Bal Kanda
Narration
King Janaka honors Viśvāmitra and Rāma–Lakṣmaṇa, introduces the bow he keeps, and—upon the bow being strung—declares his decision to marry his daughter to Śrī Rāma. This is the sixty-sixth sarga of the Bāla Kāṇḍa in the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
The next day, when a pure morning had dawned, the divine King Janaka finished his daily observances and summoned the great-souled Viśvāmitra together with Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. Following scriptural procedure, he worshiped the sage and the two high-born princes, and then said:
“Revered one, welcome. O sinless great seer, please command me—how may I serve you? I am your obedient servant.”
When Janaka spoke thus, the eloquent and righteous sage Viśvāmitra replied: “Great King, these two sons of King Daśaratha are world-renowned kṣatriya heroes. They wish to see the excellent bow that is kept here with you. May good fortune be yours—please show them the bow. Their wish will be fulfilled; then, satisfied with the sight of it, these two princes will return to their capital as they desire.”
Hearing this, King Janaka said to the great sage: “O muni, listen to the account of this bow; I will tell you for what purpose it is kept here. The illustrious son of Bhagavān Nimi, a king famed by the name Devarāta, once had this very bow entrusted to him as a treasure. It is said that in ancient times, at the destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice, Lord Śaṅkara—blazing with anger in an instant—took up this bow. After the sacrifice had been laid waste, he said to the gods: ‘Devas, I sought a share in the sacrifice, but you did not grant it. With this bow I will cut off your auspicious and excellent limbs and hands!’
“Hearing this terrible declaration, all the gods became humble, praised the God of gods, Mahādeva, and appeased him in song. At last Lord Śiva was pleased and, being gracious, he presented this bow to those mighty gods. This jewel of a bow of Lord Śaṅkara came down as a hereditary trust in the hands of my forebear, King Devarāta.
“One day, while I was plowing the sacrificial ground to purify the earth for a sacrifice, a maiden appeared from the furrow at the tip of the plow. Because she arose from the line (sītā) drawn by the plow, she was named Sītā. She grew up in my house and blossomed into youth. I made this vow: ‘Whoever, by his own prowess, shall string this bow—him will I give her in marriage.’ In this way I set a vīrya–śulka—prowess as the bride-price—and kept my daughter at home.
“From all over, many kings came asking for my daughter who had sprung from the earth and delights the hearts of all, but I told each of them clearly: ‘My daughter is vīrya–śulkā. Only a man who displays proper valor is eligible to wed her.’ That is why I have not given my daughter to anyone yet.
“Then all those kings gathered and asked, ‘What feat of prowess has been prescribed to win the princess?’ Before those kings who thus inquired, I had Śiva’s bow brought forth. But they were not able even to lift it, much less move it. Considering those mighty rulers unable even to raise it, I refused to give them the maiden.
“Hear also what happened after that. Offended by my refusal, those kings grew furious. Doubting their own prowess and angry at being slighted, they surrounded me on all sides. Feeling insulted by me, those eminent rulers began to afflict the city of Mithilā from every direction. For a full year they maintained the siege. In the meantime, all the engines of war were prepared, and I was greatly distressed. Then, by austerity I strove to please the gods. The gods were highly pleased and granted me a four-fold army. Even so, when our troops counter-attacked, those sinful kings who were weak—or whose strength was doubtful—were struck down and fled with their ministers in all directions.
“O best of sages, this is that supremely radiant bow. O observer of excellent vows, I will show it to Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa as well. If Śrī Rāma should string its bowstring, I will give my daughter Sītā to this son of Daśaratha.”
Rāma breaks the bow; Janaka sends for Daśaratha at Viśvāmitra’s command.
Hearing Janaka’s words, the great sage said, “O lord, show it to Śrī Rāma.” Then King Janaka ordered his ministers: “Bring here that divine bow, adorned with sandal and garlands.” Receiving the king’s command, the exceedingly brilliant ministers went into the city and brought the bow out beyond the gates at the forefront.
That bow was housed in a great iron chest mounted on eight wheels. Even stalwart men could hardly contrive to bring it there. Bringing the iron casket in which the bow was kept, the attendants said to the godlike king:
“O lord of Mithilā, O king of kings, this is the excellent bow held in honor by all rulers. If you wish to show it to these two princes, then show it.”
Hearing their words, King Janaka folded his hands and said to the great sage Viśvāmitra and to the two brothers, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa: “This is that supreme bow which the Janaka kings have always worshiped. Even those most powerful rulers who could not lift it in former times nonetheless held it in reverence. Neither all the gods together, nor the asuras, rākṣasas, gandharvas, mighty yakṣas, kinnara, nor the great nāgas have been able to string it. Then what power could men have to draw it, to string it, to set an arrow upon it, to consecrate its bowstring, or to raise it and sport with it here and there?
“O best of sages, the excellent bow has been brought here. O blessed one, show it to these two princes.”
After hearing Janaka speak, Viśvāmitra said to Rāma: “Raghu-scion, behold it.” At the guru’s command, Śrī Rāma opened the chest in which the bow lay, looked upon it, and said, “Very well. Now I will lay my hands on this divine and excellent bow. I shall attempt to lift it and string it.”
Then both king and sage spoke with one voice: “Yes, do so.”
At their command, the delight of the Raghu line, the Supreme Lord Śrī Rāma, grasped the bow in the middle, effortlessly lifted it in sport, and, as if playing, set about stringing it. Thousands of eyes were fixed upon him. The very moment the greatly famed Śrī Rāma drew the bow to his ear, it snapped in the center. As it broke, a thunderous sound like a bolt of lightning crashed forth—one would think a mountain had split. A great earthquake arose. Except for the sage Viśvāmitra, King Janaka, and the two brothers Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—the rest who stood there were stunned and fell to the ground.
After a short while they recovered their senses. Then King Janaka—eloquent and wise in the essence of things—joined his hands and said to the sage:
“Bhagavan, first I heard of Daśaratha, and now I have seen Rāma’s prowess with my own eyes. To string the bow of Mahādeva—this is an exceedingly wondrous, unimaginable, and astonishing deed. May my daughter Sītā, having obtained Daśaratha’s son Śrī Rāma as her husband, uphold and extend the honor of the Janaka line. The vow I proclaimed—that Sītā is vīrya–śulkā, to be won only by the bride-price of valor—has today proved true and successful. Sītā is dearer to me than life itself. This daughter I will offer to Śrī Rāma.”