King Janaka, addressing the assembled kings and the revered sage, declared, “O revered one, I will not give my daughter in marriage except to one who can prove his prowess.” Thus, all the kings who had come to Mithila, eager to win Sītā’s hand, were challenged to demonstrate their strength. For this purpose, the mighty bow of Shiva was brought forth, and those who wished to be tested approached it. Yet, despite all their efforts, none of the kings could even grasp the bow, let alone lift it. When their weakness became evident, the kings were turned away in disappointment. Stung by humiliation and doubting their own strength, they grew angry and, in their wounded pride, laid siege to the city of Mithila. For a full year, they pressed their attack, exhausting all their resources and afflicting the city in their wrath. In his distress, King Janaka turned to intense austerities, propitiating the hosts of gods with his devotion. Pleased by his dedication, the gods granted him a powerful army of four divisions. With this divine aid, Janaka’s forces overcame the besieging kings, who were defeated and fled in all directions, their pride shattered. The bow remained, radiant and unstrung, a symbol of their failed strength. Turning to the sage, Janaka said, “O steadfast one, I will show this supreme bow to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. If Rāma, son of Daśaratha, can string this bow, I shall give my daughter Sītā—born without a womb—to him.” Now begins the sixty-seventh sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Janaka’s words, the great sage Viśvāmitra addressed the king: “Show the bow to Rāma.” At once, King Janaka commanded his ministers, “Bring the divine bow, adorned with fragrant garlands.” Obeying his command, the ministers entered the city and, with great effort, brought forth the massive chest that housed the bow. It took five hundred strong men, straining together, to move the eight-wheeled chest. Carrying it before the assembly, the ministers spoke to Janaka: “O king, here is the excellent bow, honored by all kings. Behold it, O lord of Mithilā, if you wish.” Janaka, with joined palms, addressed Viśvāmitra and the two princes, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. “O Brāhmaṇa, this bow has been revered by the Janaka lineage and by mighty kings, none of whom could string it. Not even the hosts of gods, asuras, rākṣasas, nor the foremost of gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or great serpents could master it. What chance, then, do men have to string, bend, or even lift this bow? Yet here it is, O sage, let it be shown to these two princes.” Viśvāmitra, hearing these words, turned to Rāma and said, “My child, behold the bow.” At the sage’s command, Rāma approached, opened the chest, and gazed upon the divine weapon. He spoke, “I will touch this excellent bow and strive to lift and string it.” The king replied, “So be it,” and Viśvāmitra also gave his assent. Then, with effortless ease, Rāma took hold of the bow in the middle, as all those present watched in wonder. Before the eyes of thousands, Rāma, the joy of the Raghu line and a soul of righteousness, strung the bow as easily as one might string a garland of water. Having strung it, Rāma drew the bow fully. In that moment, the mighty bow broke in the middle, snapped by his strength. A tremendous sound, like the crash of thunder, burst forth, and the earth itself shook as though a mountain were splitting apart. The people, stunned and overwhelmed by the noise, fell to the ground—save only the great sage, the king, and the two sons of Raghu. When the people recovered from their shock, King Janaka, his fear dispelled, addressed the foremost of sages with folded hands: “O revered one, I have witnessed the strength of Rāma, son of Daśaratha. This is truly marvelous, inconceivable, and beyond all expectation. My daughter Sītā, in gaining Rāma as her husband, will bring great fame to the house of Janaka. O Kauśika, my vow is fulfilled: Sītā was to be won by prowess, and now my daughter, dearer to me than life, is to be given to Rāma.” With humility, Janaka continued, “With your consent, O Brāhmaṇa, let my ministers go swiftly to Ayodhyā in fast chariots. Let them bring King Daśaratha to my city with respectful words, and tell him fully of the giving of my daughter, won by prowess. Let them also speak of the two sons of Kakutstha, protected by the sage, and with affection bring the king here at once.” Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) replied, “So be it.” The righteous king then instructed his ministers, who set out for Ayodhyā to report all that had happened and to bring King Daśaratha accordingly. Now begins the sixty-eighth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Those messengers, carrying out Janaka’s command, traveled with great urgency. Though their vehicles grew weary from the journey, after three nights on the road, they finally entered the city of Ayodhyā, bearing the wondrous news.