When King Janaka had finished speaking, the great sage Viśvāmitra turned to him and said, “Show the bow to Rāma.” At once, Janaka instructed his ministers, “Bring forth the divine bow, adorned with fragrant garlands.” Obeying his command, the ministers entered the city and, with great effort, brought out the massive chest that housed the sacred bow. It took fifty hundred strong men, straining together, to move the eight-wheeled chest. With reverence, the ministers placed the iron chest before the king and spoke, “O King, here is the excellent bow, honored by all kings. O lord of Mithilā, behold it if you wish.” Hearing their words, King Janaka, with hands joined in respect, addressed Viśvāmitra and the two princes, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. “O Brāhmaṇa,” he said, “this is the bow revered by the Janaka lineage and by countless mighty kings, yet none have ever managed to string it. Not even the hosts of gods, asuras, rākṣasas, nor the foremost of gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or great serpents have succeeded. What hope could mere men have to string, bend, or even lift this bow? Yet, here it is, O 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, gazed upon the bow, and spoke, “This excellent, divine bow—I will touch it with my hand. I will attempt to lift and string it as well.” King Janaka replied, “So be it,” and Viśvāmitra gave his blessing. Then, with effortless ease, Rāma grasped the bow in the middle, just as the sage had instructed. Thousands of onlookers watched as Rāma, the joy of the Raghu line and righteous of soul, strung the bow as easily as one might pour water. Having strung it, he drew the bow fully, and in that moment—the best of men, famed and illustrious—broke the bow in two. A thunderous sound erupted, as if the heavens themselves had split, and the earth trembled violently, as if a mountain were being rent apart. The people, stunned by the deafening crash, fell to the ground in shock—all except the great sage, the king, and the two sons of Raghu. When the people regained their senses, King Janaka, his fear vanished, addressed Viśvāmitra with joined palms and respectful words. “Revered one, I have witnessed Rāma’s strength—truly marvelous and beyond all expectation. My daughter Sītā, having gained Rāma, son of Daśaratha, as her husband, will bring lasting fame to the house of Janaka. O Kauśika, my vow is now fulfilled: Sītā was to be won by prowess, and so she shall be given to Rāma, dearer to me than life itself. “With your consent, O Brāhmaṇa, let my ministers swiftly journey to Ayodhyā in fast chariots. Let them bring King Daśaratha here with respectful words, informing him fully of my daughter’s giving—won by prowess. Let them also tell the king about his two sons, protected by the sage, and with affection, urge him to come here at once.” Viśvāmitra replied, “So be it.” The righteous king then instructed his ministers, who set out for Ayodhyā to deliver the news and bring King Daśaratha. After three days of swift travel, the weary messengers entered the city of Ayodhyā. Following the king’s command, they made their way into the royal palace and beheld the aged King Daśaratha, radiant like a god. With joined palms and respectful words, free from fear, the messengers addressed the king. They conveyed Janaka’s greetings, expressing his affection and inquiring after Daśaratha’s welfare and unchanging prosperity. Then, with the approval of the sage Kauśika, they delivered Janaka’s message: “You know of my vow—my daughter would be won by prowess. Many kings, having failed and grown resentful, departed, their strength found wanting. But now, by fortune, your sons—who came here with Viśvāmitra—have fulfilled this challenge. The divine bow was broken in the midst of the great assembly by mighty-armed Rāma, the high-souled one. Therefore, I must give Sītā, won by prowess, to this great-souled prince. I wish to fulfill my vow—please grant your consent. “O great king, together with your priests and teachers, come quickly and safely. You ought to witness the two sons of Raghu for yourself.