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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 65: Story of Sītā & Śiva’s bow: Birth, suitors and Janaka’s condition
Summary. Janaka recounts Sītā’s birth, Śiva’s bow and the suitors’ failure, offering her hand to Rāma if he can string it
Sequence
- The next morning Janaka summons and honors Viśvāmitra and the princes, asking what he can do for them (1.65.1–3)
- Viśvāmitra requests the bow (1.65.4–6)
- Janaka explains its history: Rudra raised it during the destruction of Dakṣa's sacrifice, threatening the Suras for withholding his share → when they appeased him, he gave it to them → it was later entrusted to Janaka's ancestor Devarāta, sixth from Nimi. Janaka recounts finding Sītā while ploughing a field (1.65.7–13)
- born from the furrow rather than a womb, she grew up as his daughter → he resolved that proven valor would be the condition of her marriage (1.65.14–15)
- when Kings sought her, he maintained that condition and brought out the bow to test them → none could even lift it, and he rejected their claims (1.65.16–20)
- humiliated, they besieged Mithilā → after a year his resources were exhausted (1.65.21–23)
- he won the Devas' favor through austerity and received a fourfold army → the defeated besiegers fled (1.65.24–25)
- he agrees to show the bow and promises Sītā to Rāma if he can string it. (1.65.26–27)
Verses 1.65.1–27
1.65.1
tataḥ prabhāte vimale kṛtakarmā narādhipaḥ
viśvāmitraṃ mahātmānam ājuhāva sarāghavam
Then, when the bright morning came, the king, having performed his (morning) rites, summoned the great-souled Viśvāmitra along with the Rāghavas.
Words: tataḥ — then; prabhāte vimale — in the bright, cloudless morning; kṛtakarmā — having performed his rites; narādhipaḥ — the king; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahātmānam — the great-souled; ājuhāva — summoned, called; sarāghavam — together with the Rāghavas
1.65.2
tam arcayitvā dharmātmā śāstradṛṣṭtena karmaṇā
rāghavau ca mahātmānau tadā vākyam uvāca ha
Having honored him, and the two great-souled Rāghavas, with a rite prescribed by scripture, the righteous one then spoke:
Words: tam — him; arcayitvā — having honored; dharmātmā — the righteous one; śāstradṛṣṭtena — prescribed by scripture (seen in the śāstras); karmaṇā — with a rite, act; rāghavau ca — and the two Rāghavas; mahātmānau — the two great-souled; tadā — then; vākyam — word; uvāca — spoke; ha — indeed
1.65.3
bhagavan svāgataṃ te 'stu kiṃ karomi tavānagha
bhavān ājñāpayatu mām ājñāpyo bhavatā hy aham
“Venerable one, welcome to you! What may I do for you, O sinless one? Let your honor command me, for I am one to be commanded by you.”
Words: bhagavan — O venerable one; svāgataṃ te 'stu — welcome to you; kiṃ — what; karomi — shall I do; tavānagha — for you, O sinless one; bhavān — your honor; ājñāpayatu — let (him) command; mām — me; ājñāpyo — to be commanded; bhavatā — by your honor; hy — indeed; aham — I
1.65.4
evam uktaḥ sa dharmātmā janakena mahātmanā
pratyuvāca munir vīraṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ
Thus addressed by the great-souled Janaka, that righteous sage, skilled in speech, replied to the hero:
Words: evam uktaḥ — thus addressed; sa — he; dharmātmā — the righteous one; janakena — by Janaka; mahātmanā — the great-souled; pratyuvāca — replied; munir — the sage; vīraṃ — to the hero; vākyaṃ — word; vākyaviśāradaḥ — skilled in speech
1.65.5
putrau daśarathasyemau kṣatriyau lokaviśrutau
draṣṭukāmau dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ yad etat tvayi tiṣṭhati
“These two are the sons of Daśaratha, warriors renowned throughout the world; they desire to see the excellent bow that is kept with you.
Words: putrau — the two sons; daśarathasyemau — these two of Daśaratha; kṣatriyau — the two warriors; lokaviśrutau — renowned in the world; draṣṭukāmau — desiring to see; dhanuḥ — the bow; śreṣṭhaṃ — excellent, best; yad etat — which, this; tvayi — with you; tiṣṭhati — stands, is kept
1.65.6
etad darśaya bhadraṃ te kṛtakāmau nṛpātmajau
darśanād asya dhanuṣo yatheṣṭaṃ pratiyāsyataḥ
Show it — blessings on you — and the two princes, their wish fulfilled, will return as they please after seeing this bow.”
Words: etad — this; darśaya — show; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; kṛtakāmau — the two with their wish fulfilled; nṛpātmajau — the two princes; darśanād — from the sight; asya — of this; dhanuṣo — bow; yatheṣṭaṃ — as they please; pratiyāsyataḥ — the two will return
1.65.7
evam uktas tu janakaḥ pratyuvāca mahāmunim
śrūyatām asya dhanuṣo yad artham iha tiṣṭhati
Thus addressed, Janaka replied to the great sage: “Let it be heard for what purpose this bow abides here.
Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — and; janakaḥ — Janaka; pratyuvāca — replied; mahāmunim — to the great sage; śrūyatām — let it be heard; asya dhanuṣo — of this bow; yad artham — for what purpose; iha — here; tiṣṭhati — abides, stands
1.65.8
devarāta iti khyāto nimeḥ ṣaṣṭho mahīpatiḥ
nyāso 'yaṃ tasya bhagavan haste datto mahātmanā
There was a king renowned as Devarāta, the sixth from Nimi; into his hand, venerable one, this (bow) was given as a trust by the great one (Śiva).
Words: devarāta — Devarāta; iti khyāto — so renowned; nimeḥ — from Nimi; ṣaṣṭho — the sixth; mahīpatiḥ — king; nyāso — a trust, deposit; 'yaṃ — this; tasya — into his; bhagavan — O venerable one; haste — hand; datto — given; mahātmanā — by the great one
1.65.9
dakṣayajñavadhe pūrvaṃ dhanur āyamya vīryavān
rudras tu tridaśān roṣāt salilam idam abravīt
Of old, at the destruction of Dakṣa's sacrifice, the mighty Rudra, bending this bow, spoke this to the gods in anger, mockingly:
Words: dakṣayajñavadhe — at the destruction of Dakṣa's sacrifice; pūrvaṃ — of old, formerly; dhanur — the bow; āyamya — having bent, drawn; vīryavān — the mighty one; rudras — Rudra; tu — and; tridaśān — to the gods (the thirty); roṣāt — out of anger; salilam — mockingly, in sport (=salīlam); idam — this; abravīt — said
1.65.10
yasmād bhāgārthino bhāgān nākalpayata me surāḥ
varāṅgāni mahārhāṇi dhanuṣā śātayāmi vaḥ
“Since, O gods, you did not apportion me a share, though I desired a share, I will with this bow cut off your precious, choicest limbs.”
Words: yasmād — since; bhāgārthino — desiring a share; bhāgān — a share; nākalpayata — you did not apportion; me — to me; surāḥ — O gods; varāṅgāni — the choicest limbs; mahārhāṇi — precious, most valuable; dhanuṣā — with the bow; śātayāmi — I cut off, sever; vaḥ — your
1.65.11
tato vimanasaḥ sarve devā vai munipuṃgava
prasādayanti deveśaṃ teṣāṃ prīto 'bhavad bhavaḥ
Then all the gods, dejected, O bull among sages, propitiated the lord of gods (Śiva); and Bhava (Śiva) became pleased with them.
Words: tato — then; vimanasaḥ — dejected, downcast; sarve — all; devā — the gods; vai — indeed; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages; prasādayanti — propitiate; deveśaṃ — the lord of gods; teṣāṃ — with them; prīto — pleased; 'bhavad — became; bhavaḥ — Bhava (Śiva)
1.65.12
prītiyuktaḥ sa sarveṣāṃ dadau teṣāṃ mahātmanām
Filled with satisfaction, he gave it (the bow) to all those great-souled ones.
Words: prītiyuktaḥ — filled with satisfaction; sa — he; sarveṣāṃ — to all; dadau — gave; teṣāṃ — those; mahātmanām — great-souled
1.65.13
tad etad devadevasya dhanūratnaṃ mahātmanaḥ
nyāsabhūtaṃ tadā nyastam asmākaṃ pūrvake vibho
This is that jewel of a bow of the great god of gods; it was then deposited as a trust with our ancestor, O lord.
Words: tad etad — this very; devadevasya — of the god of gods; dhanūratnaṃ — the jewel of a bow; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; nyāsabhūtaṃ — being a trust; tadā — then; nyastam — deposited; asmākaṃ — our; pūrvake — with the ancestor, forefather; vibho — O lord
1.65.14
atha me kṛṣataḥ kṣetraṃ lāṅgalād utthitā mama
kṣetraṃ śodhayatā labdhvā nāmnā sīteti viśrutā
Now, as I was plowing the field, there arose from the plow(-furrow) — obtained by me as I was preparing the field — one renowned by the name Sītā (Furrow).
Words: atha — now, then; me kṛṣataḥ — of me as I plowed; kṣetraṃ — the field; lāṅgalād — from the plow; utthitā — arisen; mama — my; kṣetraṃ — the field; śodhayatā — (by me) preparing, cleansing; labdhvā — having obtained; nāmnā — by name; sīteti — 'Sītā'; viśrutā — renowned
1.65.15
bhūtalād utthitā sā tu vyavardhata mamātmajā
vīryaśulketi me kanyā sthāpiteyam ayonijā
Risen from the ground, she grew up as my daughter; and this maiden of mine, not womb-born, was established with valor as her bride-price.
Words: bhūtalād — from the ground; utthitā — risen; sā — she; tu — and; vyavardhata — grew up; mamātmajā — my daughter; vīryaśulketi — 'valor as bride-price'; me — my; kanyā — maiden; sthāpiteyam — this was established; ayonijā — not womb-born
1.65.16
bhūtalād utthitāṃ tāṃ tu vardhamānāṃ mamātmajām
varayām āsur āgamya rājāno munipuṃgava
When my daughter, risen from the ground, was growing up, kings came and sought her hand, O bull among sages.
Words: bhūtalād — from the ground; utthitāṃ — risen; tāṃ — her; tu — and; vardhamānāṃ — growing up; mamātmajām — my daughter; varayām āsur — sought in marriage, wooed; āgamya — having come; rājāno — kings; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages
1.65.17
teṣāṃ varayatāṃ kanyāṃ sarveṣāṃ pṛthivīkṣitām
vīryaśulketi bhagavan na dadāmi sutām aham
To all those rulers of the earth wooing the maiden, O venerable one, I did not give my daughter, (declaring) that valor is her bride-price.
Words: teṣāṃ — those; varayatāṃ — wooing; kanyāṃ — the maiden; sarveṣāṃ — all; pṛthivīkṣitām — of the rulers of the earth; vīryaśulketi — 'valor as bride-price'; bhagavan — O venerable one; na dadāmi — I do not give; sutām — the daughter; aham — I
1.65.18
tataḥ sarve nṛpatayaḥ sametya munipuṃgava
mithilām abhyupāgamya vīryaṃ jijñāsavas tadā
Then all the kings, gathering together, O bull among sages, came to Mithilā, wishing then to test their strength.
Words: tataḥ — then; sarve — all; nṛpatayaḥ — the kings; sametya — having gathered; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages; mithilām — to Mithilā; abhyupāgamya — having come to; vīryaṃ — strength, valor; jijñāsavas — wishing to test, know; tadā — then
1.65.19
teṣāṃ jijñāsamānānāṃ vīryaṃ dhanur upāhṛtam
na śekur grahaṇe tasya dhanuṣas tolane 'pi vā
As they sought to test their strength, the bow was brought forth; but they could not even lift that bow, let alone handle it.
Words: teṣāṃ — of them; jijñāsamānānāṃ — as they sought to test, know; vīryaṃ — strength; dhanur — the bow; upāhṛtam — was brought forth; na śekur — they were not able; grahaṇe — in grasping, handling; tasya — that; dhanuṣas — bow; tolane — in lifting, raising; 'pi vā — or even
1.65.20
teṣāṃ vīryavatāṃ vīryam alpaṃ jñātvā mahāmune
pratyākhyātā nṛpatayas tan nibodha tapodhana
Knowing the strength of those strong ones to be slight, O great sage, I rejected the kings. Understand that, O treasury of austerity.
Words: teṣāṃ — of those; vīryavatāṃ — strong ones; vīryam — strength; alpaṃ — slight, little; jñātvā — having known; mahāmune — O great sage; pratyākhyātā — (were) rejected; nṛpatayas — the kings; tan — that; nibodha — understand, learn; tapodhana — O treasury of austerity
1.65.21
tataḥ paramakopena rājāno munipuṃgava
arundhan mithilāṃ sarve vīryasaṃdeham āgatāḥ
Then, in extreme fury, O bull among sages, all the kings, whose valor had been called into doubt, besieged Mithilā.
Words: tataḥ — then; paramakopena — with extreme fury; rājāno — the kings; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages; arundhan — besieged, blockaded; mithilāṃ — Mithilā; sarve — all; vīryasaṃdeham — doubt of (their) valor; āgatāḥ — having come to
1.65.22
ātmānam avadhūtaṃ te vijñāya munipuṃgava
roṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭāḥ pīḍayan mithilāṃ purīm
Realizing themselves to be spurned, O bull among sages, seized with great rage, they harassed the city of Mithilā.
Words: ātmānam — themselves; avadhūtaṃ — spurned, rejected; te — they; vijñāya — having realized; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages; roṣeṇa — with rage; mahatāviṣṭāḥ — seized with great (rage); pīḍayan — harassed, oppressed; mithilāṃ — Mithilā; purīm — the city
1.65.23
tataḥ saṃvatsare pūrṇe kṣayaṃ yātāni sarvaśaḥ
sādhanāni munireṣṭha tato 'haṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ
Then, when a full year had passed, all my resources were entirely exhausted, O best of sages; and thereupon I was sorely distressed.
Words: tataḥ — then; saṃvatsare pūrṇe — when the year was complete; kṣayaṃ yātāni — came to exhaustion, destruction; sarvaśaḥ — entirely; sādhanāni — resources, means; munireṣṭha — O best of sages; tato — then; 'haṃ — I; bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ — sorely distressed
1.65.24
tato devagaṇān sarvāṃs tapasāhaṃ prasādayam
daduś ca paramaprītāś caturaṅgabalaṃ surāḥ
Then I propitiated all the hosts of gods by austerity, and the gods, greatly pleased, gave me a four-membered army.
Words: tato — then; devagaṇān — the hosts of gods; sarvāṃs — all; tapasāhaṃ — I by austerity; prasādayam — propitiated; daduś ca — and they gave; paramaprītāś — greatly pleased; caturaṅgabalaṃ — a four-membered army; surāḥ — the gods
1.65.25
tato bhagnā nṛpatayo hanyamānā diśo yayuḥ
avīryā vīryasaṃdigdhā sāmātyāḥ pāpakāriṇaḥ
Then the kings, broken and struck down, fled in all directions — the powerless ones whose valor had been doubted, evil-doers together with their ministers.
Words: tato — then; bhagnā — broken, routed; nṛpatayo — the kings; hanyamānā — being struck down; diśo — in (all) directions; yayuḥ — went, fled; avīryā — powerless; vīryasaṃdigdhā — whose valor was doubted; sāmātyāḥ — together with their ministers; pāpakāriṇaḥ — evil-doers
1.65.26
tad etan muniśārdūla dhanuḥ paramabhāsvaram
rāmalakṣmaṇayoś cāpi darśayiṣyāmi suvrata
This, O tiger among sages, is that supremely radiant bow; I will show it to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa too, O you of good vows.
Words: tad etan — this very; muniśārdūla — O tiger among sages; dhanuḥ — the bow; paramabhāsvaram — supremely radiant; rāmalakṣmaṇayoś — to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; cāpi — and also; darśayiṣyāmi — I will show; suvrata — O you of good vows
1.65.27
yady asya dhanuṣo rāmaḥ kuryād āropaṇaṃ mune
sutām ayonijāṃ sītāṃ dadyāṃ dāśarather aham
If Rāma should accomplish the stringing of this bow, O sage, I will give my daughter Sītā, not womb-born, to the son of Daśaratha.”
Words: yady — if; asya dhanuṣo — of this bow; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kuryād — should make, accomplish; āropaṇaṃ — the stringing, bending on of the string; mune — O sage; sutām — daughter; ayonijāṃ — not womb-born; sītāṃ — Sītā; dadyāṃ — I would give; dāśarather — to the son of Daśaratha; aham — I
← 1.64 Story of Viśvāmitra: Restraint and recognition as brahmarṣi · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.66 Rāma breaks Śiva’s bow: Janaka confirms the marriage →
Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.
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