The venerable and wise sage Valmiki, authored the life of Rama in its entirety in wonderful verses, after Rama obtained his kingdom. The sage Valmiki rendered Ramayana in twenty four thousand verses, in five hundred chapters called sargas, and in six books called kandas, and also the later part of the epic. Besides writing that epic with events that had already occured, the events that happened after Rama's coronation and the events yet to occur, the intellectual and competent Valmiki also pondered thus : "Who is capable of reciting this in a suitable manner?"

Later, the sons of Seetha and Rama, Kusha and Lava, dressed in sagely garbs, touched the feet of the thoughtful and holy sage Valmiki. Sage Valmiki  saw the virtuous princes Kusha and Lava, who were famous brothers with melodious voice, and who were living  in that hermitage. Seeing those intelligent boys with a strong grasp of Vedas, that able sage Valmiki, taught them Ramayana, to nurture Vedic knowledge. The devoted sage Valmiki, had authored the entire epic of Ramayana, also known as 'The Great Story of Seetha' and 'Paulasthya Vadham' [Slaying of Ravana]. Both the textual portion and the musical part of Ramayana are sweet. It has melodious lyrical values like a glissando, to be composed with three scales and seven primary notes. The verses combine well with a stringed musical instrument.

This ballad of Ramayana, with poetic sentiments of love, pathos, comic relief, courage, fear, anger and others, was sung by Lava and Kusha. Those brothers were well acquainted with the true principles of the art of music, were proficient in maintaining the correct pitch, were endowed with a melodious voice and thus looked like Gandharvas in human form. Lava and Kusha conversed in a sweet voice, and with their extraordinary beauty, they seemed to be two reflections of Rama, extracted from Rama's body separately. Those princes commited to their memory, the entire righteous legend of Ramayana, which is the best, in a blameless manner, with all the verses of the epic at their disposal. Lava and Kusha, who grasped the true essence of Ramayana, attentively sang the epic, exactly as taught to them by Valmiki, in an assembly of sages, brahmans and other gentlemen.
 

At one time, those noble minded princes with great fortune, endowed with all good qualities, sang this epic near a
group of pure hearted sages, who were sitting together. Listenening to that song of Kusha and Lava, those sages were greatly surprised, and with tears of joy, spoke thus : "Good! Good!". All those righteous sages, being appeased at heart, praised the worthy Kusha and Lava, who had sung Ramayana excellently. "Ah! What a sweet song! And especially the Verses! This story that happened long time back, has been shown as if it was happening before our very eyes. Those two boys who are endowed with a wealthy voice, have sung the song together very well, sweetly and delightfully, entering into the meaning of the verses correctly." Those two sang the poem very sweetly and very delightfully, while being praised thus by those great sages, who were themselves praise worthy with their penance. Being happy with their wonderful performance of the song, one of the sages stood up and gave away his water-pot to them, and one pleased sage who had a great reputation, gave away a bark-garment.

This wonderful legend revealed by Sage Valmiki, has been the most excellent receptacle to generations of poets, and has been completed in due course. This song of Ramayana which increases the duration of life and which is a delight to listen to, has been sung excellently by the experts in all songs, Lava and Kusha.

 At one time, Rama happened to see those singers, who were being praised everywhere, singing Ramayana near a royal highway. Then, that Rama, who destroys his enemies, brought those respectable brothers Kusha and Lava, to his home and honoured them.

Lord Rama, who subdues his enemies, sat on a brilliant golden throne, surrounded by his ministers and brothers. Then, having seen those two beautiful brothers, the self-possessed Rama spoke to Lakshmana, Shatrughna and Bharatha : "Let this astounding and meaningful story of these two, who glow like celestial beings, be heard well." and encouraged those singers to sing the poem. And then, those two brothers rendered the song with a very clear meaning, sweetly and melodiously, with a well done and sustaining sound, which fused well with stringed instruments. That song, which was comfortable to ears, gladdened the heart, mind and all body parts, shone among all the people assembled there. Rama  then told the assembly, "These sages Kusha and Lava, though having all royal characteristics, are great ascetics. That great story, which would be beneficial to me also, would be told by them. Let it be heard attentively." Then those boys, encouraged by Rama's kind words, sang that poem in a wealthy method called maarga. Rama, being in the assembly, listened to that song interestedly to obtain peace of mind.
 

  Thus this is the fourth chapter in Bala Kanda of Sreemad Valmiki Ramayana.