King Daśaratha, deeply troubled and his face cast down in sorrow, folded his hands and humbly spoke to the great sage Jāmadagnya, also known as Rāma of the Bhārgava lineage. He pleaded, “You, who have calmed the wrath of the warrior class and stand as a great ascetic among Brāhmaṇas, ought to grant safety to my young sons. Born in the noble Bhārgava line, devoted to study and vows, you once pledged before Indra and set aside your weapons. Having embraced righteousness, you gave the earth to Kaśyapa and, retiring to the forest, made your dwelling on Mahendra mountain. O great sage, you have come for the destruction of us all; if Rāma alone is slain, none of us could continue to live.” But Jāmadagnya, mighty and resolute, paid no heed to Daśaratha’s words and addressed only Rāma. He said, “Here are two excellent, divine bows, honored by all the worlds—strong, powerful, and foremost, skillfully crafted by Viśvakarman. One was given by the gods to Tryambaka for battle—you broke this bow, O descendant of Kakutstha, the destroyer of Tripura. The second, unconquerable bow was given to Viṣṇu by the best of the gods; this is the Vaiṣṇava bow, O Rāma, conqueror of enemy cities. O Kakutstha, this bow is equal in essence to the Rudra bow. Then, all the gods questioned the Grandfather, seeking to discern the relative strength and weakness of Śiva and Viṣṇu. Understanding their intent, the Grandfather caused enmity between them, the foremost of the truthful, and a great, hair-raising battle ensued. In that conflict, Śiva and Viṣṇu each sought the other's victory. The Śiva bow, terrifying in might, was drawn forth, and Mahādeva, the three-eyed god, was halted by a roar. At that moment, the gods, together with hosts of sages and celestial beings, assembled. The two supreme gods, entreated for peace, departed, and the gods saw the bow of Śiva strained by Viṣṇu's prowess. The gods and the hosts of sages judged Viṣṇu to be superior, but Rudra, the illustrious one, became enraged among the Videhas. He gave the bow and its arrows to King Devarāta, the royal sage. This bow of Viṣṇu, O Rāma, is the conqueror of enemy cities. Viṣṇu entrusted the excellent bow to Ṛcīka Bhārgava, and Ṛcīka, of great splendor, gave it to his son, unmatched in deeds. My father gave the divine bow to Jamadagni, the great-souled one, when he, endowed with ascetic power, laid down his weapons. Arjuna, adopting ordinary intelligence, caused death; hearing of his father's cruel and improper killing, he repeatedly destroyed the warrior class in anger. Having gained the entire earth, I gave it as a sacrificial gift to the great-souled Kaśyapa at the end of the sacrifice, O Rāma, as a reward for virtuous deeds. Having given it, I dwelt at Mahendra, endowed with ascetic power; but upon hearing of the breaking of the bow, I came here swiftly. Thus, O Rāma, this great bow of Viṣṇu has come down from father and grandfather; honoring the warrior's duty, take up this excellent bow. Fit the conquering arrow to the best of bows; if you are able, O descendant of Kakutstha, then I will grant you a duel.” Let the seventy-sixth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, be heard. Having listened to Jāmadagnya’s words, Daśaratha’s son, constrained by respect, spoke first to his father and then to Rāma. He said, “I have heard of the deeds you have performed, O Bhārgava; we honor you, O Brahman, for you have fulfilled your father's debt. You regard me as powerless, lacking in valor and unable to uphold the warrior's duty, O Bhārgava; behold my prowess today.” Thus speaking, Rāghava, angered, took the mighty weapon of Bhārgava and the arrow from his hand, swift in valor. Rāma fitted the bow and made the arrow ready. Then, with anger, Rāma spoke to Jāmadagnya: “You are a Brāhmaṇa and worthy of my reverence, as is Viśvāmitra; therefore, O Rāma, I am not able to release the arrow that takes life against you. Either I will destroy this path of yours, O Rāma, or I will strike down the worlds, unrivaled, which have been won by the power of asceticism—this is my resolve. For this divine, Viṣṇu’s arrow, O conqueror of enemy cities, does not fall in vain; by its power, it destroys the arrogance of strength.” To witness Rāma, bearer of the supreme weapon, all the gods, along with hosts of sages and the Grandsire at their head, assembled there completely. Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas also gathered to witness that great and wondrous event. When the world was thus rendered motionless, with Rāma holding the supreme bow, Jāmadagnya became powerless and gazed at Rāma with joy. Deprived of his vigor by Rāma’s radiance, Jāmadagnya was rendered inert and slowly, gently spoke to Rāma, whose eyes are like lotus petals. “Long ago, I gave the earth to Kāśyapa; Kāśyapa told me that I must not dwell within my own domain. Therefore, obeying my teacher’s command, I do not dwell on earth at night; from that time, O descendant of Kakutstha, I have kept Kāśyapa’s word. O hero, do not destroy this path of mine, O Rāghava; I will go, swift as thought, to Mahendra, the greatest of mountains.” Thus ended this wondrous encounter, with Rāma’s prowess acknowledged and Jāmadagnya departing to Mahendra, upholding the sacred word he had given.