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.
पूर्वं प्रतिज्ञा विदिता वीर्यशुल्का ममात्मजा। राजानश्च कृतामर्षा निर्वीर्या विमुखीकृताः
You know of my earlier vow: my daughter would be won by prowess; the kings, having failed and grown resentful, have been turned away, their strength found lacking.
सेयं मम सुता राजन् विश्वामित्रपुरस्कृतैः। यदृच्छयागतै राजन् निर्जिता तव पुत्रकैः
This daughter of mine, O king, has, by chance, been won by your sons, who came here accompanied by Viśvāmitra and others.
तच्च रत्नं धनुर्दिव्यं मध्ये भग्नं महात्मना। रामेण हि महाबाहो महत्यां जनसंसदि
That precious, divine bow was broken in the midst of a great assembly by mighty-armed Rāma, the high-souled one.
अस्मै देया मया सीता वीर्यशुल्का महात्मने। प्रतिज्ञां तर्तुमिच्छामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
Therefore, I must give Sītā, won by prowess, to this great-souled one; I wish to fulfill my vow—please grant your consent.
सोपाध्यायो महाराज पुरोहितपुरस्कृतः। शीघ्रमागच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुमर्हसि राघवौ
O great king, together with your priests and teachers, come quickly and safely; you ought to see the two sons of Raghu.
प्रतिज्ञां मम राजेन्द्र निर्वर्तयितुमर्हसि। पुत्रयोरुभयोरेव प्रीतिं त्वमुपलप्स्यसे
O king of kings, you should fulfill my vow; you will gain the affection of both your sons.
एवं विदेहाधिपतिर्मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। विश्वामित्राभ्यनुज्ञातः शतानन्दमते स्थितः
Thus, the lord of Videha, with the approval of Viśvāmitra and in agreement with Śatānanda, spoke these sweet words.
दूतवाक्यं तु तच्छ्रुत्वा राजा परमहर्षितः। वसिष्ठं वामदेवं च मन्त्रिणश्चैवमब्रवीत्
Hearing this message, the king was exceedingly delighted and spoke to Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, and his ministers as follows.
गुप्तः कुशिकपुत्रेण कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा विदेहेषु वसत्यसौ
Protected by the son of Kuśika, Rāma, the joy of Kausalyā, together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, is staying among the Videhas.
दृष्टवीर्यस्तु काकुत्स्थो जनकेन महात्मना। सम्प्रदानं सुतायास्तु राघवे कर्तुमिच्छति
Having witnessed Rāma's prowess, the high-souled Janaka wishes to give his daughter to Rāghava.