As the great sage Jāmadagnya stood before King Daśaratha and his sons, the king’s heart trembled with concern. He addressed the sage, his voice heavy with fear and reverence: “O great sage, your arrival portends the destruction of us all. If Rāma alone were to be slain, none of us could bear to live.” But Jāmadagnya, mighty and resolute, paid no heed to Daśaratha’s words. His attention was fixed solely on Rāma. He spoke to Rāma with solemn authority: “Here are two excellent and divine bows, honored by the worlds for their strength and power. They are the foremost among weapons, skillfully crafted by Viśvakarman. One of these was bestowed by the gods upon Tryambaka for battle, O best of men. It is the very bow you broke, O descendant of Kakutstha—the same bow wielded by the destroyer of Tripura. The second, unconquerable bow was given to Viṣṇu by the greatest of the gods. This is the Vaiṣṇava bow, O Rāma, conqueror of enemy cities.” Jāmadagnya continued, “O Kakutstha, this bow is equal in essence to the Rudra bow. The gods once questioned the Grandfather, seeking to know the relative strength and weakness of Śiva and Viṣṇu. Understanding their intent, the Grandfather sowed enmity between these two foremost of the truthful. A great and hair-raising battle ensued between Śiva and Viṣṇu, each striving for the other’s victory. The terrifying might of the Śiva bow was drawn forth, and Mahādeva, the three-eyed god, was halted by a mighty roar. At that moment, the gods, sages, and celestial beings gathered together.” “Those two supreme gods were entreated for peace and departed, as the bow of Śiva was strained by Viṣṇu’s prowess. The gods and hosts of sages deemed Viṣṇu superior, but Rudra, the illustrious one, was enraged among the Videhas. He gave the bow, along with its arrows, to King Devarāta, the royal sage. And this bow of Viṣṇu, O Rāma, is the conqueror of enemy cities. Viṣṇu entrusted the excellent bow to Ṛcīka Bhārgava, who in turn 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.” Jāmadagnya’s tone grew darker as he recounted, “Arjuna, acting with ordinary intelligence, caused death. Upon hearing of his father’s cruel and improper killing, he repeatedly destroyed the warrior class in anger. Having conquered 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. After giving it, I dwelt at Mahendra, empowered by asceticism. But upon hearing of the breaking of the bow, I came here swiftly.” He concluded, “Thus, O Rāma, this great bow of Viṣṇu has been handed down from father and grandfather. In honor of 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.” As the seventy-sixth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa began, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, having heard Jāmadagnya’s words, spoke first to his father, then to the sage. “O Bhārgava, I have heard of your great deeds. We honor you, O Brahman, for you have fulfilled your father’s debt. Yet you regard me as powerless, lacking valor and unable to uphold the warrior’s duty. Behold my prowess today.” With these words, 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, his anger burning bright. He addressed 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 arrow of Viṣṇu, O conqueror of enemy cities, does not fall in vain. By its power, it destroys the arrogance of strength.” At that moment, all the gods, along with the hosts of sages and the Grandsire at their head, assembled to witness Rāma, bearer of the supreme weapon. Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas gathered as well, eager to witness that great and wondrous event. The world was rendered motionless as Rāma held the supreme bow. Jāmadagnya, powerless before Rāma’s radiance, gazed at him with joy. Deprived of his vigor by Rāma’s brilliance, Jāmadagnya spoke gently to Rāma, whose eyes resembled lotus petals. “Long ago, I gave the earth to Kāśyapa. Kāśyapa told me 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. O Rāma, the worlds, unrivaled, have been conquered by me through asceticism. Strike them with your foremost arrow, so that the time of destruction does not arrive. I know you to be the undying slayer of Madhu, the lord of gods. By your mere touch of this bow, may all be well with you, O scorcher of foes.” “All these hosts of gods have assembled and are watching you, whose deeds are unmatched, who has no equal in battle. Nor should this, O descendant of Kakutstha, be a cause of shame for me—that I have been turned away by you, the lord of the three worlds.” Thus, the mighty encounter between Rāma and Jāmadagnya unfolded, witnessed by gods and sages alike, with reverence and awe filling the heavens and earth.