The Horse Arrives at Maharshi Valmiki's Ashram

In Rama's kingdom, everyone was joyful and content. Even great sages had never witnessed such a yagya. Clothes studded with gemstones and gold ornaments were distributed, yet Ayodhya's immense treasury remained abundant. Monkeys and demons also participated in distributing generous donations among the people.

The primary purpose of the yagya was to showcase Rama's power and glory as the king of Ayodhya. The secondary purpose was to ensure the welfare and advancement of Ayodhya's people. The first phase of the yagya was completed smoothly. In the second phase, the Ashvamedha Yagya's horse was allowed to wander freely, leading to a dramatic turn of events.

Upon completion of the yagya, Rama placed a tilak on the horse's forehead and set it free to roam. The horse wandered throughout the kingdom and beyond its borders. Whoever stopped the horse had to battle the king's army. If no one stopped it, it signified acceptance of the king's authority. A note around the horse's neck read, "This horse belongs to Ramachandra, the king of Kosala. Rama is religious, respects his friends, and destroys his enemies. Whoever stops or captures this horse will have to battle Rama. Those who accept Rama's lordship must pay the prescribed tax."

Ayodhya's army, led by the warrior Shatrughna, followed the horse. Rama instructed Shatrughna to ensure that no innocent person was troubled along the way. The kings of the regions the horse passed showed respect to Shatrughna and agreed to pay the annual tax. Eventually, the horse reached Maharshi Valmiki's ashram, where Lava and Kusha were playing. The boys, enchanted by the beautiful horse, decided to play with it. They caught the horse, tied it to a tree, and waited for Ramachandra's army to arrive.