# Bāla Kāṇḍa 65 — Story of Sītā & Śiva’s bow: Birth, suitors and Janaka’s condition *Janaka recounts Sītā’s birth, Śiva’s bow and the suitors’ failure, offering her hand to Rāma if he can string it* Portion: Story of Sītā & Śiva’s bow · Verses: 27 · Ref format: 1.65. ## Sequence - The next morning Janaka summons and honors Viśvāmitra and the princes, asking what he can do for them (65.1–3) - Viśvāmitra requests the bow (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 (65.7–13). Janaka recounts finding Sītā while ploughing a field - 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 (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 (65.16–20) - humiliated, they besieged Mithilā → after a year his resources were exhausted (65.21–23) - he won the Devas' favor through austerity and received a fourfold army → the defeated besiegers fled (65.24–25) - he agrees to show the bow and promises Sītā to Rāma if he can string it (65.26–27). ## Verses **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. **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: **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.” **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: **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. **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.” **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. **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). **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: **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.” **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. **1.65.12** prītiyuktaḥ sa sarveṣāṃ dadau teṣāṃ mahātmanām Filled with satisfaction, he gave it (the bow) to all those great-souled ones. **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. **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). **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.”