Under the protection of Sri Rama
and Laksmana, sage Viswamitra completes his 6-day sacrificial proceedings.
Viswamitra then tells Rama, “I stand accomplished of my purpose. You, the
illustrious hero, have carried out my bidding and the name of Siddhasrama has
been justified.”
Next day morning, Rama and
Laksmana, greeting Viswamitra and other Rsis, submit thus: “What injunction of
yours we should carry out.” Then, with the nod of Viswamitra, Rsis tell them:
“Janaka, King of Mithila, is about to perform a most pious sacrifice. We shall
all go there. There you ought to see a marvelous bow, which no one could so
far, including gods, bend.”
Thus, Viswamitra, accompanied by
Sri Rama and Laksmana, and other Rsis, proceed towards Mithila to watch the
bow-sacrifice of King Janaka. On the way, they break their journey on the bank
of Sona at sunset. Later, crossing the Sona, they reach the bank of Ganga and
spend the night there. There at the request of Rama, Viswamitra narrates to him
the story of the origin of Ganga. Later, on the way to Mithila, as Rama enters
the hermitage of Gautama, Ahalya redeems her celestial form. She then offers
hospitality to the two brothers as enunciated in the scriptures. Everyone rejoices
the occasion.
Viswamitra, Rama and Laksmana,
and others finally reach Mithila. Nearing the hall of the Vedic ritual of
Janaka, Rama, expressing his praise for the arrangements made by Janaka for the
ceremony, prays to Viswamitra that he may decide on a cottage for them too
nearby. On hearing the words of Rama, Viswamitra arranges a camp at an
unfrequented place that has refreshing water.
On hearing that Viswamitra
arrived at the ceremony, King Janaka, keeping his family-priest, Satananda, afore,
rushes to Viswamitra and receives him with all humility by offering hospitality
as prescribed by the scriptures. He then submits, “You have blessed me with
your arrival at my sacrificial grounds along with many sages. Permit me to
continue my sacrificial vow for twelve more days. After that, you could also
watch the gods who appear to receive their sacrificial offerings.” Turning to
the two valiant lads who look like a pair of gods descended on the earth,
Janaka questions Vishwamitra as to whose sons are they. Informing that they are
the sons of Emperor Dasaratha, Viswamitra narrates the whole story thus far
happened.
Hearing how Ahalya was redeemed
by Sri Rama, Satananda, son of Gautama and Ahalya, and rejoicing, he narrates
to Rama the story of Viswamitra. On hearing the glorious narration of
Satananda, King Janaka, praying to Viswamitra to grant him leave as it is time
for him to perform religious rites, and also to be pleased to pay a visit to
him the next day, returns to his palace.
Next day, Janaka, calling on
Viswamitra, prays to let him know if there is anything that he can do for them.
Then Viswamitra apprises Janaka about the eagerness of Sri Rama and Laksmana to
see his superb bow. With their desire fulfilled, the two princes will return as
they would. Janaka then reveals to them the glory of the bow and also tells
them how he got it. He then narrates how he got Sita from the track of the plowshare
while plowing the plot set apart for a sacrifice; how she grew up as
his daughter; the rulers of the land approaching him suing for his Sita; his
bringing out the bow of Lord Siva and asking the princes to prove their valour
by stringing it, and none were being able to toss it even; his rejection of
them; angered by his rejection, all those kings inflicting sufferings on his
city; his praying the gods and as they pleased with his prayers their granting
him an army complete in all four limbs and with it his driving away of the
villainous kings from his capital.
“I shall now show that splendid
bow to Sri Rama and Laksmana as well.” He also says, “if Rama strings this bow,
I promise to give away my daughter, Sita, to the son of Dasaratha.” Hearing the
narration of Janaka, Viswamitra then asks him to show the bow to Rama. Janaka
then orders his ministers: “Let the heavenly bow, adorned with sandalwood paste
and garlands, be brought here.”
As commanded, his ministers coming back with an eight-wheeled coffer in which the bow of Shiva is ensconced, tugged by five thousand tall men of illimitable energy who could somehow tug it in, announce: “Oh king and sovereign of Mithila, here is the select bow …” Listening to his ministers, Janaka then submits to Viswamitra and to both Rama and Laksmana too thus: “Here is that exquisite bow, Oh, Brahman, which is held as a time-honoured bow by the lineage of Janaka kings … Oh, eminent-saint, such as it is... let this be displayed to those two princes... “As prayed for by Janaka, Viswamitra then says to Sri Rama, “vatsa rāma dhanuḥ paśhya—Child Rama, behold the bow!”
Rama, opening the chest in which
the bow is placed, and beholding the bow forthwith, says: “idam
dhanurvaram brahman saṃspṛśhāmi iha pāṇinā / yatnavān cha bhaviṣhyāmi tolane pūraṇe api vā (
1-67-14)— I hereby hold with my hand this heavenly bow and shall try to toss it
on my palms and even to bend it.” “Bāḍham—Amen!”
said the king and the sage.
As everyone is watching, Sri Rama
playfully seizes the bow in the middle, sets the string to the bow, and as he
bends it, lo! making a loud noise, it breaks into two in the middle.
Feeling relieved, Janaka submits
to Viswamitra thus: “I have witnessed the prowess of the son of Dasaradha.. his
feat is marvelous, inconceivable, and was never thought of by me. My pledge
that Sita can be won only through valor stands redeemed today. My daughter,
Sita who is dearer to me, remains to be given away. With your permission, I
will send my counselors to Ayodhya to bring the Emperor to Mithila.”
Accordingly, Janaka’s counselors,
on reaching Ayodhya, inform Dasaradha how Sri Rama broke the bow of Janaka and
won the hand of Sita, his daughter. They also convey to him their master’s
message sent with the consent of sage Viswamitra thus: “O illustrious King, by
exhibiting his valour, your worthy son has decisively won my celebrated
daughter. I have to now redeem my pledge by giving away Sita to that exalted
soul. Be pleased to sanction it. Accompanied by your preceptor and your family
priest, ‘O King, come soon and bring my pledge to completion’”.
Dasaradha is delighted to hear
the news. He then, taking the consent of sage Vasistha and Vamadeva as well as
his counselors, proceeds to Mithila for the wedding. They are received with
signal honor by Janaka and his people and are lodged comfortably.
Later, at the instance of
Dasaradha, Vasistha glorifies the race of Ikswaku at the Janaka’s palace.
Recounting his own pedigree, Janaka offers the hand of his two daughters, Sita
and Urmila to SriRama and Laksmana, respectively.
Vasistha and Viswamitra jointly
ask for the hand of the two daughters of Kusadhwaja, brother of King Janaka, in
favour of Bharata and Satrughna and Janaka acquiesce to the proposal. Then
Janaka submits to sage Vasistha thus: “kārayasva ṛṣhe sarvān ṛṣhibhiḥ saha dhārmika / rāmasya loka
rāmasya kriyām vaivāhikīm prabho (I.73.18)—O pious seer, along
with the other sages, conduct the nuptial ceremony of Sri Rama, the delight of
the world, my lord!”
Saying, “Amen” to Janaka, Vasistha,
placing Viswamitra and Satananda at his head, prepares a sacrificial altar at
the center of the pavilion according to the scriptural ordinance and gets it
decorated on all sides with sandal paste and flowers.
Following Rama’s Kalyan,
Janaka invites Laksmana to accept Urmila, Bharata the hand of Mandavi, and
Satrughna the hand of Srutakirti as the wife and be married.
Hearing the request of Janaka all
the four princes, grasping the hands of the four princesses, going clockwise around
the sacrificial fire, the altar, as well as round Janaka and the sages, go
through the rest of the rituals of marriage.
Next day, taking leave of Janaka,
Dasaradha leaves for Ayodhya along with his sons and their newly-wedded brides.
Images: Thanks to artists who displayed them in Google.
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