RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN--CHAPTER 67

                                         RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN—CHAPTER 67

                                                                THE BROKEN BOW

“You have spoken well,” said Visvamitra to Janaka, “and now let Rama have a sight of the famous bow.”

Janaka made the necessary orders to his officers. “Bring here the celestial bow. And give it due worship. Use sweet incense and fragrant wreaths.”

The officers proceeded to the Palace. They bore from there the divine bow. It was in a black case of solid iron. Five hundred strong men brought the bow. The solid iron case had eight wheels. The ministers placed it before the king. They said, “Here is the famous bow. The princes of the Earth hold it in high honour.”

Thereupon, Janaka spoke to the sage and the princes. “I have placed the peerless bow here. It is held in high worship by the monarchs of the Earth. The best and the bravest have failed. They could not string it. The very Gods, Asuras, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, Uragas tried their hands at the bow. They could not even move the bow from where it lay. Why then speak of the puny mortals? But I have obeyed your order. And have brought the bow for the inspection of the princes.”

Visvamitra said to Raghava, “Rama dear, look at the bow.”

Rama advanced to where it lay in the iron case. He heaved up the lid. He looked at the bow. He asked Visvamitra, “Master, have I your permission to handle the bow? I would try to lift it or to bend it.”

“Be it so” exclaimed the king and the sage.

Then Sri Rama grasped the weapon by the middle. He held it aloft as though it were a feather. The thousands of the assembly gazed in hushed amaze. Quickly he strung it and drew it even to his ear. And lo and behold, the mighty bow snapped right at the middle. Awful was the crash. It was like a thunderbolt loosened on the earth. The earth quacked to her very foundations. Everyone there was struck by shock. And, save the king and the Sage and the princes, none could stand it.

The spectators were slowly coming back to their senses. Janaka approached Visvamitra and said, “I have witnessed today the might and valour of the son of Dasaratha. It is wonderful and inconceivable. And Sita will be the wife of Rama. I am fortunate in that I have kept my word that my daughter shall be the wife of the strongest and bravest. I will send to Ayodhya my ministers. They shall entreat the royal Dasaratha to grace my humble abode.”