p. 153

Hearse Janaka’s words, the mighty Muni Vigw§- mitra said unto the king,—“Do thou show the bow unto Rama.” Thereupon the king Janaka commanded his ministers, saying,—Do ye bring the wonderful bow furnished with unguents and garlands.” Commanded by Janaka, the ministers entered the city ; and placing the bow in their front, those, endowed with immeasurable energy, came out. And deposited in a case on a cart borne upon eight wheels, #t was with difficulty drawn along by five thousand stalwart persons of well-developed frames. And having brought that case of iron, wherein lay that bow, the royal counsellors spoke unto Janaka resembling an immortal, saying,—'Here is the best of bows, O king, worshipped of all sovereigns. O foremost of kings, O lord of Mithila, if you think it worth showing (shew it).” Hearing theirspeech, the king with clasped palms said unto the high-souled Vigwdmitra as well as Rama and Lakshmana,—“This best of bows, O Br&ahmana, hath always been worshipped by the Janakas ; as also by mighty kings incapable (of wielding and stringing it.) And neither the celestials, nor the Asuras, northe Rakshasas, nor the Gandharbas nor the Yakshas, nor the Kinnaras, nor the mighty Uragas,—how shall men fare ?—have succeeded in stringing or stretching it, or fixing the arrow to it, or pulling its string’ or wielding it. This foremost of bows hath been brought here, O chief of ascetics. Do thou, O exalted one, show it unto these sons of the king.” Hearing Janaka,s words, the righteous Vigw4mitra said unto Raghava,—“‘O Rama, do thou, my child, behold the bow.” At the words of the Maharshi, Rama, opening the case, wherein lieth the bow took a sight of it and said,—“This_ divine bow will I touch with my hand,— and shall I also striveto wield and draw it ?”” Thereat both the 20

p. 154

king and the ascetic said,—‘Excellent well.” At the words of the anchoret, in the sight of countless thousands of spectators,the righteous son of Raghu with exceeding ease took hold of the bow by the middle, and fixed the string upon it,—and ‘having fixed the string, drew it. And that foremost of men enjoying high fame, snapped the bow in the middle. And mighty was the sound that was heard on the occasion, like unto the bursting of a thunder-clap : and the earth trembled terribly, as it doth in the vicinity of a mountain splitting ; and overwhelmed by the noise, all rolled head over heels,with the exception of that best of ascetics, the king, and the two Raghavas. And on the people being reassured, the king conversant withispeech, his apprehension removed, with folded hands addressed that puissant ascetic, saying,—“O worshipful one, I have beheld the prowess of Dagaratha’s son. This is verily wonderful and inconceivable ; and I did not think this was possible. And my daughter, Sita, being united with her lord, Dagaratha’s son, Rama, will shed lustre on Janaka’s line. And my promise v7z.,that I will confer Sita upon him that will bend the bow, hath been fulfilled, O son of Kucika. And this Sit&, this my daughter, dearer unto me than life will I confer upon Rama. And, O Brahmana, by thy permission let my counsellors speedily post hence, O Kaucika, good betide thee unto Ayodhya, in cars ; and with humble speech bring the king unto my capital. And let them communicate unto him all about the bestowal of Sita upon Rama, in consequence of his having bent the bow. And let them acquaint the monarch with the welfare of the Kakutsthas protected by the ascetic; and let them, speedily posting hence, bring the delighted king.” And thereupon Kugika’s son said,—So be it.” And the righteous king, summoning his counsellors, despatched them to Ayodhy& with his letter, to communicate all duly unto the king, and bring him thither.