As the company arrived, King Janaka greeted them with deep respect, saying, “Revered sir, welcome! What can I do for you, O faultless one? Please command me—I am here to serve you.” Thus addressed, the great sage Viśvāmitra, whose words were always measured and righteous, replied to Janaka, “These two are the sons of Daśaratha, renowned among kṣatriyas. They wish to see the excellent bow that is in your possession.” “Blessings to you,” the sage continued, “please show this bow to these princes, whose wishes are always fulfilled. Once they have seen it, they may depart as they desire.” Hearing these words, Janaka responded, “Let me tell you the reason why this bow is here.” Janaka began his tale: “Long ago, Devarata, the eldest of King Nimi’s line, received this bow as a sacred trust. At the destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice, the mighty Lord Shiva, in his wrath, strung this very bow and, angered by the gods, shattered them and 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 Bhava, the Lord of the gods, and at last he was pleased with them. In his satisfaction, he gave them this jewel of a bow, belonging to the great-souled Lord of the gods, and as a trust, it was placed in the hands of our ancestor.” Janaka continued, “As I was once ploughing the field, she arose from the furrow—Sita, famed for her name, born of the earth herself, grew as my daughter. Born of no womb, she was established as the prize for prowess, growing as my own child. Kings from all corners came, desiring her hand; all the rulers of the earth sought to win my daughter.” “I declared, ‘O revered ones, I will not give my daughter except for prowess as the bride-price.’ All the kings came to Mithila, eager to prove their strength, and for their trial, the bow of Shiva was brought forth. Yet none could even grasp it, let alone lift it. Seeing their strength fail, the kings were rejected. In anger, doubting their own prowess and feeling insulted, they laid siege to Mithila. For a full year they beset the city, until all their resources were exhausted. Greatly distressed, I propitiated the hosts of gods with my austerities, and the delighted gods granted me an army of four divisions. The defeated kings, their strength spent, fled in all directions.” “Those powerless ones, together with their ministers and followers, were routed. O best of sages, this is that supremely radiant bow. Now, steadfast sage, I will show this bow to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. If Rāma can string this bow, I shall give my daughter Sita, born without a womb, to the son of Daśaratha.” Now begins the sixty-seventh sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Janaka’s words, the great sage Viśvāmitra said, “O King, show the bow to Rāma.” At once, King Janaka instructed his ministers, “Bring the divine bow, adorned with fragrant garlands.” Obeying his command, the ministers entered the city and, placing the bow before them, emerged with it. It took fifty hundred men of great strength, straining together, to move the massive eight-wheeled chest which contained the bow. Taking that well-made iron chest, the ministers presented themselves before King Janaka and said, “O King, here is the excellent bow, honored by all kings. O Lord of Mithila, behold it if you wish.” Hearing this, Janaka, with palms joined, addressed Viśvāmitra and the two princes, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. “O Brāhmaṇa,” he said, “this excellent bow has been revered by the Janaka kings and by mighty rulers, yet none could string it. Not all the hosts of gods, nor asuras, nor rākṣasas, nor gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or great serpents—what possibility is there for men to string this bow, to fit the string, to bend, or even to lift it? This best of bows has been brought, O foremost sage; show it now to these two princes.” At Janaka’s words, Viśvāmitra said to Rāma, “My child, Rāma, behold the bow.” At the sage’s command, Rāma approached, opened the chest, and gazed upon the bow. “This excellent, divine bow I will touch with my hand,” he declared, “and I will strive to lift and string it as well.” The king replied, “So be it,” and the sage also gave his blessing. Then, with effortless ease, Rāma took hold of the bow in the middle, as the sage had instructed.