Having been entreated for peace, the two supreme deities—Viṣṇu and Rudra—departed, their gaze falling upon Śiva’s mighty bow, which had been strained and tested by Viṣṇu’s own prowess. Among the assembled gods and sages, all agreed that Viṣṇu was superior, yet Rudra, the illustrious one, became enraged in the midst of the Videha kingdom. In his anger, Rudra entrusted the bow, along with its arrows, to King Devarāta, the royal sage. This bow of Viṣṇu, O Rāma, is renowned as the conqueror of enemy cities. Viṣṇu himself gave the excellent bow to Ṛcīka Bhārgava, and Ṛcika, radiant in splendor, passed it on to his son, whose deeds were unmatched. When Ṛcīka, endowed with ascetic power, laid down his weapons, he gave the divine bow to Jamadagni, his great-souled son. Arjuna, acting with ordinary intelligence, brought about death; and upon hearing of his father’s cruel and improper killing, he was consumed with anger and repeatedly destroyed the warrior class. Having conquered the entire earth, I, the narrator, gave it as a sacrificial gift to the great-souled Kaśyapa at the conclusion of my sacrifice, O Rāma, as a reward for virtuous deeds. After this offering, I dwelt at Mahendra, empowered by asceticism, but upon hearing of the breaking of the bow, I hastened here. Thus, O Rāma, this great bow of Viṣṇu has been handed down from father to son, from grandfather to grandson. 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. Now begins the seventy-sixth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa. Having heard the words of Jāmadagnya, the son of Daśaratha, constrained by respect, spoke first to his father and then to Rāma. “O Bhārgava, I have heard of your deeds, and 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.” Having spoken thus, Rāghava, angered, took the mighty weapon of Bhārgava and the arrow from his hand, swift in valor. Rāma then fitted the bow and prepared the arrow, his anger evident, and addressed Jāmadagnya: “You are a Brāhmaṇa and worthy of my reverence, as is Viśvāmitra; therefore, O Rāma, I cannot 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.” To witness Rāma, bearer of the supreme weapon, all the gods and hosts of sages, led by the Grandsire, assembled there. Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas also gathered to witness this wondrous event. The world was rendered motionless as Rāma held the supreme bow. Jāmadagnya, deprived of his vigor by Rāma’s radiance, gazed at Rāma with joy. Rendered inert, he spoke gently to Rāma, whose eyes are like 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. O Rāma, you of firm vows, you should release the peerless arrow; after you release the arrow, I will go to Mahendra, the greatest of mountains.” When mighty Jāmadagnya had spoken thus, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, released the supreme arrow. Seeing his own worlds, won by asceticism, struck down by Rāma, Jāmadagnya swiftly departed for Mahendra, the greatest of mountains. Then all directions and quarters became clear; the gods and hosts of sages praised Rāma, wielder of the mighty bow. Rāma, son of Daśaratha, was honored by Rāma, son of Jamadagni; after circumambulating him, the lord departed on his own path. Now begins the seventy-seventh chapter. When Rāma had departed, the tranquil-minded Rāma, son of Daśaratha and famed throughout the land, placed the bow into the hands of the immeasurable Varuṇa. Then, after bowing to the sages led by Vasiṣṭha, Rāma saw his father distressed and spoke to him, the delight of the Raghu line: “Jāmadagnya Rāma has gone; let the fourfold army now proceed towards Ayodhyā, protected by you as its lord.” Hearing Rāma’s words, King Daśaratha embraced his son Rāghava with both arms and kissed his head, his heart overflowing with love and relief.