Having conquered the entire earth, I offered it as a sacrificial gift to the great-souled Kaśyapa at the conclusion of my sacrifice, O Rāma, as a reward for virtuous deeds. Once I had given the earth, I took up residence at Mahendra, endowed with ascetic power. But when I heard of the breaking of the bow, I hastened here without delay. Thus, O Rāma, this great bow of Viṣṇu has come down through my 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 shall grant you a duel. Now begins the seventy-sixth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa. Having heard Jāmadagnya’s words, the son of Daśaratha, constrained by respect, spoke first to his father and then to Rāma. “O Bhārgava, I have heard of your mighty deeds; we honor you, O Brahman, for you have fulfilled your father’s debt. Yet you regard me as powerless, lacking valor, 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 fitted the bow and made the arrow ready; then, angered, Rāma spoke these words to Jāmadagnya: “You are a Brāhmaṇa and worthy of my reverence, as is Viśvāmitra. Therefore, O Rāma, I am not able to release this 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 you have 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 and hosts of sages, with the Grandsire at their head, assembled there in full. Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas also gathered to witness that great and wondrous event. The world became motionless as Rāma stood holding 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 resemble lotus petals: “Long ago, I gave the earth to Kāśyapa; and 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 are assembled and 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 the mighty Jāmadagnya had spoken thus, Rāma, son of Daśaratha, glorious, 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 intermediate 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; then, having circumambulated him, the lord departed on his own path. Now begins the seventy-seventh sarga. When Rāma had departed, the tranquil-minded Rāma, son of Daśaratha, renowned for his great fame, placed the bow into the hands of the immeasurable Varuṇa. Then Rāma, after bowing to the sages led by Vasiṣṭha, 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. Hearing that Rāma had departed, the king was delighted and overjoyed; at that moment, he felt as if his son and himself had been born anew. He ordered the army to advance and swiftly went to the city, beautiful with banners and flags, resounding with the noise of drums and musical instruments. The royal road was sprinkled and lovely, strewn with heaps of flowers, and the townspeople, auspicious in hand, greeted the king at the entrance. The king entered the city, filled and adorned with crowds of people, welcomed from afar by citizens, Brahmins, and city dwellers. Accompanied by his sons and glorious companions, the illustrious king entered his beloved palace, splendid as Mount Himavat. There, the king rejoiced with his own people in the house, honored with every desire fulfilled; Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and the fair-waisted Kaikeyī also rejoiced.