Janaka Reveals the Divine Bow and Sitas Origin
Balakanda - Sarga 66
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Balakanda - Sarga 66
King Janaka recounts the tale of Shiva's divine bow and Sita's miraculous birth to sage Viswamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana, setting the stage for an epic challenge.
As dawn broke, King Janaka completed his daily devotions and invited the great sage Viswamitra along with Rama and Lakshmana. The virtuous king paid his respects to the visitors according to the scriptures and addressed them:
"Welcome, Venerable One! What can I do for you, O Sinless One? I am at your command, worthy of following your instructions."
Upon hearing these words from the magnanimous Janaka, the virtuous sage, well-versed in speech, replied to the heroic king:
"These two sons of Dasaratha, Rama and Lakshmana, are renowned kshatriyas (members of the warrior and ruling class). They are eager to see the great bow in your possession. Please show it to them, and may you be blessed. Once they have fulfilled their desire to see the bow, they will return as they wish."
Janaka, addressed thus by the great sage, replied, "Let me tell you the story of why this bow is kept here."
"O Adorable One, there was a famous king named Devarata, the sixth in line from Nimi. This bow was entrusted to him by the exalted Lord Shiva. Long ago, during the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, the powerful Rudra (Shiva) lifted this bow and angrily addressed the gods:
'O Devas (gods), since you did not provide me with my share of the sacrificial offerings, I shall sever your beautiful limbs with this bow.'
All the gods, with dejected minds, then propitiated the Lord of Devas, Shiva, and he was pleased with them. In his satisfaction, he gave this gem of a bow to those great souls. O Lord, this exalted weapon of the God of gods was then deposited in trust with our ancestor."
"Some time later, a remarkable event occurred. While I was plowing the sacrificial ground, a maiden was lifted up by the blade of the plow. She became known by the name Sita. As I was purifying the ground, I obtained her. Arising from the earth and not born through a womb, she grew up as my daughter.
O Eminent Ascetic, as news of her miraculous origin spread, many kings came seeking her hand in marriage. However, I did not give my daughter to any of them, stating that her hand could only be won through a test of prowess."
"O Preeminent among Ascetics, the challenge attracted many kings to Mithila to test their strength. The sequence of events that followed was thus:
The divine bow was brought before those who were curious to attempt the feat.
None of the kings could even grasp or lift the bow.
Recognizing their lack of strength, I rejected these mighty kings.
Inflamed with anger and doubting their own strength, all the kings laid siege to Mithila.
They felt humiliated and tormented the city for a year.
All means of living in the city were exhausted, and I was deeply saddened.
I then propitiated all the gods through my austerities.
Highly pleased, the gods gave me a divine army of four divisions (chariots, elephants, horses, and infantry).
Subsequently, the wicked kings, exhausted and defeated, fled in different directions along with their ministers."
"O Best among Ascetics, I shall now show this effulgent bow to Rama and Lakshmana. If Rama can lift and string this bow, I shall give my daughter Sita, who was not born from a woman, to him, the son of Dasaratha."
Thus ends the Sixty Sixth sarga (chapter) of Balakanda (The Book of Youth) of the holy Ramayana, the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.