Śiva Dhanus Bhaṅga (Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa)

At Janaka’s dhanuryajña in Mithilā, kings and princes tried one after another to lift the great bow of Bhagavān Śiva, and none could even move it. When Janaka sadly said that no hero was left in the world, Lakshmaṇa made a bold promise and Bhagavān Rāma quietly stopped him. Then, at the signal of Viśvāmitra, Rāma stood up, lifted the bow with ease, strung it and broke it. The sound shook the three worlds. Sītā came forward and put the jayamāla (the victor’s garland) round Rāma’s neck.

The announcement in the sabhā

Rāma and Lakshmaṇa had come into Mithilā with Viśvāmitra and had seen the beauty of the city. Janaka’s purohita (family priest) Śatānanda received them with honour and led them to the king. Janaka welcomed the ṛshi and the princes with great respect and spoke to the assembled court.

The vandi-māgadhas (the royal bards) then made the formal announcement: “Listen, O kings! Hear the condition for the svayaṃvara of Sītā, daughter of Janaka. Whoever among you lifts, strings and breaks the great bow of Śiva that stands here in this hall, to him Sītā will be given in marriage.”

The kings fail

One by one the kings and princes in the assembly came up to the bow. There were kings with huge armies and heroes known across the world, men proud of their unstoppable strength. Not one of them could even lift it. The bow did not move. Ten thousand kings together strained and struggled, and could not shift it from its place. Ashamed, they drew back and sat in silence, their pride brought low.

Janaka’s sorrow and Lakshmaṇa’s vow

Janaka looked at the scene, and grief came over him. He spoke aloud in sorrow: “It seems there is no man in the world today brave enough to deserve my daughter Sītā. What am I to do? How will this vow of mine be kept?”

At these words Lakshmaṇa, his eyes red with the fire of a hero’s pride, leapt up and said: “O king! Why do you grieve? With Rāghava’s leave, I shall lift this whole earth like a ball on my palm!” A stir ran through the assembly at the boldness of his words.

Rāmachandra looked at Lakshmaṇa with calm eyes and a gentle smile, and silenced him with a glance. The look told him that such declarations are for deeds, not for words.

Rāma lifts and breaks the bow

At Viśvāmitra’s signal Rāma rose from his seat. He walked forward easily, with the stride of a majestic lion. He bowed to the bow with respect, then reached out and lifted it as easily as a man lifts a garland lying on a table. Without pausing he bent it and strung it, and in the same moment the bow broke with a sound like thunder.

The sound of the breaking bow rang through the earth and up into svarga (heaven). The three worlds shook. The assembly hall shook. Some of the lesser kings fainted. In the sky the devas roared with joy, beat their deva-dundubhis (the drums of the devas) and showered flowers on Rāmachandra. The skies blazed with light.

Sītā garlands Rāma

Sītā was waiting in the antaḥpura (the women’s quarters) with her companions. She heard the sound of the bow breaking and knew at once what had happened. She came forward with her heart overflowing. She went up to Rāmachandra with the jayamāla in her hands.

For a moment she stood unable to move, her eyes lost in Rāma’s face. Then, gently guided by her companions, she placed the jayamāla round Rāmachandra’s neck. The assembly broke into joy. Her sakhis (friends) sang and the musicians played. Flowers rained from the sky. The earth shone with good fortune.

Some proud kings who had also hoped for Sītā’s hand murmured in jealousy. But the moment was beyond protest, for dharma had been fulfilled.

Daśaratha is called

Janaka at once sent a trusted messenger to Ayodhyā with all speed, to bring the news to Daśaratha and invite him to Mithilā for the marriage. The messenger travelled through the night and reached Ayodhyā before dawn.

Sources

• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Rāmuḍu Jānakini Cūcuṭa
• Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Dhanus Bhaṅga