________________
318
JAIN RAMAYAN
marked their foreheads with Tilak and blessed them. Lav and Kush accompanied King Vajrajang to Prithvipur.
The vast army of king Prithu stood ready for the war outside the city. A terrible war broke out between the two armies. King Prithu's soldiers fought heroically and within a few hours killed a large number of Vajrajang's soldiers and defeated Vajrajang's army. In consequence, a terrible commotion arose in Vajrajang's army. The soldiers began to run helter-skelter. Lav and Kush were moved by the sight. Till then they were merely watching the war. But when they saw Vajrajang's soldiers running away, they leaped into the battle-field. They fought heroically and inspired a fresh confidence in the soldiers and the soldiers again started fighting. They were greatly amazed at the heroism of the two princes Lav and Kush.
Within a few moments, Lav and Kush turned the tables on King Prithu. Lay and Kush turned towards King Prithu with triumphant smiles on their faces and said : "O king! Why are you running away? You do not know who we are; whose sons we are and to which royal family we belong. We are wayfarers, homeless way-farers. You belong to a famous royal family. When that is so, you should not run away from us."
King Prithu stopped at once on hearing the words of Lav and Kush. After a short pause he said in a calm voice :
“Young man! Your tremendous heroism and valour clearly show that you belong to an illustrious royal family. The proposal of marriage made by King Vajrajang is quite appropriate. My daughter is indeed fortunate in getting such a heroic bridegroom as Kush. At that time, I was a fool in not realising the truth about you. Now I have understood the truth about you. Where can I find a better bridegroom for my daughter than Kush? Therefore I seek your forgiveness and I am ready to give my daughter in marriage to Ankush.”
Just then, King Vajrajang's chariot arrived there. Lav and Kush alighted from the chariot saluted Vajrajang and stood near them. King Vajrajang embraced the two brothers and bathed them with the tears of affection.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
