May 24 - Sargas 67 and 68 of Balakanda.
Time for gattimelam (= the auspicious sounds of nagaswaram and tavil during the wedding muhurtam!)
Sri Rama breaks the bow, and a thrilled Janaka sends the invitation for the wedding to Dasharatha.
***
After hearing about the history of Shiva Dhanush, sage Vishwamitra spoke in a profound tone: "Oh king, let the bow be brought before Sri Rama. "
King Janaka gladly instructed his ministers to arrange for the bow to be brought from the palace into the yajna hall. He asked them to have the bow and its casket duly decorated and anointed.
The courtiers arranged for 1500 able-bodied men to pull the Shiva Dhanush, grand in its decoration and magnificent in its history, to be brought in a huge casket placed on a 8 wheeled dolly. On bringing it into the hall, they reported, "oh king, this divine bow has been worshipped by your lineage for many generations. We have brought it as you instructed us."
***
इदं धनुर्वरं ब्रह्मन् जनकैरभिपूजितम् ।
राजभिश्च महावीर्यैरशक्यं पूरितुं तदा ॥
नैतत् सुरगणाः सर्वे नासुरा न च राक्षसाः।
गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवराः संकिन्नरमहोरगाः ॥
क्वागतिर्मानुषाणां च धनुषोऽस्य प्रपूरणे ।
आरोपणे समायोगे वेपने तोलनेपि वा ॥
तदेतद्धनुषां श्रेष्ठमानीतं मुनिपुङ्गव ।
दर्शयैतन्महाभाग अनयो राजपुत्रयोः ॥
"Oh Brahmarshi, this sacred bow has been worshipped by generations of Janaka kings. Also by many other kings, who found it impossible to handle.
" Neither gods, celestials, demons, demi-gods, serpent-kings and others have been able to lift it, string it or even shake it. What then of humans?
" This supreme bow has now been brought here. Kindly show it to these two princes. "
***
Vishwamitra spoke endearingly, "Dear son, Rama, please have a look at the bow." Sri Rama proceeded to open the casket and look at the bow. He asked for permission from the king and the sage for touching it, and if possible lifting it and stringing it.
***
बाढमित्येव तं राजा मुनिश्च समभाषत ।
लीलया स धनुर्मध्ये जग्राह वचनान्मुनेः ॥
पश्यतां नृसहस्राणां बहूनां रघुनन्दनः ।
आरोपयत्स धर्मात्मा सलीलमिव तद्धनुः ॥
आरोपयित्वा धर्मात्मा पूरयामास वीर्यवान् ।
तद्भञ्ज धनुर्मध्ये नरश्रेष्ठो महायशाः ॥
तस्य शब्दो महानासीन्निर्घातसमनिःस्वनः ।
भूमिकम्पश्च सुमहान् पर्वतस्येव दीर्यतः ॥
Both the king and the sage gave the green signal. Sri Rama grasped the bow easily in its middle. As thousands of men witnessed, he lifted the bow very easily, with a smile on his face.
The brave and righteous prince now bent the bow to string it. As he was stringing it, it broke in the middle. Only one who was supreme among men and bound for great glory could have done it.
The sound of the divine bow's breaking was as if at once there occured the clap of thunder, the rending of mountains, and an earthquake. It was heard all over and people tottered in fright. Except the king, the sage and the two brothers.
***
भगवन् दृष्टवीर्यो मे रामो दशरथात्मजः ।
अत्यद्भुतमचिन्त्यं च न तर्कितमिदं मया ॥
जनकानां कुले कीर्तिमाहरिष्यति मे सुता ।
सीता भर्तारमासाद्य रामं दशरथात्मजम् ॥
King Janaka, delighted beyond measure said, "Oh revered sage, this prince Rama has displayed to me his valour which is super- fantastic, unthinkable, and something I fail to get my head around.
" Our daughter dear princess Sita will bring the greatest fame to our dynasty by becoming the wife of Sri Rama, son of Dasharatha."
***
King Janaka asks his ministers to speed to Ayodhya with the best of news and kindly invite King Dasharatha and everyone else for the grand wedding ceremony.
The messengers speed by the swiftest of means and reach Ayodhya in three days. They inform the palace guards that they have a message from King Janaka for Dasharatha. He at once asks for them to be received in his court. They speak in the sweetest of tones with the most cordial of greetings from Janaka and present the news.
***
तच्च राजन् धनुर्दिव्यं मध्ये भग्नं महात्मना।
रामेण हि महावीर महत्यां जनसंसदि ॥
अस्मै देया मया सीता वीर्यशुल्का ममात्मजा ।
प्रतिज्ञां तर्तुमिच्छामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥
सोपाध्यायो महाराज पुरोहितपुरःसरः ।
शीघ्रमागच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुमर्हसि राघवौ ॥
प्रतिज्ञां मम राजेन्द्र निर्वर्तयितुमर्हसि ।
एवं विदेहाधिपतिर्मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥
His emissaries delivered king Janaka's extremely endearing, sweet, message to king Dasharatha:
"Oh king, greetings and enquiries. Hope all is very well in Ayodhya. As you know I have had the great Shiva Dhanush. I had made it a pre-condition to win my daughter's hand that the bow should be lifted and strung.
"I had the unexpected good fortune of receiving the great sage Vishwamitra and your sons who are at present in his care. I told them about the divine bow.
"That divine bow, oh king, was not only lifted but broken while stringing it by your worthy son Rama. He did it in the presence of my large assembly. Indeed it therefore behoves on me to offer the hand of my daughter Sita in marriage to Rama as Veerya Shulka.
"So king, kindly travel with your gurus, priests and full entourage immediately. You can meet your dear sons soon. And help me in fulfilling my vow and giving Sita in marriage to Sri Rama! "
***
Valmiki narrates how Dasharatha received the news in boundless joy and instructed everyone to prepare to leave for Mithila the next morning itself.
I received some. special cholocates to celebrate this beautiful moment!
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
