With that, Rama solemnly ordered, “Lakshmana, you and Sumantra must take Sita and leave her near Valmiki’s ashram. Return immediately.” The room fell into a heavy, stunned silence.

Cohost:
What? No way! Not cool bruh! 

Neev:
And so, with a heart burdened by sorrow, Lakshmana prepared the chariot. Trustingly, Sita climbed aboard, unaware of the heartbreak ahead. They journeyed to the banks of the Bhagirathi River—a sacred threshold where fate would deal its cruelest blow.

Cohost: Poor Lakshman burdened with the most unpleasant task.

Neev: At the riverbank, Lakshmana’s strength broke. Overwhelmed by grief, he wept like a child, confessing, “Mother, the King fears the judgment of his people. He has disowned you and ordered that you be left near Valmiki’s ashram.”

Cohost: Sita must have been stunned! She probably thought she is just out for a picnic!

Neev:
Yeah, Sita fainted. When she awoke, tears streamed down her face as she whispered, “Lakshmana, God created me to endure suffering. Even though I’ve passed through the fire of trials, I am now rejected by my lord. I could have drowned myself, but that would end Rama’s line. Go, tell my lord to treat his subjects with kindness—and not forsake me.”

Cohost:
Woah! So Sita was pregnant! Rama and Lakshama knew and yet duty towards their constituency led them to this step!

Neev:
With heavy hearts, Lakshmana and Sumantra departed, leaving behind a shattered Sita on the riverbank. As she watched the chariot disappear into the distance, her anguished cries filled the air. Nearby, some children playing at the ashram saw her sorrow and rushed to inform Sage Valmiki.

Cohost:
Bet Valmiki knew who it was! 

Neev:
Valmiki knelt beside Sita and gently said, “Child, you must be the wife of Rama of Ayodhya, the daughter of King Janaka. Welcome to my ashrama—I know you are pure and saintly. Come with me, for here, the ascetic ladies will care for you. This is now your home.” Overwhelmed by his kindness, Sita slowly followed him, stepping into a new chapter of her life

Cohost:
Yes! —a chapter that would be marked by both sorrow and the faint glimmer of hope.

Neev:
During the rainy season at Valmiki’s ashram—there came a perfect night for miracles and mischief. Seeta gave birth to twin boys!

Cohost:
Imagine the ashrama bursting with joy! I am sure the little ones were so adorable that the children couldn’t contain their excitement and ran off to tell Sage Valmiki. 

Neev: Yes, Valmiki was absolutely delighted when he came to see them. He quickly ensured their safety and named them Kush and Luv—marking the beginning of a legendary lineage!

Cohost: Valmik even began writing the Luv-Kush Kanda of the Ramayana, as if he already knew the incredible adventures these boys would have! 

Neev:
The boys grew up in the beautiful, natural surroundings of the ashrama. They were free, healthy, and filled with wonder. They adored their mother and held Guru Valmiki in the highest respect. 

Cohost: And guess what? Valmiki not only taught them scriptures but also trained them in archery, and before long, they became super-skilled archers! It’s like Valmiki was their teacher in every subject!

Neev:
Meanwhile, back in Ayodhya, King Rama decided to perform the grand Ashwamedha yagna—a spectacular ritual to establish the emperor’s supremacy. Rama, along with his brothers, invited all the learned rishis, kings, and princes from across the land. 

Cohost: Now, traditionally, husband and wife perform the yajna together, but Rama always had only Seeta in his heart. So, a golden statue of Seeta was placed by his side during the ceremony.

Neev:
And to top it all off, a magnificent white horse—decorated with costly jewels—was prepared for the yagna. This wasn’t any ordinary horse; wherever it roamed, the sovereignty of Rama was to be accepted. 

Cohost: Yeah, Anyone holding onto it had to either fight Rama’s representatives or bow in submission! 

Neev:
Shatrughna, ever the dutiful brother, accompanied the horse with his army. Everywhere the horse trotted, people offered their respect and pledged allegiance to Rama, even agreeing to pay annual taxes in his name. 

Cohost: But then, destiny had a playful surprise in store.

Neev:
One day, the stunning, jewel-adorned horse reached none other than Valmiki’s ashrama—the very place where our twin heroes were growing up! Luv and Kush, thrilled at the sight of such a gorgeous creature, couldn’t resist a bit of mischief. They promptly captured the horse and tied it to a tree. 

Cohost:
Who knows? Maybe the gods led the horse there. Destiny?

Neev: Not only that, but they also read the declaration tied around the horse’s neck and, with the confidence only us kids can have, waited for the guards to arrive. 

Cohost: I am sure when the troops did show up, they laughed at the sight of the horse tied to a tree and the two boys standing their ground.

Neev: Yes, The soldiers asked, “Why should we give you the horse?” The boys, unfazed and cheeky as ever, replied, “If you want the horse back, you’ll have to battle us! We read every word of that declaration, and if you’re not up for a fight, then why should we hand it over?”

Cohost:
No amount of persuasion could sway these little warriors! I am sure the guards grew frustrated and started firing arrows. And our mischievous twins were more than ready

Neev: Totally, they returned fire with arrows of their own, delighting in the battle. The fight was so intense that many soldiers, shocked by the unexpected prowess of these kids, ran away in terror. 

Cohost: Haha! Already - What are they going to tell the head of the army - we ran away from two little boys! 

Neev: Meanwhile, Shatrughna arrived on the scene. Feeling both deep affection for the twins and a duty to reclaim the horse, he tried to negotiate, even offering toys in exchange!

Cohost: Really? Toys? Maybe video games might have done the trick! 

Neev: haha! The boys were up for a real battle - so video game seems lame! Hey that rhymes!

Cohost: So what happened next? 

Neev: Shatrughna said,  “Please, give me the horse,” he pleaded, explaining all about the Ashwamedha yajna and its sacred conditions. But the boys were unyielding. “Who are you, and why should we return the horse?” they challenged. “If you let it run free in the forest, then by the declaration, you must fight us! Are you afraid to battle with us?”

Cohost: Oooh taunting him. That must have really set Shatrughna off! 

Neev: He picked up his bow and arrows, but within minutes, the boys proved too swift and skillful—their arrows destroyed his chariot, and his soldiers couldn’t keep up.
In the ensuing chaos, Shatrughna’s attempts to capture the twins faltered. Their speed, accuracy, and fearless spirit overwhelmed his forces. Shatrughna was ultimately defeated and fell unconscious.

Cohost:
So now the remaining soldiers have to scramble back to Ayodhya to break the bad news.

Neev:
Now, here’s where things really heat up. Lakshmana, always the stoic warrior, was utterly puzzled—how could two little boys cause so much havoc? When he first saw them, he couldn’t help but feel a fondness for their bold spirit. He even explained to them, in a gentle tone, that they must let the magnificent horse go back to its duty. 

Cohost: But oh, these boys had mischief in their hearts! They were enjoying this way too much!

Neev:
Right! In typical naughty fashion, Kush wasted no time and shot an arrow that toppled Lakshmana’s crown! 

Cohost: Can you imagine? One moment he’s the great warrior who fought countless battles, and the next—his crown comes tumbling down like a stack of cards!

Neev [laughing]:
That act set Lakshmana’s temper ablaze. Furious, he unleashed a flurry of arrows, each one aimed with royal precision. 

Cohost: And our clever twins dodged them with ease—their arrows clattering against his with a defiant “no thank you!”

Neev:
Even though Lakshmana was clearly impressed by their skill, he wasn’t ready to back down. In a sudden burst of anger, Kush landed a solid blow with his fist that caught Lakshmana off guard. Not one to be outdone, Lakshmana retaliated with an arrow that struck Kush and knocked him unconscious!

Cohost: Kush is hurt?

Neev:
The sight of young Kush lying motionless broke the boys’ playful rhythm. Luv, heart heavy and mischievous spirit undimmed, dropped his bow and sat down near Kush, closing his eyes to meditate on Guru Valmiki’s teachings. And then—miraculously—Kush revived, as if guided by divine energy, and the battle reignited in a flash!

Cohost:
It’s like Valmiki was that teacher who gave you the best education, and if you did good, he would reward you! In this case, his education was mighty useful.

Neev:
The battlefield was in uproar. Word of this astonishing duel quickly reached King Rama. Deeply troubled by the defeat of his loyal brother, Rama called upon Bharata. When Bharata arrived and heard the news, he humbly said, “We have never faced such defeat or humiliation, O King! This must be the result of Mother Seeta’s sorrow and curses.”

Cohost:
Rubbing salt into Rama’s wounds, are we, Bharata? 

Neev: Yeah, I don’t think that sat well with Rama, He asked, “Bharata, don’t you wish to step into this battle yourself? If not, I will go.” And, of course, Bharata, devoted to Rama beyond measure, gathered his resolve, gathered Hanuman and his fearless army, and set off toward Valmiki’s ashram.

Cohost: I don’t think he had a choice! 
But Bharata couldn’t quite wrap his head around it—how could two little boys bring down Lakshmana, a warrior renowned for vanquishing foes like Indrajeet? 

Neev:
And then came the showdown with the vanara sena. Bharata’s army, seasoned in battles against rakshasas, was suddenly faced with the energetic might of these two youngsters. The boys, overjoyed to see the legendary troops—recalling how they had once defeated Ravana—dashed into action, causing chaos among the soldiers.

Cohost: And Hanuman was there too. He couldn’t help but praise their daring prowess.

Neev:
But Bharata, growing increasingly frustrated that even Hanuman couldn’t rein in the spirited twins, finally snapped. In his anger, he fired a sharp arrow that hit Luv, sending him into unconsciousness!

Cohost [with a mix of awe and amusement]:
Well now Kush is not going to take that lying down. 

Neev: Yes, With a divinely empowered arrow whizzing through the air, he struck Bharata, and the mighty prince fell unconscious too! I feel bad for the brothers. They don’t even know that they are fighting their nephews!