Rama's army captures his son Mongkut in the forest (Thai Ramayana mural)

Rama's army captures his son Mongkut in the forest (Thai Ramayana mural)

Rama’s army captures his son Mongkut in the forest, as portrayed in a mural detail at the Emerald Buddha Temple. A circle of Rama’s soldiers standing at attention, holding tall lances and dressed in alternate brown and blue uniforms, surrounds Sita and her son Mongkut. An officer dressed in gold approaches them from the front with a drawn sword. Mongkut sits on top of three arrows tied together, while his mother stands nearby with a water jug propped up on her left shoulder.

In the Ramayana story, Mongkut and his brother Lob often play as soldiers in the forest. They make lots of noise which is heard by Rama. Annoyed by the noise, Rama sends out his soldiers and even Hanuman, who the boys repeatedly trick and elude. Finally, as seen here, Mongkut is captured.