When the great-souled King Janaka had spoken, the righteous sage Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, responded to him with gentle words. He explained, “These two are the sons of Daśaratha, renowned kṣatriyas. They wish to see the excellent bow that you possess.” He requested Janaka, “Please show this bow to these princes whose desires are always fulfilled. After seeing it, they may depart as they wish.” Janaka listened and replied, “Let me tell you the reason why this bow is here.” He began to recount its history: “Devarata, the eldest of Nimi’s line, received this bow as a trust placed in his hands. Long ago, at the destruction of Daksha’s sacrifice, the mighty Lord Shiva strung this bow. In anger, he struck down the gods and declared, ‘Because you gods, seeking your share, did not allot me my portion, I will destroy your precious and divine limbs with this bow.’” Janaka continued, “The gods, overwhelmed and distressed, sought to appease Shiva, the Lord of the gods. Bhava, pleased by their efforts, gifted 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 king. While I was ploughing the field, she arose from the furrow.” Janaka’s voice softened as he spoke of Sita. “While clearing the field, I found her, famed by the name Sita. She, who arose from the earth, grew as my daughter. My child, born of no womb, was established as the prize for prowess—the reward for strength.” He described how many kings, rulers of the earth, had come seeking Sita’s hand in marriage. “O sage, I declared that I would give my daughter only in exchange for demonstrated prowess. All the kings, desiring to prove their strength, came to Mithila. The bow of Shiva was brought forth for those who wished to be tested. Yet none could even grasp the bow, nor lift it. Seeing their strength fail, the kings were rejected.” Janaka recounted the aftermath: “Insulted and doubting their own prowess, the kings besieged Mithila in anger. For a full year, they afflicted the city, but their resources were exhausted. Distressed, I propitiated the hosts of gods with my austerities. The gods, delighted, granted me an army of four divisions. The defeated kings, their strength gone, fled in all directions with their ministers. These evildoers could not match the radiance of Shiva’s bow.” Janaka then declared, “O steadfast sage, I will show this bow to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. If Rāma can string it, I shall give my daughter Sita, born without a womb, to the son of Daśaratha.” Now 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.” Janaka instructed his ministers, “Bring the divine bow, adorned with fragrant garlands.” The ministers entered the city and, with great effort, fifty hundred strong men together moved the massive eight-wheeled chest containing the bow. They placed the well-made iron chest before the king and said, “O king, this is the excellent bow, honored by all kings. O lord of Mithilā, behold it if you wish.” Janaka addressed Viśvāmitra, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa with joined palms. “O Brāhmaṇa, this excellent bow has been revered by the Janakas and mighty kings, who could not string it. Not even the hosts of gods, nor asuras, rākṣasas, gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or great serpents could string this bow, fit its string, bend, or lift it. What possibility is there for men?” He continued, “This best of bows has been brought, O foremost sage. Please show it to these two princes.” Viśvāmitra turned to Rāma and said, “My child, Rāma, behold the bow.” At the sage’s command, Rāma approached the chest, opened it, and gazed upon the bow. He spoke, “This excellent, divine bow—I will touch it with my hand. I will strive to lift and string it as well.” The king replied, “So be it,” and the sage also gave his blessing. With effortless ease, Rāma took hold of the bow in the middle, as the sage had instructed. As thousands of men looked on, Rāma, the delight of the Raghu line and a righteous soul, strung the bow as easily as water flows.