तामादाय सुमञ्जूषामायसीं यत्र तद्धनुः। सुरोपमं ते जनकमूचुर्नृपतिमन्त्रिणः
Taking that well-made iron chest, in which was the bow, those ministers, like gods, spoke to King Janaka.
इदं धनुर्वरं राजन् पूजितं सर्वराजभिः। मिथिलाधिप राजेन्द्र दर्शनीयं यदीच्छसि
‘O king, this is the excellent bow, honored by all kings; O lord of Mithilā, O king, behold it if you wish.’
तेषां नृपो वचः श्रुत्वा कृताञ्जलिरभाषत। विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं तावुभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ
Hearing their words, the king, with joined palms, addressed the great-souled Viśvāmitra and both Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.
इदं धनुर्वरं ब्रह्मञ्जनकैरभिपूजितम्। राजभिश्च महावीर्यैरशक्तैः पूरितं तदा
‘O Brāhmaṇa, this excellent bow has been revered by the Janakas and by mighty kings, who were unable to string it at that time.’
नैतत् सुरगणाः सर्वे सासुरा न च राक्षसाः। गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः सकिन्नरमहोरगाः
‘Not all the hosts of gods, nor the asuras, nor the rākṣasas, nor the foremost of gandharvas, yakṣas, kinnaras, or great serpents—’
क्व गतिर्मानुषाणां च धनुषोऽस्य प्रपूरणे। आरोपणे समायोगे वेपने तोलने तथा
‘What possibility is there for men to string this bow, to fit the string, to bend, or to lift it?’
तदेतद् धनुषां श्रेष्ठमानीतं मुनिपुंगव। दर्शयैतन्महाभाग अनयो राजपुत्रयोः
‘This best of bows has been brought, O foremost sage; show it, O blessed one, to these two princes.’
विश्वामित्रः सरामस्तु श्रुत्वा जनकभाषितम्। वत्स राम धनुः पश्य इति राघवमब्रवीत्
Hearing Janaka’s words, Viśvāmitra said to Rāma, ‘My child, Rāma, behold the bow.’
महर्षेर्वचनाद् रामो यत्र तिष्ठति तद्धनुः। मञ्जूषां तामपावृत्य दृष्ट्वा धनुरथाब्रवीत्
At the sage’s command, Rāma went to where the bow was; opening the chest, he looked at the bow and spoke.
इदं धनुर्वरं दिव्यं संस्पृशामीह पाणिना। यत्नवांश्च भविष्यामि तोलने पूरणेऽपि वा
‘This excellent, divine bow I will touch with my hand; I will strive to lift and string it as well.’
बाढमित्यब्रवीद् राजा मुनिश्च समभाषत। लीलया स धनुर्मध्ये जग्राह वचनान्मुनेः
The king replied, 'So be it,' and the sage also spoke; with effortless ease, he took hold of the bow in the middle, at the sage's word.
पश्यतां नृसहस्राणां बहूनां रघुनन्दनः। आरोपयत् स धर्मात्मा सलीलमिव तद्धनुः
As thousands of men looked on, Rāma, the delight of the Raghu line, that righteous soul, strung the bow as easily as water.
आरोपयित्वा मौर्वीं च पूरयामास तद्धनुः। तद् बभञ्ज धनुर्मध्ये नरश्रेष्ठो महायशाः
Having strung the bow, he drew it fully; then that best of men, famed and illustrious, broke the bow in the middle.
तस्य शब्दो महानासीन्निर्घातसमनिःस्वनः। भूमिकम्पश्च सुमहान् पर्वतस्येव दीर्यतः
A great sound arose from it, like the crash of thunder; and the earth shook violently, as if a mountain were splitting apart.
निपेतुश्च नराः सर्वे तेन शब्देन मोहिताः। वर्जयित्वा मुनिवरं राजानं तौ च राघवौ
All the people, stunned by that sound, fell down—except for the great sage, the king, and the two sons of Raghu.
प्रत्याश्वस्ते जने तस्मिन् राजा विगतसाध्वसः। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो मुनिपुंगवम्
When the people had recovered, the king, his fear gone, spoke with joined palms to the foremost of sages, skilled in speech.
भगवन् दृष्टवीर्यो मे रामो दशरथात्मजः। अत्यद्भुतमचिन्त्यं च अतर्कितमिदं मया
Revered one, I have seen the strength of Rāma, son of Daśaratha; this is truly marvelous, inconceivable, and beyond my expectation.
जनकानां कुले कीर्तिमाहरिष्यति मे सुता। सीता भर्तारमासाद्य रामं दशरथात्मजम्
My daughter Sītā, having gained Rāma, son of Daśaratha, as her husband, will bring fame to the house of Janaka.
मम सत्या प्रतिज्ञा सा वीर्यशुल्केति कौशिक। सीता प्राणैर्बहुमता देया रामाय मे सुता
O Kauśika, my vow is now fulfilled: 'Sītā is to be won by prowess.' My daughter, dearer than life, is to be given to Rāma.
भवतोऽनुमते ब्रह्मन् शीघ्रं गच्छन्तु मन्त्रिणः। मम कौशिक भद्रं ते अयोध्यां त्वरिता रथैः
With your consent, O Brāhmaṇa, let my ministers swiftly go, O Kauśika, blessings upon you, to Ayodhyā in fast chariots.
राजानं प्रश्रितैर्वाक्यैरानयन्तु पुरं मम। प्रदानं वीर्यशुल्कायाः कथयन्तु च सर्वशः
Let them bring the king to my city with respectful words, and fully tell him of the giving of my daughter, won by prowess.
मुनिगुप्तौ च काकुत्स्थौ कथयन्तु नृपाय वै। प्रीतियुक्तं तु राजानमानयन्तु सुशीघ्रगाः
Let them also tell the king about the two sons of Kakutstha, protected by the sage, and with affection, bring the king here with all speed.
कौशिकस्तु तथेत्याह राजा चाभाष्य मन्त्रिणः। अयोध्यां प्रेषयामास धर्मात्मा कृतशासनान्। यथावृत्तं समाख्यातुमानेतुं च नृपं तथा
Kauśika replied, 'So be it,' and the righteous king, having instructed his ministers, sent them to Ayodhyā to report all that had happened and to bring the king accordingly.
thumb| अष्टषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे अष्टषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the sixty-eighth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa.
जनकेन समादिष्टा दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः। त्रिरात्रमुषिता मार्गे तेऽयोध्यां प्राविशन् पुरीम्
Those messengers, instructed by Janaka, whose vehicles were weary, after spending three nights on the road, entered the city of Ayodhyā.
ते राजवचनाद् गत्वा राजवेश्म प्रवेशिताः। ददृशुर्देवसंकाशं वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम्
Following the king's command, they went and entered the royal palace, and saw the aged king Daśaratha, shining like a god.
बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे दूता विगतसाध्वसाः। राजानं प्रश्रितं वाक्यमब्रुवन् मधुराक्षरम्
All the messengers, hands joined in reverence and free from fear, addressed the king with respectful and sweet words.
मैथिलो जनको राजा साग्निहोत्रपुरस्कृतः। मुहुर्मुहुर्मधुरया स्नेहसंरक्तया गिरा
The king of Mithilā, Janaka, accompanied by his sacred fire, again and again with sweet, affection-filled speech...
कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव सोपाध्यायपुरोहितम्। जनकस्त्वां महाराज पृच्छते सपुरःसरम्
King Janaka, together with his priests and teachers, first inquires about your welfare and unchanging prosperity, O great king.
पृष्ट्वा कुशलमव्यग्रं वैदेहो मिथिलाधिपः। कौशिकानुमते वाक्यं भवन्तमिदमब्रवीत्
Having calmly asked after your well-being, the ruler of Mithila, Vaideha, with the approval of Kauśika, spoke these words to you.