After honoring the venerable sage Viśvāmitra with all the rites prescribed by scripture, the righteous King Janaka turned to the noble sons of Raghu and addressed them with warmth and respect. “Revered sir,” he said, “welcome! Tell me, what may I do for you, O faultless one? Please command me, for I am at your service.” Viśvāmitra, the great sage, replied to Janaka’s courteous words. “These two are the sons of Daśaratha—renowned kṣatriyas. They wish to behold the excellent bow that is in your possession. Kindly show it to these princes, who are blessed with fulfilled wishes. Once they have seen it, they may depart as they desire.” Hearing this, King Janaka responded with reverence to the sage, “Let it be known, O revered one, for what reason this bow remains here. Long ago, Devarata, the eldest of the Nimi lineage and a king of great renown, received this bow as a trust. At the time of Daksha’s sacrifice, the mighty Lord Śiva, in his wrath, strung this bow and shattered the gods, declaring, ‘Because you, O gods, did not allot me my portion of the sacrifice, I will destroy your precious and divine limbs with this bow!’” “All the gods, distressed by his anger, sought to appease Śiva, the Lord of the gods. Pleased by their supplication, he bestowed upon them this jewel among bows. Thus, the bow was entrusted to my illustrious ancestor. And as I was ploughing the field, she—Sītā—arose from the furrow. While I was clearing the earth, I found her, and she, famed as Sītā, grew up as my daughter, though born of no womb.” “My daughter, sprung from the earth, I established as the prize for prowess. Many kings, O best of sages, came seeking her hand, all the rulers of the earth desiring to win her. But I declared, ‘I will not give my daughter except as a reward for valor.’ Thus, all the assembled kings gathered in Mithila, eager to prove their strength. For those who wished to be tested, the bow of Śiva was brought forth. Yet none could even grasp it, nor lift it from its place. Seeing their strength fail, the kings were rejected. In their anger and wounded pride, they besieged Mithila, doubting their own prowess.” “Overcome with wrath, they afflicted my city, and a full year passed until all their resources were exhausted. In my distress, I performed austerities and propitiated the gods. Filled with delight, the gods granted me an army of four divisions. Thus, the defeated kings were routed and fled in all directions, their strength broken. These powerless ones, together with their ministers—evildoers all—were vanquished. This, O sage, is that supremely radiant bow.” “Now, steadfast one, I shall show this bow to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. If Rāma succeeds in stringing this bow, I will give my daughter Sītā, born of no womb, to the son of Daśaratha.” Now begins the sixty-seventh sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Janaka’s account, Viśvāmitra spoke to the king, “Show the bow to Rāma.” At once, King Janaka instructed his ministers, “Bring the divine bow, adorned with fragrant garlands.” The ministers entered the city and, with great effort, brought forth the massive eight-wheeled chest containing the bow. Fifty hundred strong men strained together to move it, and, having brought the chest, they addressed Janaka, “O king, here is the excellent bow, honored by all kings. Behold it, O lord of Mithilā.” Hearing this, Janaka, with hands joined in reverence, addressed Viśvāmitra and the two princes. “O Brāhmaṇa, this bow has been revered by the Janakas and many mighty kings, but none could string it. Not even the hosts of gods, nor asuras, rākṣasas, gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or great serpents could manage it. What possibility is there for men to string this bow, to fit its string, or even to lift it?” “Nevertheless, O foremost sage, here is the best of bows—let it be shown to these two princes.” At Janaka’s words, Viśvāmitra turned to Rāma and said, “My child, Rāma, behold the bow.” At the sage’s command, Rāma approached, opened the chest, and gazed upon the bow. With calm confidence, he spoke, “This excellent, divine bow I will touch with my hand. I will strive to lift it and string it as well.