जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। धनुर्दर्शय रामाय इति होवाच पार्थिवम्॥
Hearing Janaka's words, the mighty Muni Viśvāmitra said to the king, Do you show the bow to Rāma.
ततः स राजा जनकः सचिवान् व्यादिदेश ह! धनुरानीयतां दिव्यं गन्धमाल्यानुलेपितम्॥
Thereupon the king Janaka commanded his ministers, saying, Do you bring the wonderful bow furnished with unguents and garlands.
जनकेन समादिष्टाः सचिवाः प्राविशन् पुरम्। तद्धनुः पुरतः कृत्वा निर्जग्मुरमितौजसः॥
Commanded by Janaka, the ministers entered the city; and placing the bow in their front, those, endowed with immeasurable energy, came out.
नृणां शतानि पञ्चाशद् व्यायतानां महात्मनाम्। मञ्जूषामष्टचक्रां तां समूहुस्ते कथंचन॥
And deposited in a case on a cart borne upon eight wheels, it was with difficulty drawn along by five thousand stalwart persons of welldeveloped frames.
तामादाय सुमञ्जूषामायसीं यत्र तद्धनुः। सुरोपमं ते जनकमूचुर्नृपतिमन्त्रिणः॥
And having brought that bow plaited with iron, placed in its case, the royal counsellors spoke to Janaka resembling an immortal, saying,
इदं धनुर्वरं राजन् पूजितं सर्वराजभिः। मिथिलाधिप राजेन्द्र दर्शनीयं यदीच्छसि॥
Here is the best of bow, O king, worshipped of all sovereigns. O foremost of kings, O lord of Mithilā, if it please you, behold the same.
तेषां नृपो वचः श्रुत्वा कृताञ्जलिरभाषत। विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं ताबुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ॥
Hearing their speech, the king with ciasped palms said to the high-souled Viśvāmitra as well as Rāma and Laksmana,
इदं धनुर्वरं ब्रह्मञ्जनकैरभिपूजितम्। राजभिश्च महावीरशक्तैः पूरितं तदा॥
This best of bows, O Brāhmaṇa, has always been worshipped by the Janakas: as also by mighty kings incapable of wielding and stringing it.)
नैतत् सुरगणाः सर्वे सासुरा न च राक्षसाः। गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः सकिन्नरमहोरगाः॥ क्व गतिर्मानुषाणां च धनुषोऽस्य प्रपूरणे। आरोपणे समायोगे वेपने तोलने तथा॥
And neither the celestials, nor the Asuras, nor the Rākşasas, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Yakş as, nor the Kinnaras, nor the mighty Uragas, how shall men fare have succeeded in stringing or stretching it, or fixing the arrow to it, or pulling its string, or wielding it.
तदेतद् धनुषां श्रेष्ठमानीतं मुनिपुङ्गव। दर्शयैतन्महाभाग अनयो राजपुत्रयोः॥
This foremost of bows has been brought here, O chief of ascetics. Do you, O exalted one, show it to these sons of the king.
विश्वामित्रः सरामस्तु श्रुत्वा जनकभाषितम्। वत्स राम धनुः पश्य इति राघवमब्रवीत्॥
Hearing Janaka's words, the righteous Viśvāmitra said to Rāghava, O Rāma, do you, my child, behold the bow.
महर्षेर्वचनाद् रामो यत्र तिष्ठति तद्धनुः। मञ्जूषां तामपावृत्य दृष्ट्वा धनुरथाब्रवीत्॥
At the words of the Maharsi, Rama, opening the case, took a sight of the bow, and said,
इदं धनुर्वरं दिव्यं संस्पृशामीह पाणिना। यत्नवांश्च भविष्यामि तोलने पूरणेऽपि वा॥
This divine bow will I touch with my hand, and shall I also strive to wield and draw it?
बादमित्यब्रवीद् र.ना मुनिश्च समभाषत। लीलया स धनुर्मध्ये जग्राह वचनान्मुनेः॥ पश्यतां नृसहस्राणां बहूनां रघुनन्दनः। आरोपयत् स धर्मात्मा सलीलमिव तद्धनुः॥ आरोपयित्वा मौर्वी च पूरयामास तद्धनुः। तद् बभञ्ज धनुर्मध्ये नरश्रेष्ठो महायशाः॥ तस्य शब्दो महानासीनिर्घातसमनिःस्वनः। भूमिकम्पश्च सुमहान् पर्वतस्येव दीर्यतः॥ निपेतुश्च नराः सर्वे तेन शब्देन मोहिताः। वर्जयित्वा मुनिवरं राजानं तौ च राघवौ॥
Thereat both the king and the ascetic said, Excellent well. At the words of the anchorite, in the sight of countless thousands of spectators, the righteous son of Raghu with exceeding ease took hold of the bow by the middle, and fixed the string upon it, and having fixed the string, drew it. And that foremost of men enjoying high fame, snapped the bow in the middle. And mighty was the sound that was heard on the occasion, like to the bursting of a thunder-clap: and the earth trembled terribly, as it does in the vicinity of a mountain splitting; and overwhelmed by the noise, all rolled head over heels, with the exception of that best of ascetics, the king, and the two Rāghavas.
प्रत्याश्वस्ते जने तस्मिन् राजा विगतसाध्वसः। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो मुनिपुङ्गवम्॥
On the people being reassured, the king conversant with speech, his apprehension removed, with folded hands addressed that puissant ascetic, saying.
भगवन् दृष्टवीर्यो मे रामो दशरथात्मजः। अत्यद्भुतमचिन्त्यं च अतर्कितमिदं मया॥
O worshipful one, I have beheld the prowess of Dasaratha's son. This is verily wonderful and inconceivable; and I did not think this was possible.
जनकानां कुले कीर्तिमाहरिष्यति मे सुता। सीता भर्तारमासाद्य रामं दशरथात्मजम्॥
My daughter, Sītā, being united with her lord, Dasaratha's son, Rama, will shed lustre on Janaka's line.
मम सत्या प्रतिज्ञा सा वीर्यशुल्केति कौशिक। सीता प्राणैर्बहुमता देया रामाय मे सुता ॥
My promise viz., that I will confer Sītā upon him that will bend the bow, has been fulfilled, O son of Kusika. And this Sītā, this my daughter, dearer to me than life will I confer upon Rāma.
भवतोऽनुमते ब्रह्मशीघ्रं गच्छन्तु मन्त्रिणः। मम कौशिक भद्रं ते अयोध्यां त्वरिता रथैः. :.२४॥ राजानं प्रश्रितैर्वाक्यैरानयन्तु पुरं मम। प्रदानं वीर्यशुल्कायाः कथयन्तु च सर्वशः॥
O Brāhmaṇa, by your permission let my counsellors speedily post hence, O Kausika, to Ayodhyā, in cars; and with humble speech bring the king to my capital. And let them communicate to him all about the bestowal of Sītå upon Răma, in consequence of his having bent the bow.
मुनिगुप्तौ च काकुत्स्थौ कथयन्तु नृपाय वै। प्रीतियुक्तं तु राजानमानयन्तु सुशीघ्रगाः॥
Let them acquaint the monarch with the welfare of the Kākutsthas protected by the ascetic; and let them, speedily posting hence, bring the delighted king.
कौशिकस्तु तथेत्याह राजा चाभाष्य मन्त्रिणः। अयोध्यां प्रेषयामास धर्मात्मा कृतशासनान्। यतावृत्तं समाख्यातुमानेतुं च नृपं तथा॥
And thereupon Kusika's son said,-So be it. And the righteous king, summoning his counsellors, despatched them to Ayodhyā with his letter, to communicate all duly to the king, and bring him thither.