Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.201

c9.201

Sugrīva was put in charge of the armies, Vibhīṣaṇa in charge of finance, and central authority was vested in Lakṣmaṇa. Then the yājñic horse, accompanied by the army, was let loose to travel all over the country. Accompanied by cavalry, the elephant division, infantry and the chariot-force the horse went about the various kingdoms. The army, on its way back to Ayodhyā with presents collected from many kingdoms, encamped for rest near Vālmīki’s āśrama when Kuśa and Lava tied the yājñic horse, which was strolling there unfettered. Consequent upon this action of Kuśa and Lava a fight broke out between them and the king’s army in which the latter got defeated. Even the arrows of Lakṣmaṇa failed to have any effect on the boys. The boys having not returned even though it had become very late in the evening, the āśramites went in search of them and it was only when they came to the scene of fighting did Lakṣmaṇa and others know who the boys really were.