← 1.65 Story of Sītā & Śiva’s bow: Birth, suitors and Janaka’s condition · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.67 Vivāha: Envoys seek Daśaratha’s consent →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 66: Rāma breaks Śiva’s bow: Janaka confirms the marriage
Summary. Rāma lifts, strings and breaks the bow, Janaka declares his marriage condition fulfilled and sends envoys to seek Daśaratha’s consent
Sequence
- At Viśvāmitra's request, Janaka orders the bow brought with its garlands and perfumes (1.66.1–3)
- five thousand strong men haul its eight-wheeled chest into place (1.66.4–6)
- Janaka repeats that Suras, asuras, rākṣasas, gandharvas, yakṣas, kiṃnaras and mahoragas could not draw it, much less ordinary men lift or string it (1.66.7–11)
- Viśvāmitra invites Rāma to look → Rāma opens the chest and asks permission to lift and draw the bow (1.66.12–14)
- both King and muni consent → he takes it easily by the middle and strings it almost playfully before the watching thousands (1.66.15–16)
- drawing it, he breaks it in the middle (1.66.17)
- the crack sounds like thunder and the earth shakes → everyone falls stunned except Viśvāmitra, Janaka, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa. When the gathering recovers, Janaka declares that this extraordinary feat has fulfilled his vow and that Sītā will marry Rāma (1.66.18–23)
- he asks permission to send envoys to Ayodhyā with news of the achievement, assurance that both princes are safe, and an invitation to Daśaratha → Viśvāmitra agrees, and Janaka dispatches his ministers. (1.66.24–27)
Verses 1.66.1–27
1.66.1
janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
dhanur darśaya rāmāya iti hovāca pārthivam
Hearing Janaka's words, the great sage Viśvāmitra said to the king: “Show the bow to Rāma.”
Words: janakasya — of Janaka; vacaḥ — word; śrutvā — having heard; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; dhanur — the bow; darśaya — show; rāmāya — to Rāma; iti — thus; hovāca — said; pārthivam — to the king
1.66.2
tataḥ sa rājā janakaḥ sacivān vyādideśa ha
dhanur ānīyatāṃ divyaṃ gandhamālyavibhūṣitam
Then that king Janaka commanded his ministers: “Let the divine bow, adorned with perfumes and garlands, be brought.”
Words: tataḥ — then; sa — that; rājā — king; janakaḥ — Janaka; sacivān — the ministers; vyādideśa — commanded; ha — indeed; dhanur — the bow; ānīyatāṃ — let it be brought; divyaṃ — divine; gandhamālyavibhūṣitam — adorned with perfumes and garlands
1.66.3
janakena samādiṣṭhāḥ sacivāḥ prāviśan purīm
tad dhanuḥ purataḥ kṛtvā nirjagmuḥ pārthivājñayā
Commanded by Janaka, the ministers entered the city; and placing that bow before them, they came out by the king's order.
Words: janakena — by Janaka; samādiṣṭhāḥ — commanded, ordered; sacivāḥ — the ministers; prāviśan — entered; purīm — the city; tad dhanuḥ — that bow; purataḥ — in front; kṛtvā — having placed; nirjagmuḥ — came out; pārthivājñayā — by the king's order
1.66.4
nṛpāṃ śatāni pañcāśad vyāyatānāṃ mahātmanām
mañjūṣām aṣṭacakrāṃ tāṃ samūhas te kathaṃ cana
Five thousand tall and mighty men somehow drew that eight-wheeled chest.
Words: nṛpāṃ — of men; śatāni — hundreds; pañcāśad — fifty; vyāyatānāṃ — tall, powerful; mahātmanām — mighty, great-souled; mañjūṣām — the chest, box; aṣṭacakrāṃ — eight-wheeled; tāṃ — that; samūhas — drew, hauled; te — they; kathaṃ cana — somehow, with difficulty
1.66.5
tām ādāya tu mañjūṣām āyatīṃ yatra tad dhanuḥ
suropamaṃ te janakam ūcur nṛpati mantriṇaḥ
Bringing that great chest in which the bow lay, the ministers said to king Janaka, who was like a god:
Words: tām — that; ādāya — having brought, taken; tu — and; mañjūṣām — chest; āyatīṃ — large, long; yatra — where; tad dhanuḥ — the bow (was); suropamaṃ — godlike; te — they; janakam — Janaka; ūcur — said; nṛpati — the king; mantriṇaḥ — the ministers
1.66.6
idaṃ dhanurvaraṃ rājan pūjitaṃ sarvarājabhiḥ
mithilādhipa rājendra darśanīyaṃ yadīcchasi
“This excellent bow, O king, honored by all kings — O lord of Mithilā, O king of kings — is worth beholding, if you wish.”
Words: idaṃ — this; dhanurvaraṃ — excellent bow; rājan — O king; pūjitaṃ — honored; sarvarājabhiḥ — by all kings; mithilādhipa — O lord of Mithilā; rājendra — O king of kings; darśanīyaṃ — worth beholding, to be shown; yadīcchasi — if you wish
1.66.7
teṣāṃ nṛpo vacaḥ śrutvā kṛtāñjalir abhāṣata
viśvāmitraṃ mahātmānaṃ tau cobhau rāmalakṣmaṇau
Hearing their word, the king, with palms joined, addressed the great-souled Viśvāmitra and both Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa:
Words: teṣāṃ — their; nṛpo — the king; vacaḥ — word; śrutvā — having heard; kṛtāñjalir — with palms joined; abhāṣata — addressed, spoke; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; tau cobhau — and both those; rāmalakṣmaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa
1.66.8
idaṃ dhanurvaraṃ brahmañ janakair abhipūjitam
rājabhiś ca mahāvīryair aśakyaṃ pūrituṃ tadā
“This excellent bow, O brahmin, worshipped by the Janakas and by kings of great valor, was then impossible to draw.
Words: idaṃ — this; dhanurvaraṃ — excellent bow; brahmañ — O brahmin; janakair — by the Janakas; abhipūjitam — worshipped, honored; rājabhiś ca — and by kings; mahāvīryair — of great valor; aśakyaṃ — impossible; pūrituṃ — to draw, to bend (and string); tadā — then
1.66.9
naitat suragaṇāḥ sarve nāsurā na ca rākṣasāḥ
gandharvayakṣapravarāḥ sakiṃnaramahoragāḥ
This — not all the hosts of gods, nor the asuras, nor the rākṣasas, nor the foremost of gandharvas and yakṣas together with kinnaras and great serpents (could bend) —
Words: naitat — not this; suragaṇāḥ — the hosts of gods; sarve — all; nāsurā — nor the asuras; na ca — and not; rākṣasāḥ — the rākṣasas; gandharvayakṣapravarāḥ — the foremost of gandharvas and yakṣas; sakiṃnaramahoragāḥ — together with kinnaras and great serpents
1.66.10
kva gatir mānuṣāṇāṃ ca dhanuṣo 'sya prapūraṇe
āropaṇe samāyoge vepane tolane 'pi vā
How then could there be any recourse for men in the drawing of this bow — in stringing it, in fitting (an arrow), in flexing it, or even in lifting it?
Words: kva — where, how; gatir — recourse, means; mānuṣāṇāṃ — of men; ca — and; dhanuṣo — of the bow; 'sya — this; prapūraṇe — in the drawing, bending; āropaṇe — in stringing; samāyoge — in fitting (an arrow), joining; vepane — in flexing, making tremble; tolane — in lifting; 'pi vā — or even
1.66.11
tad etad dhanuṣāṃ śreṣṭham ānītaṃ munipuṃgava
darśayaitan mahābhāga anayo rājaputrayoḥ
This best of bows has been brought, O bull among sages; show it, O illustrious one, to these two princes.”
Words: tad etad — this very; dhanuṣāṃ — of bows; śreṣṭham — the best; ānītaṃ — brought; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages; darśayaitan — show this; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; anayo — to these two; rājaputrayoḥ — the two princes
1.66.12
viśvāmitras tu dharmātmā śrutvā janakabhāṣitam
vatsa rāma dhanuḥ paśya iti rāghavam abravīt
The righteous Viśvāmitra, hearing Janaka's speech, said to the Rāghava: “My child Rāma, behold the bow.”
Words: viśvāmitras — Viśvāmitra; tu — and; dharmātmā — the righteous one; śrutvā — having heard; janakabhāṣitam — Janaka's speech; vatsa — my child; rāma — Rāma; dhanuḥ — the bow; paśya — behold; iti — thus; rāghavam — to the Rāghava; abravīt — said
1.66.13
maharṣer vacanād rāmo yatra tiṣṭhati tad dhanuḥ
mañjūṣāṃ tām apāvṛtya dṛṣṭvā dhanur athābravīt
At the great sage's word, Rāma, opening the chest in which the bow lay and beholding it, then said:
Words: maharṣer — of the great sage; vacanād — at the word; rāmo — Rāma; yatra — where; tiṣṭhati — stands, lies; tad dhanuḥ — the bow; mañjūṣāṃ — the chest; tām — that; apāvṛtya — having opened, uncovered; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; dhanur — the bow; athābravīt — then said
1.66.14
idaṃ dhanurvaraṃ brahman saṃspṛśāmīha pāṇinā
yatnavāṃś ca bhaviṣyāmi tolane pūraṇe 'pi vā
“This excellent bow, O brahmin, I now touch with my hand; I will make an effort at lifting it, or even at drawing it.”
Words: idaṃ — this; dhanurvaraṃ — excellent bow; brahman — O brahmin; saṃspṛśāmīha — I touch here; pāṇinā — with the hand; yatnavāṃś ca — and making effort; bhaviṣyāmi — I shall be; tolane — in lifting; pūraṇe — in drawing, bending; 'pi vā — or even
1.66.15
bāḍham ity eva taṃ rājā muniś ca samabhāṣata
līlayā sa dhanur madhye jagrāha vacanān muneḥ
“Very well,” said both the king and the sage to him; and at the sage's word he grasped the bow in the middle with ease.
Words: bāḍham — “very well, certainly”; ity eva — thus indeed; taṃ — to him; rājā — the king; muniś ca — and the sage; samabhāṣata — said, addressed; līlayā — with ease, in play; sa — he; dhanur — the bow; madhye — in the middle; jagrāha — grasped; vacanān — at the word; muneḥ — of the sage
1.66.16
paśyatāṃ nṛṣahasrāṇāṃ bahūnāṃ raghunandanaḥ
āropayat sa dharmātmā salīlam iva tad dhanuḥ
As many thousands of men looked on, the righteous delight of the Raghus strung that bow as if in play.
Words: paśyatāṃ — as they looked on; nṛṣahasrāṇāṃ — of thousands of men; bahūnāṃ — many; raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus (Rāma); āropayat — strung, bent the string onto; sa — he; dharmātmā — the righteous one; salīlam — as if in play, effortlessly; iva — like, as; tad dhanuḥ — the bow
1.66.17
āropayitvā maurvīṃ ca pūrayām āsa vīryavān
tad babhañja dhanur madhye naraśreṣṭho mahāyaśāḥ
And having fastened the bowstring, the mighty one drew it; then that glorious best of men broke the bow in the middle.
Words: āropayitvā — having fastened, strung; maurvīṃ ca — and the bowstring; pūrayām āsa — drew (to full), bent; vīryavān — the mighty one; tad — that; babhañja — broke; dhanur — the bow; madhye — in the middle; naraśreṣṭho — the best of men; mahāyaśāḥ — of great glory
1.66.18
tasya śabdo mahān āsīn nirghātasamaniḥsvanaḥ
bhūmikampaś ca sumahān parvatasyeva dīryataḥ
There was a mighty sound from it, with a noise like a thunderclap; and a very great trembling of the earth, as of a mountain being rent asunder.
Words: tasya — of it; śabdo — sound; mahān — great; āsīn — was; nirghātasamaniḥsvanaḥ — with a noise like a thunderclap; bhūmikampaś — trembling of the earth; ca — and; sumahān — very great; parvatasyeva — as of a mountain; dīryataḥ — being rent, splitting
1.66.19
nipetuś ca narāḥ sarve tena śabdena mohitāḥ
vrajayitvā munivaraṃ rājānaṃ tau ca rāghavau
And all the men fell down, stunned by that sound — save the best of sages, the king, and the two Rāghavas.
Words: nipetuś ca — and fell down; narāḥ — the men; sarve — all; tena śabdena — by that sound; mohitāḥ — stunned, bewildered; vrajayitvā — excepting (=varjayitvā); munivaraṃ — the best of sages; rājānaṃ — the king; tau ca rāghavau — and the two Rāghavas
1.66.20
pratyāśvasto jane tasmin rājā vigatasādhvasaḥ
uvāca prāñjalir vākyaṃ vākyajño munipuṃgavam
When that gathering had recovered, the king, his fear gone, skilled in speech, with palms joined spoke to the bull among sages:
Words: pratyāśvasto — recovered, revived; jane tasmin — when that gathering (loc. abs.); rājā — the king; vigatasādhvasaḥ — his fear gone; uvāca — spoke; prāñjalir — with palms joined; vākyaṃ — word; vākyajño — knower of speech; munipuṃgavam — to the bull among sages
1.66.21
bhagavan dṛṣṭavīryo me rāmo daśarathātmajaḥ
atyadbhutam acintyaṃ ca atarkitam idaṃ mayā
“Venerable one, the valor of Rāma, son of Daśaratha, has been witnessed by me; this was utterly wondrous, unimaginable, and undreamt of by me.
Words: bhagavan — O venerable one; dṛṣṭavīryo — whose valor has been seen; me — by me; rāmo — Rāma; daśarathātmajaḥ — son of Daśaratha; atyadbhutam — utterly wondrous; acintyaṃ — unimaginable; ca — and; atarkitam — undreamt of, unexpected; idaṃ — this; mayā — by me
1.66.22
janakānāṃ kule kīrtim āhariṣyati me sutā
sītā bhartāram āsādya rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam
My daughter Sītā, gaining as her husband Rāma, son of Daśaratha, will bring glory to the line of the Janakas.
Words: janakānāṃ — of the Janakas; kule — to the family, line; kīrtim — glory, fame; āhariṣyati — will bring; me — my; sutā — daughter; sītā — Sītā; bhartāram — husband; āsādya — having gained, won; rāmaṃ — Rāma; daśarathātmajam — son of Daśaratha
1.66.23
mama satyā pratijñā ca vīryaśulketi kauśika
sītā prāṇair bahumatā deyā rāmāya me sutā
And my vow, O Kauśika, that valor is the bride-price, has come true; Sītā, my daughter, dearer to me than life, is to be given to Rāma.
Words: mama — my; satyā — true; pratijñā — vow, promise; ca — and; vīryaśulketi — '(that) valor is the bride-price'; kauśika — O Kauśika; sītā — Sītā; prāṇair — than (my) life-breaths; bahumatā — highly esteemed, dearer; deyā — to be given; rāmāya — to Rāma; me — my; sutā — daughter
1.66.24
bhavato 'numate brahmañ śīghraṃ gacchantu mantriṇaḥ
mama kauśika bhadraṃ te ayodhyāṃ tvaritā rathaiḥ
With your permission, O brahmin, let my ministers go quickly, O Kauśika — blessings on you — to Ayodhyā in haste by chariots,
Words: bhavato 'numate — with your permission; brahmañ — O brahmin; śīghraṃ — quickly; gacchantu — let them go; mantriṇaḥ — the ministers; mama — my; kauśika — O Kauśika; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; tvaritā — in haste, hurried; rathaiḥ — by chariots
1.66.25
rājānaṃ praśritair vākyair ānayantu puraṃ mama
pradānaṃ vīryaśulkāḥ kathayantu ca sarvaśaḥ
to bring the king (Daśaratha) to my city with courteous words, and to relate fully the giving away of her whose bride-price was valor.
Words: rājānaṃ — the king; praśritair — with courteous, humble; vākyair — words; ānayantu — let them bring; puraṃ — the city; mama — my; pradānaṃ — the giving away (in marriage); vīryaśulkāḥ — (of her) whose bride-price is valor; kathayantu — let them relate; ca — and; sarvaśaḥ — fully, in every detail
1.66.26
muniguptau ca kākutsthau kathayantu nṛpāya vai
prīyamāṇaṃ tu rājānam ānayantu suśīghragāḥ
And let them tell the king that the two Kākutsthas are under the sage's protection; and, going very swiftly, let them bring the king, who will be delighted.
Words: muniguptau — the two protected by the sage; ca — and; kākutsthau — the two Kākutsthas; kathayantu — let them tell; nṛpāya — to the king; vai — indeed; prīyamāṇaṃ — being delighted, who will be pleased; tu — and; rājānam — the king; ānayantu — let them bring; suśīghragāḥ — going very swiftly
1.66.27
kauśikaś ca tathety āha rājā cābhāṣya mantriṇaḥ
ayodhyāṃ preṣayām āsa dharmātmā kṛtaśāsanāt
And Kauśika said, “So be it.” Then the king, that righteous one, having instructed his ministers, dispatched them to Ayodhyā by his issued command.
Words: kauśikaś ca — and Kauśika; tathety — “so be it”; āha — said; rājā — the king; cābhāṣya — and having addressed; mantriṇaḥ — the ministers; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; preṣayām āsa — sent, dispatched; dharmātmā — the righteous one; kṛtaśāsanāt — by his issued command
← 1.65 Story of Sītā & Śiva’s bow: Birth, suitors and Janaka’s condition · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.67 Vivāha: Envoys seek Daśaratha’s consent →
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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