Bala Kanda, Sarga 67

Meaning

Hearing the narration of Janaka, the eminent sage Viśwāmitra, so the tradition goes, said to the aforesaid king, “Please show the bow to Rāma.” (1)

Meaning

Thereupon the celebrated King Janaka gladly instructed as follows his counsellors sitting by his side : “Let the heavenly bow, adorned with sandal-paste and flowers, be brought here.” (2)

Meaning

Commanded by Janaka, his counsellors, who were possessed of immense glory, entered the city and, placing the bow ahead, came out of the city. (3)

Meaning

Five thousand unusually tall and well-built men somehow managed to propel the chest containing the bow, mounted on eight wheels. (4)

Meaning

Taking with them that iron chest of good design, in which the said bow had been placed, those counsellors of the king said to Janaka, who resembled a god in lustre : (5)

Meaning

“This superb bow, O king, which is worshipped by all the kings, may kindly be shown to Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, if you will, O ruler of Mithilā, O king of kings !” (6)

Meaning

Hearing their prayer, the king submitted with folded-hands to the high-souled Viśwāmitra and both the aforesaid princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa : (7)

Meaning

“This excellent bow, O holy Brāhmaṇa, has been worshipped by the Janakas and extolled by kings, who were unable to bend it, though they were very powerfull. (8)

Meaning

“Not even hosts of gods including demons nor ogres nor the foremost of Gandharvas and Yakṣas including Kinnaras and great Nāgas were able to string it. How then can there be any capacity in poor human beings to bend this bow, string it, fit an arrow to it, vibrate its string and toss it in their palms in order to estimate its weight? (9-10)

Meaning

“This bow, the best of all, has been brought before you, O jewel among sages ! Kindly show it now, O highly blessed one, to these two princess.” (11)

Meaning

Hearing the request of Janaka alongwith Śrī Rāma, Viśwāmitra spoke to the latter as follows : “Child Rāma, behold the bow !”(12)

Meaning

Opening at the instance of Viśwāmitra, the eminent seer, the chest in which the famous bow lay encased, and beholding the bow, Śrī Rāma forthwith said : (13)

Meaning

“I hereby hold with my hand this excellent heavenly bow and shall try to toss it on my palms and even to bend it.” (14)

Meaning

“Amen !” said the king and the sage too dittoed the remark. At the instance of the sage Śrī Rāma sportfully seized the bow at the middle. (15)

Meaning

Nay, the celebrated scion of Raghu, whose mind is given to righteousness, strung that bow as though in sport while a great mass of populace stood looking on. (16)

Meaning

Having set the string to the bow, the highly illustrious Śrī Rāma, a jewel among men, bent the said bow and lo ! the bow broke into two at the middle. (17)

Meaning

A great noise reverberating like a crash of thunder issued from it even as it broke and a violent earthquake followed in its wake as it would in the event of a mountain cracking. (18)

Meaning

Nay, stunned by that crash all men (present there) toppled down, barring, of course, Viśwāmitra, the foremost of sages, the king and the two celebrated scions of Raghu. (19)

Meaning

On the people there recovering from the shock and feeling reassured, the king, whose misgivings had now been set at rest, and who knew how to speak, submitted with joined palms to Viśwāmitra, the foremost of sages, as follows : (20)

Meaning

“The prowess of Śrī Rāma, son of Daśaratha, has been witnessed by me. The feat performed by him is most marvellous, inconceivable and was never thought of by me. (21)

Meaning

“Having secured Śrī Rāma, son of Emperor Daśaratha, for her husband, my daughter, Sītā, will fetch renown to the race of the Janakas. (22)

Meaning

“My pledge that Sītā can be won only through valour stands redeemed today, O son of Kuśika ! My daughter, Sītā, who is dearer to me than life, now remains to be given away. (23)

Meaning

“With your permission, O holy Brāhmaṇa, let my counsellors quickly proceed, O son of Kuśika, to Ayodhyā in chariots with expedition; may god bless you ! (24)

Meaning

“Let them with polite words bring the Emperor to my capital and tell him exhaustively how Sītā having been won through valour is going to be married to Śrī Rāma. (25)

Meaning

“Let them also speak of the two scions of Kakutstha being well looked after by the sage (yourself) and let them bring the Emperor, full of delight, poste-haste to Mithilā.” (26)

Meaning

The son of Kuśika, Viśwāmitra, for his part said, “Amen !” And, summoning his counsellors, the pious king despatched them with instructions to narrate at length everything precisely as it had happened, as well as to bring the Emperor to Mithilā. (27)