Then, O best of sages, King Janaka continued his account: when I was beset with great distress, I sought the favor of all the hosts of gods through intense austerities. The gods, delighted by my devotion, granted me an army of four divisions. With this divine assistance, the kings who had come against me were defeated—many were slain, and the rest fled in all directions. Those who remained, their strength uncertain, together with their ministers and other evildoers, were powerless before this might. O best of sages, it is in this context that I speak of the supremely radiant bow you see here. O steadfast one, I am prepared to show this bow to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. If Rāma is able to string this bow, O sage, I shall give my daughter Sītā—born without a womb—to the son of Daśaratha. Now, listen to the sixty-seventh sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Upon hearing Janaka’s words, the great sage Viśvāmitra spoke to the king: “Show the bow to Rāma.” At once, King Janaka instructed his ministers, “Bring forth the divine bow, adorned with fragrant garlands.” Following his command, the ministers entered the city and, placing the mighty bow in front of them, emerged from the palace. It took fifty hundred men of great strength, straining together, to move the massive eight-wheeled chest that housed the bow. Carrying this well-made iron chest, the ministers, shining like gods, addressed King Janaka: “O king, here is the excellent bow, honored by all kings. O lord of Mithilā, behold it if you wish.” Hearing their words, the king, with palms joined in reverence, spoke to the great-souled Viśvāmitra and to the two princes, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa: “O Brāhmaṇa, this excellent bow has long been revered by the Janakas and by mighty kings, who, in their time, were unable to string it. Not even the hosts of gods, nor the asuras, nor the rākṣasas, nor the foremost of gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or great serpents could string this bow, fit its string, bend, or even lift it. What possibility, then, is there for men to do so? This best of bows has been brought, O foremost sage. Show it, O blessed one, to these two princes.” Hearing Janaka’s words, Viśvāmitra addressed Rāma: “My child, Rāma, behold the bow.” At the sage’s command, Rāma approached the bow, opened the chest, gazed upon it, and spoke: “This excellent, divine bow I will touch with my hand; I will endeavor to lift and string it as well.” The king replied, “So be it,” and the sage likewise gave his assent. Then, with effortless ease, Rāma grasped the bow in the middle, as the sage had instructed. As thousands of people looked on, Rāma—the delight of the Raghu line and a soul of righteousness—strung the bow as easily as one might pour water. Having strung it, he drew the bow fully; and then, that best of men, famed and illustrious, broke the bow in the middle. A great and thunderous sound burst forth, like the crash of a thousand storms, and the earth itself shook violently, as though a mountain were splitting apart. All the people, stunned by the tremendous sound, fell to the ground—save for the great sage, the king, and the two sons of Raghu. When the people had recovered from their astonishment, the king, his fear dispelled, spoke with joined palms to the foremost of sages, skilled in speech: “Revered one, I have witnessed the strength of Rāma, the son of Daśaratha. This is truly marvelous, inconceivable, and beyond all expectation. My daughter Sītā, having gained Rāma as her husband, will bring fame to the house of Janaka. “O Kauśika, my vow is now fulfilled: ‘Sītā is to be won by prowess.’ My daughter—dearer to me than life itself—is now to be given to Rāma. With your consent, O Brāhmaṇa, let my ministers swiftly go, O Kauśika, blessings upon you, to Ayodhyā in fast chariots. Let them bring the king here to my city with respectful words, and fully inform him of the giving of my daughter, won by prowess. Let them also tell the king about the two sons of Kakutstha, protected by the sage, and with affection, bring the king here with all speed.” Kauśika replied, “So be it,” and the righteous king, having instructed his ministers, sent them to Ayodhyā to report all that had happened and to bring King Daśaratha accordingly. Now, listen to the sixty-eighth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Janaka’s messengers, following his instructions, journeyed swiftly in their chariots, though their vehicles grew weary from the long journey. After three nights on the road, they entered the city of Ayodhyā. Obeying the king’s command, they proceeded to the royal palace and beheld the aged King Daśaratha, shining like a god. With hands joined in reverence and hearts free of fear, the messengers addressed the king with respectful and sweet words. They conveyed King Janaka’s greetings, accompanied by his sacred fire, and spoke with affection-filled speech: “King Janaka, together with his priests and teachers, first inquires about your welfare and unchanging prosperity, O great king. Having calmly asked after your well-being, the ruler of Mithilā, Vaideha, with the approval of Kauśika, spoke these words to you: ‘You know of my earlier vow: my daughter would be won by prowess. The kings, having failed and grown resentful, have been turned away, their strength found lacking.