After meeting the sage Viśvāmitra, King Janaka was filled with wonder and gratitude. He spoke with reverence, saying, “Many and various virtues have come to me through seeing you, O Brāhmaṇa; your great austerity has been extolled in detail.” Janaka continued, “I have heard, O illustrious one, from Rāma the great-souled, and from the assembly, and having entered the hall, many virtues of yours have been heard. Your asceticism, your strength, your virtues—they are immeasurable, O son of Kuśika, ever.” Janaka’s heart overflowed with satisfaction at the sage’s wondrous tales, yet he acknowledged, “My satisfaction knows no end, O lord; but, O best of sages, the time for duties draws near as the sun approaches its circle.” With warmth and respect, Janaka requested, “Tomorrow at dawn, O illustrious one, you should see me again; O best of those who recite, you are welcome—please grant me leave.” Viśvāmitra, the eminent sage, praised Janaka, the best of men, and graciously dismissed him. Janaka, pleased and content, circumambulated the sage with his teachers and relatives, honoring him as tradition dictates. Viśvāmitra, righteous-souled, returned to his abode accompanied by Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, honored by all the great-souled ones. And so begins the sixty-sixth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. At dawn, when the day was pure, King Janaka, having performed his morning duties, summoned the great-souled Viśvāmitra along with the Raghavas, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. Honoring the sage with rites prescribed by scripture, the righteous king then addressed the sons of Raghu: “Revered sir, welcome to you! What shall I do for you, O faultless one? Please command me, for I am to be commanded by you.” Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, replied, “These two are the sons of Daśaratha, renowned kṣatriyas; they wish to see the excellent bow that is with you. Show this, blessings to you, to the princes whose wishes are fulfilled; after seeing this bow, they may depart as they desire.” Janaka responded, “Let it be heard for what reason this bow is here.” He explained, “Devarata, renowned as the eldest of Nimi, the king, received this as a trust placed in his hand. Long ago, at the destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice, the mighty Lord strung the bow, and in anger shattered the gods, then spoke: ‘Because you gods, seeking your share, did not allot me my portion, I will destroy your precious and divine limbs with this bow.’ Distressed, all the gods sought to appease the Lord of the gods, and Bhava became pleased with them. Pleased with all those great souls, he gave them this jewel of a bow, belonging to the great-souled Lord of the gods. Then, as a trust, it was deposited with our ancestor, the illustrious one.” Janaka continued, “As I was ploughing the field, she arose from the furrow. While I was clearing the field, I found her, famed by the name Sita; she who arose from the earth grew as my daughter. My daughter, born of no womb, was established as the prize for prowess; she who arose from the earth, growing as my own child. Kings came, O best of sages, seeking her hand; all the rulers of the earth desired to win my daughter. I declared, ‘O revered one, I do not give my daughter except for prowess as the bride-price.’ Then all the kings, wishing to prove their strength, came to Mithila. For those who sought to be tested, the bow of Shiva was brought forth. They were unable to grasp that bow, nor even to lift it; seeing their strength to be lacking, O great sage, the kings were rejected.” Janaka recounted, “Then, in great anger, all the kings, doubting their own prowess, besieged Mithila, feeling themselves insulted. Overcome with wrath, they afflicted the city; when a full year had passed, all their resources were exhausted. I was greatly distressed and so I propitiated all the hosts of gods with my austerities. The gods, filled with supreme delight, gave the army of four divisions; then the defeated kings, being slain, fled in all directions. Those powerless, whose strength was in doubt, together with their ministers, evildoers—O best of sages, this is that supremely radiant bow.” Janaka concluded, “O steadfast one, I will show this to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; if Rāma can string this bow, O sage, I shall give my daughter Sītā, born without a womb, to the son of Daśaratha.” And so begins the sixty-seventh sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Janaka’s words, the great sage Viśvāmitra said, “Show the bow to Rāma.” King Janaka instructed his ministers, “Bring the divine bow, anointed with fragrant garlands.” As commanded, the ministers entered the city and, placing the bow in front, those mighty ones emerged. It took fifty hundred men of great strength, straining together, to somehow move that eight-wheeled chest which housed the divine bow.