The screams of agony filled the surroundings of the chamber. The maids were running around, each screaming to the other to fetch something. A woman lay in the middle of the king-size bed, eyes scrunched tightly and screaming out of labour pain. She was going through a hard time. Beads of sweat lined her forehead. One maid fanned her while the other wiped the woman's forehead with a cloth dipped in cold water. An elderly woman was at the edge of the bed. "Queen Kausalya. Please stay strong and try your mightiest. Your son needs your help to come out" Outside the chambers, a man was pacing here and there. He was waiting for news from inside the chambers. She was his wife and she was giving birth to his son. Few minutes which seemed like hours had passed and yet there was no news. He could still hear Kausalya's screams. Two minutes later, another scream joined Kausalya's. It was a cry. The cry of a baby. The man smiled. His son was born. A maid came out and bowed "Maharaj Dashrath. Queen Kausalya has given birth to a son" The maharaj removed his hara and gave it to the maid as a token for having given him the good news. He entered the chambers and ordered to be left alone with his wife and new-born son. Kausalya had fallen asleep having been exhausted after a tiresome birth. He patted her head in a gesture of affection. A bundle covered in white cloth lay next to her. It was a baby. He carefully lifted his son into his arms. The baby opened its eyes and looked at him. They were perfectly shaped liked a lotus and the King of Kosala found himself melting. His son was here. He was in his arms. His many years of yearning had come to an end. King Dashrath was a descendant of the Raghu Dynasity which was known for its word. The Raghuvanshis were known for keeping up their word. King Dashrath was an accomplished warrior and a great king. His only regret was that he couldn't have a son. He married thrice yet couldn't have a son. So he had performed a Putrakameshti yagna with the help of his son-in-law Rishi Rishyasringa. Out of the holy fire came a bowl of kheer which when consumed, his queens would give him sons. The baby in his arms was one of them. He wailed for a moment and then dozed off. "Maharaj.. Will you keep looking at him all day ???" Asked Kausalya who had woken up due to the baby's wail, in an amused voice. Dashrath answered "Of course dear Queen. He is such that I can't help but keep looking at him. We should spread this good news amongst our people. Dasi !! Send word to the messenger that the prince has been born" Kausalya asked "What shall his name be, Maharaj ?" Dashrath looked at his son "The first son born of mine, Raghuvanshi Dashrath and who will tread towards the path of enlightenment. His name shall be Ram" Kausalya smiled happily at the name "Ram.. Ram.." It was perfect. Kausalya had fallen asleep. She was still tired. Dashrath sad on one of the cushioned chairs looking at Ram with eyes full of love. He didn't know when he slept.

He was awoken by a maid who came running into the chamber. It was morning already. "Apologies Maharaj. Queen Kaikeyi has gone into labour" said the maid. Worry became evident on his forehead in the form of wrinkles. Kausalya had woken up too. She looked at Dashrath "Maharaj. You must leave for Kaikeyi's chambers I immediately." With one last look at his son, he hurried to his second/favourite queen's chambers. Kaikeyi was his favourite queen. There was a tale behind this. Queen Kaikeyi had accompanied her husband for a battle against Sambarasura. During the battle, Sambarasura shot an arrow at Dashrath's chest. Kaikeyi being the charioteer repaired the wheel of the chariot that was broken by Sambarasura and whisked Dashrath away to safety. Since that day, she had become his favourite queen. Right now, she was in her chambers, struggling with pain as she fought to bring his son into the world. As he neared her chamber, he heard Kaikeyi whispering "I am a warrior who has fought battles. Yet, this is my toughest battle and I will emerge victorious" Dashrath smiled a little at her words. A few minutes later, a cry of a baby was heard. Dashrath was greeted by a woman with a hunched back and walking stick in hand. "Congratulations My King !! You have a son" Dashrath exclaimed "Thankyou for the news Manthara" He removed another hara from his neck and handed it to Manthara who politely refused saying that her Kaikeyi's son had given her more joy than she could ever imagine. He entered the chamber and was surprised to see his queen awake cradling a new born baby in her arms. "My dear Queen.. Why aren't you resting ? You must be exhausted" asked Dashrath. Kaikeyi replied "No Maharaj. I am fine. I wanted to be awake to watch you and our son together" Dashrath smiled at his second queen and took his son in his arms. Healthy pale and a beautiful face, he looked calm and peaceful. "How is Kausalya Didi, Maharaj" asked Kaikeyi. Dashrath replied "She's resting. And so is my son." Kaikeyi asked "How is he, Maharaj ?" A fond smile crossed the aging king's lips "Eyes like the perfectly shaped lotus, lips the shape of a bow and face as bright as the full moon" Kaikeyi smiled fondly as he described his first born. She loved her husband dearly and hence loved his first born as much. Dashrath called for a dasi "Send word to the messenger that another prince has come to spread happiness in Ayodha" The dasi left. Dashrath looked at the baby in his arms "My son - Bharath. The one who devotes his entire life for enlightenment" Kaikeyi smiled joyfully. Bharath was indeed a very beautiful name.

The day was coming to an end. Both queens were coming back to strength. Kausalya's eyes brimmed with happy tears as she held her son in her arms. She brought him close to her heart and held him there closing her eyes. Her eyes opened when she heard a soft laughter. It was a woman who was heavily pregnant with one hand on her protruding stomach and the other supporting her back. "Sumitra.. Take a seat. Why did you come here in this state ??" Sumitra merely smile "Didi. I am fine. Seriously. You and Kaikeyi Didi tend to become over-protective sometimes. I met her few hours ago. You were asleep then. You know Didi ? Bharat is the calmest baby Didi. He has this smile on his face that makes you calm. ." Kausalya patted the place next to her for Sumitra to sit "So I heard, Sumitra. Ram wouldn't stop crying until I got the news about Bharath's birth. It was like as if he wanted to hear about his brother."Sumitra took Ram in her arms and looked at him "Didi. He looks so beautiful. There seems to be some kind of divine aura around him" Kausalya smiled fondly "How are my two youngest sons doing ?" She asked Sumitra. One hand and on her stomach she replied "I am sure both of them are going to be mischievous. They keep moving all the time. And I am also sure one of my sons is going to be very short-tempered. He keeps kicking all the time. " Kausalya laughed "Looks like they want to come out." There was a sharp gasp from Sumitra. Kausalya looked at her in concern "What happened Sumitra !! Are you alright ?" Sumitra relaxed after few seconds "He kicked again Didi. It was a sharp kick this time" Dusk had fallen by the time Sumitra had retired to her chambers. That night, she had a dream. A mystical figure with four hands. It was Maha Vishnu with Ananta Sesha. He had a smile on his face. The next morning, Sumitra woke up with a smile on her face. She realized that the sons who were born from them were a part of Maha Vishnu himself. Sumitra was a wise woman who spoke less. But when she spoke, there was a solution to everything. She realized that Kausalya's son was Maha Vishnu himself.

The day was bright and welcoming. Yet Sumitra was confined to her chambers, given her predicament. She was to give birth anytime. She stroked her stomach fondly. Anytime her sons would come playing the perfect fiddle to their two older brothers. She stroked her stomach "Dear Sons. I know you are so used to hearing my voice but I have some good news for you two. Your older brothers - Ram and Bharath have taken their first steps into the world. They are now waiting for their two little brothers to join them" She felt two soft kicks from inside. She smiled "I know I know little ones. You are as excited as we all are. Remember sons.. Always listen to your older brothers. They will protect you and you in turn must be thankful towards them." As she uttered those words, she felt a sharp pain. What she thought to be a painful kick from one of her sons became more painful until it became unbearable. She managed to call out to a few maids who were in close proximity to send news to Maharaj and the two older queens. She caught the railing of the bed as another shot of pain went through her. She let out a scream of pain. Few maids came in along with the mid-wife. She could see a bit of white angavastra before the heavy doors closed. Maharaj was here. She could hear the mid-wife whispering "Rani Sumitra. Just few more minutes. And then you will be ready" Even in her pain she could hear muffled outside the door. Outside, Kausalya and Kaikeyi had joined Dashrath. Both had worried expressions on their faces. Ram and Bharath were fidgeting in their mothers arms. "Sumitra looks in so much pain, Maharaj" expressed a worried Kaikeyi. Kausalya was trying to pacify a restless Ram while her own worry for Sumitra was gnawing from inside. "Let's take Ram and Bharath inside, Kaikeyi. Perhaps they would ease Sumitra's pain." Kaikeyi said "That's an idea Didi. Sumitra was fond of Ram and Bharath even before they were born. She would atleast be at some ease" The two older queens entered Sumitra's chamber with Ram and Bharath. As if a miracle, the babies stopped fidgeting and crying. "This is a miracle Didi. It is as if Ram and Bharath want to be with their brothers." Kausalya could just nod her head. A minute or two passed and a cry of a baby was heard. It was a boy kicking his legs, his face scrunched up in what can be called anger. The maids cleaned and wrapped him up in a white cloth. He was still wailing. Searing pain shot through Sumitra once again and she started screaming again. Kausalya sat on one of the cushioned chairs with Ram in her arms and took the baby into her lap. The baby stopped crying. Another few minutes passed and another cry was heard. Sumitra had brought her twins into the world. Kaikeyi took the baby wrapped in a blue cloth into her other arm while Sumitra was being tended to, by the maids. Dashrath was called in. "Maharaj. Meet your third son and your youngest son" Kausalya pointed to the baby in her and Kaikeyi's arms. Dashrath smiled with tears of joy. Word was sent to the people of Ayodhya that the four Princes had atlast come. "Maharaj.. What are you planning to call our youngest sons ?" asked an ecstatic Kaikeyi. Dashrath answered proudly "My third son will be called Lakshman - he who will be prosperous and has an auspicious birthmark. My youngest will be called Shatrughan - he who will slay his enemies." And so the four brothers were named. They lay together in the same cradle rocking together as they slept.