Bala Kanda, Sarga 66

Meaning

Having concluded his religious rites for the morning, Janaka, a ruler of men, sent for the high-souled Viśwāmitra alongwith Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the two scions of Raghu, the next day when the day had clearly dawned. (1)

Meaning

Having honoured him as well as the high-souled Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the two scions of Raghu, by means of rites prescribed in our sacred books, the pious soul then spoke to him as follows: so the tradition goes : (2)

Meaning

“Hail to you, O venerable Sir ! Instruct me what I can do for you, O sinless one, since I deserve to be commanded by you.” (3)

Meaning

Addressed in these words by the high-souled Janaka, the pious and celebrated Viśwāmitra, a jewel among sages and a master of expression, replied as follows : (4)

Meaning

“These two Kṣatriya princes, sons of Emperor Daśaratha, who are well-known throughout the world, are eager to see the superb bow which is now with you. (5)

Meaning

“Please show it to them; may good betide you ! With their desire fulfilled through the sight of this bow the two princes will return as they would.” (6)

Meaning

Urged in these words, Janaka for his part replied as follows to Viśwāmitra, the eminent sage : “Hear the tale of this bow, wherefore it lies here in my charge. (7)

Meaning

“Nimi’s eldest son was known as King Devarāta. This bow, O venerable sage, was deposited as a trust in the hands of that exalted soul by the gods. (8)

Meaning

“Pulling the string of this bow in sport with the purpose of wrecking the sacrifice of Dakṣa in the olden days, the valiant Lord Rudra (the god of destruction) for his part angrily spoke to the gods as follows : (9)

Meaning

“Since you have not set apart a share of the sacrificial offerings for me, even though I desired it, O gods, I shall just sever your most adorable heads with this bow (and arrow).” (10)

Meaning

“Getting discomposed, all the gods thereupon conciliated Lord Śaṅkara, the suzerain Ruler of gods, O jewel among sages, and Śiva (the Source of the universe) got eventually pleased with them. (11)

Meaning

“Full of grace, He bestowed the bow upon all those high-souled gods. Then that celebrated jewel among bows was deposited by them as a trust with our powerful forefather, Devarāta. Immediately after that there arose from the track of the ploughshare, even as I was ploughing the plot set apart for a sacrifice, a female baby, who, was discovered while I was dressing the field and as such was widely known by the name of Sītā*. That daughter of mine, who had emerged from the soil, gradually grew at an extraordinary pace in my care. (12—14)

Meaning

“This daughter of mine, who was not born (in the ordinary way) from the mother’s womb, was kept by me for being given in marriage to a suitor who would win her by his valour. Rulers of lands approached me and sued for the hand of my aforesaid daughter, who had appeared from the soil and was growing at an unusual pace, O jewel among sages ! I, however, did not give away my daughter to any, telling all the kings who sued for the hand of my girl that she could only be won through personal valour. Thereupon all the kings (lit., rulers of men) came to Mithilā in a body and inquired of the standard by which their prowess was going to be judged, O jewel among sages ! Then the bow of Lord Śiva was brought before the inquisitive princes. (15—18)

Meaning

“They, however, could not even support it, much less toss it in order to be able to ascertain its weight. Perceiving as I did the prowess of those princes, who claimed great prowess, to be deficient, O eminent sage, those rulers of men were rejected by me. Now hear what they did next, O sage rich in asceticism ! “Their prowess having been called in question, all the kings in extreme anger thereupon besieged Mithilā, O jewel among sages ! Considering themselves as having been insulted by me and, therefore, filled with great anger, those jewels among kings inflicted suffering on the city of Mithilā. Consequent on that siege, at the end of a full twelve month all my resources got depleted, O jewel among sages ! As a result of that I felt very wretched. Thereupon I propitiated through askesis all the hosts of gods. (19—23)

Meaning

“Nay, extremely pleased, the gods conferred on me an army complete in all its four limbs, viz., the horse, elephants, chariots and infantry. Being hard hit by that army and completely routed, the villainous princes/ kings, who lacked in valour or whose prowess was called in question, thereupon fled with their ministers in various directions. I shall certainly show the aforesaid most resplendent and celebrated bow, O tiger among ascetics, to Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa as well, O sage of noble vows ! If Rāma strings this bow, O sage, I promise to give away my daughter, Sītā, who was not born of a mother’s womb, to the aforesaid son of Daśaratha.” (24—26)