The gods, filled with supreme delight, bestowed upon the army of four divisions their blessings. The defeated kings, unable to withstand the divine favor, were slain and fled in all directions. Those who remained, powerless and whose strength was uncertain—evildoers accompanied by their ministers—were vanquished, and thus, O best of sages, this supremely radiant bow came to be. Janaka, steadfast in his resolve, declared, “I will show this bow to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. If Rāma can string it, O sage, I shall give my daughter Sītā—born without a womb—to the son of Daśaratha.” Now, listen to the sixty-seventh sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the 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 the divine bow, adorned with fragrant garlands.” Obeying his command, the ministers entered the city and, placing the bow before them, emerged with mighty strength. Fifty hundred strong men strained together, barely able to move the enormous chest with eight wheels that housed the bow. Taking this well-made iron chest, the ministers, like gods themselves, presented it to King Janaka, saying, “O king, here is the excellent bow, honored by all kings. O lord of Mithilā, behold it if you wish.” Hearing their words, Janaka, with joined palms, addressed the great-souled Viśvāmitra and both Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. “O Brāhmaṇa, this excellent bow has long been revered by the Janakas and by mighty kings, none of whom could string it. Not all the hosts of gods, nor asuras, nor rākṣasas, nor gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or even great serpents—what possibility is there for men to string this bow, to fit the string, to bend, or to lift it?” He continued, “This best of bows has been brought, O foremost sage; show it, O blessed one, to these two princes.” Upon hearing Janaka’s words, Viśvāmitra said to Rāma, “My child, Rāma, behold the bow.” At the sage’s command, Rāma approached the bow, opened the chest, and gazed upon it. He spoke, “This excellent, divine bow I will touch with my hand; I will strive to lift and string it as well.” The king replied, “So be it,” and the sage also spoke in affirmation. 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, righteous and noble—strung the bow as easily as water flows. Having strung the bow, he drew it fully, and then, that illustrious, famed hero broke the bow in the middle. A tremendous sound arose, like the crash of thunder, and the earth shook violently, as if a mountain were splitting apart. All the people, stunned by the sound, fell to the ground—except for the great sage, the king, and the two sons of Raghu. When the people recovered, King Janaka, his fear dispelled, spoke with joined palms to the foremost of sages, skilled in speech: “Revered one, I have witnessed the strength of Rāma, 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 fulfilled: ‘Sītā is to be won by prowess.’ My daughter, dearer than life, is to be given to Rāma.” He added, “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 to my city with respectful words, and fully tell 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 of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Those messengers, instructed by Janaka, whose vehicles were weary, spent three nights on the road before entering the city of Ayodhyā. Following the king’s command, they entered the royal palace and saw the aged king Daśaratha, shining like a god. With joined hands, free from fear, the messengers addressed the king with respectful and sweet words. “The king of Mithilā, Janaka, accompanied by his sacred fire, again and again sends affection-filled greetings… 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 Mithila, 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. This daughter of mine, O king, has, by chance, been won by your sons, who came here accompanied by Viśvāmitra and others.’” Thus, the messengers faithfully conveyed Janaka’s words, inviting King Daśaratha to Mithilā for the union of Sītā and Rāma, a union blessed by divine strength and fulfilled vows.