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[Rama strings the bow and breaks-- Janaka sends counsellors to Ayodhya to bring king Dasaratha].

जनकस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि: ।

धनुर्दर्शय रामाय इति होवाच पार्थिवम्।।1.67.1।।


महामुनि: great ascestic, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, जनकस्य Janaka's, वच: words, शृत्वा having listened, रामाय for Rama, धनु: bow, दर्शय show, इति saying so, पार्थिवम् addressing king, उवाच ह spoke.

At the words of Janaka, great ascetic Viswamitra said to the king, "Let the bow be shown to Rama".
ततस्स राजा जनक: सामन्तान्व्यादिदेश ह।

धनुरानीयतां दिव्यं गन्धमाल्यविभूषितम्।।1.67.2।।


तत: thereafter, स: राजा that king, जनक: Janaka, सामन्तान् feudatories, व्यादिदेश ह ordered, गन्धमाल्यविभूषितम् adorned with flowers and sandalwood, दिव्यम् divine, धनु: bow, आनीयताम् let it be brought.

Thereafter king Janaka said to his feudatories, "Let the divine bow adorned with flowers and sandalpaste be brought".
जनकेन समादिष्टा: सचिवा प्राविशन् पुरीम्।

तद्धनु: पुरत: कृत्वा निर्जग्मु: पार्थिवाज्ञया।।1.67.3।।


जनकेन by the king Janaka, समादिष्टा: commanded, सचिवा: ministers, पुरीम् city, प्राविशन् entered, तद्धनु: that bow, पार्थिवाज्ञया by the orders of king, पुरत: in their front, कृत्वा keeping, निर्जग्मु: departed.

Commanded by (king) Janaka, the ministers went to the city, put the bow in front of them and carried it as per the orders of the king.
नृणां शतानि पञ्चाशद्व्यायतानां महात्मनाम्।

मञ्जूषामष्टचक्रां तां समूहुस्ते कथञ्चन।।1.67.4।।


महात्मनाम् possessing great strength, व्यायतानाम् of stalwarts, नृणाम् of men, पञ्चाशत् fifty, शतानि hundreds, अष्टचक्राम् eight wheeled cart, मञ्जूषाम् box, समूहु: had drawn, ते they, ताम् that cart, कथञ्चन with great difficulty (had drawn).

Five thousand mighty stalwarts drew with great difficulty the eightwheeled cart on which the bow was placed in a box.
तामादाय तु मञ्जूषामायसीं यत्र तद्धनु:।

सुरोपमं ते जनकमूचुर्नृपतिमन्त्रिण:।।1.67.5।।


ते नृपतिमन्त्रिण: the counsellors of king, यत्र wherever, तत् धनु: that bow (was placed), ताम् आयसीम् that iron, मञ्जूषाम् box, आदाय having brought, सुरोपमम् equal to devatas,जनकम् addressing Janaka, ऊचु: spoke.

The counsellors of the king, brought the iron casket containing the bow and said these words to Janaka comparable to a celestial:
इदं धनुर्वरं राजन् पूजितं सर्वराजभि:।

मिथिलाधिप राजेन्द्र दर्शनीयं यदिच्छसि।।1.67.6।।


राजेन्द्र O Most revered of kings, मिथिलाधिप O Lord of Mithila, राजन् O king, यत् which one, दर्शनीयम् to be shown, इच्छसि you are desiring, सर्वराजभि: by all kings, पूजितम् worshipped, धनुर्वरम् excellent bow, इदम् this one.

'O Indra among kings O lord of Mithila here is the great bow, worshipped by all kings,
which you intend to show (to Rama)'.
तेषां नृपो वच: श्रुत्वा कृताञ्जलिरभाषत।

विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं तौ चोभौ रामलक्ष्मणौ।।1.67.7।।


नृप: king, तेषाम् their, वच: words, श्रुत्वा having listened, कृताञ्जलि: with folded palms, महात्मानम् magnanimous, विश्वामित्रम् Viswamitra, तौ उभौ those two, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, अभाषत said.

Having heard this, the king with folded hands said to the great soul Viswamitra sitting with the two princes Rama and Lakshmana:
इदं धनुर्वरं ब्रह्मन् जनकैरभिपूजितम्।

राजभिश्च महावीर्यै: अशक्तै: पूरितुं पुरा।।1.67.8।।


ब्रह्मन् O Brahman, जनकै: by kings of Nimi dynasty, पुरा in the olden days, पूरितुम् to string it, अशक्तै: by being incapable, महावीर्यै: by those possessing great prowess, राजभिश्च by kings also, अभिपूजितम् having been worshipped, धनुर्वरम् famed bow, इदम् this one (is presented here.)

"O Brahman in the olden days, this great bow was worshipped by my forefathers. Powerful kings failed to string this bow.
नैतत्सुरगणास्सर्वे नासुरा न च राक्षसा:।

गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरा: सकिन्नरमहोरगा:।।1.67.9।।


एतत् (for wielding ) this, सर्वे all, सुरगणा: hosts of devatas, न were not capable, असुरा: asuras, न not capable, राक्षसा: rakhasas, सकिन्नरमहोरगा: along with kinnaras and great serpents, गन्धर्वयक्षप्रवरा: best of gandharvas and yakshas, न not capable.

Hosts of devatas, asuras, rakhasas, kinnaras and great serpents, the best of gandharvas and yakshas, also failed (to wield this bow).
क्व गतिर्मानुषाणां च धनुषोऽस्य प्रपूरणे।

आरोपणे समायोगे वेपने तोलनेऽपि वा।।1.67.10।।


अस्य this bow's, प्रपूरणे to stretch, आरोपणे to string, समायोगे in fixing the arrow, वेपने to pull the string, तोलनेऽपि वा to lift and weigh, मानुषाणाम् for mortals, गति: course, क्व where?

How then can men bend, string, fix the arrow, pull the string and lift it?
तदेतद्धनुषां श्रेष्ठमानीतं मुनिपुङ्गव।

दर्शयैतन्महाभाग अनयो: राजपुत्रयो:।।1.67.11।।


मुनिपुङ्गव O Eminent ascetic, तत् such, एतत् this, धनुषाम् among bows, श्रेष्ठम् excellent one, आनीतम् is brought, महाभाग O Highly fortunate one, एतत् this, अनयो: राजपुत्रयो: for these two princes, दर्शय show it.

O Eminent ascetic such heaviest bow is brought here, O Highly accomplished sage show this to the two princes".
विश्वामित्रस्तु धर्मात्मा श्रुत्वा जनकभाषितम्।

वत्स राम धनु: पश्य इति राघवमब्रवीत्।।1.67.12।।


धर्मात्मा righteous, विश्वामित्रस्तु Visvamitra on his part, जनकभाषितम् words of Janaka, श्रुत्वा having heard, वत्स O Child, राम O Rama, धनु: bow, पश्य see, इति saying so, राघवम् addressing Rama, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Having heard the words of Janaka, the righteous Viswamitra said: "O Child O Descendant of Raghu look at this bow".
ब्रह्मर्षेर्वचनाद्रामो यत्र तिष्ठति तद्धनु:।

मञ्जूषां तामपावृत्य दृष्ट्वा धनुरथाब्रवीत्।।1.67.13।।


राम: Rama, ब्रह्मर्षे: Brahmarshi's, वचनात् by the words, तत् धनु: that bow, यत्र wherever, तिष्ठति is placed, ताम् that, मञ्जूषाम् box, अपावृत्य having opened, धनु: bow, दृष्ट्वा having seen, अथ thereater, अब्रवीत् spoke.

At the words of the great rishi Viswamitra, Rama opened the casket, beheld the bow and said:
इदं धनुर्वरं ब्रह्मन् संस्पृशामीह पाणिना।

यत्नवांश्च भविष्यामि तोलने पूरणेऽपि वा।।1.67.14।।


ब्रह्मन् O Brahmarshi, इह now, इदम् धनुर्वरम् this excellent bow, पाणिना with hand, संस्पृशामि I shall touch, तोलने in raising (weighing ), पूरणेऽपि वा to string it, यत्नवान् भविष्यामि I shall endeavour.

"O Brahmarshi, shall I touch this great bow with my hands lift and string it".
बाढमित्येव तं राजा मुनिश्च समभाषत।

लीलया स धनुर्मध्ये जग्राह वचनान्मुने:।।1.67.15।


राजा king, मुनिश्च and also rishi, बाढम् इत्येव "Be it so" thus only, तम् addressing Rama, समभाषत spoke, स: Rama, मुने: rishi's, वचनात् from words, धनु: bow, मध्ये in the middle, लीलया with ease, जग्राह took hold of.

The king as also the rishi said "Be it so". At the words of the sage (Viswamitra), he (Rama) took hold of the bow by the its middle with ease:
पश्यतां नृपसहस्राणां बहूनां रघुनन्दन: ।

आरोपयत्स धर्मात्मा सलीलमिव तद्धनु:।।1.67.16।।


धर्मात्मा virtuous, स: that, रघुनन्दन: Rama, बहूनाम् of several, नृपसहस्राणाम् thousands of men, पश्यताम् while seeing, तत् धनु: that bow, सलीलमिव as though with ease, आरोपयत् fixed the string and drew it.

Virtuous Rama, the delight of the Raghus, in the presence of several thousands of men fixed the string to the bow and drew it as though with ease.
आरोपयित्वा धर्मात्मा पूरयामास तद्धनु:।

तद्बभञ्ज धनुर्मध्ये नरश्रेष्ठो महायशा:।।1.67.17।।


धर्मात्मा magnanimous, तत् धनु: that bow, आरोपयित्वा asfter stringing, पूरयामास drew it with a twang, महायशा: highly famous, नरश्रेष्ठ: best among men, तत् धनु: that bow, मध्ये in the middle, बभञ्ज broke.

Rama, the best among men, righteous and famous lifted the bow. Stringing it with a twang he drew it and broke it into two in the middle.
तस्य शब्दो महानासीत् निर्घातसमनिस्वन:।

भूमिकम्पश्च सुमहान् पर्वतस्येव दीर्यत:।।1.67.18।।


तस्य its, शब्द: sound, निर्घातसमनिस्वन: equalled to the clap of a thunder, महान् great, आसीत् became, पर्वतस्य of a mountain, दीर्यत: as if splitting, सुमहान् great, भूमिकम्पश्च trembling of the earth.

It generated a loud sound like the clap of thunder, like the trembling of the earth and the splitting of a mountain.
निपेतुश्च नरा स्सर्वे तेन शब्देन मोहिता:।

वर्जयित्वा मुनिवरं राजानं तौ च राघवौ।।1.67.19।।


तेन शब्देन by that sound, मोहिता: fainted, मुनिवरम् best of ascetics, राजानम् king, तौ राघवौ च the two Raghavas, वर्जयित्वा leaving, सर्वे all, नरा: men, निपेतु: fell down.

On hearing the sound, except Janaka, Viswamitra and the two raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana) the rest of the people around fell down and fainted.
प्रत्याश्वस्ते जने तस्मिन्राजा विगतसाध्वस:।

उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.67.20।।


तस्मिन् जने when those people, प्रत्याश्वस्ते were comforted, वाक्यज्ञ: knower of meaning of words, राजा king, विगतसाध्वस: without any apprehension, प्राञ्जलि: with folded palms, मुनिपुङ्गवम् eminent ascetic, वाक्यम् words, उवाच said:

When the people recovered the king skilful in the use of words addressed the eminent ascetic without apprehension with folded palms in the following words:
भगवन् दृष्टवीर्यो मे रामो दशरथात्मज:।

अत्यद्भुतमचिन्त्यं च न तर्कितमिदं मया।।1.67.21।।


भगवन् O Worshipful one, दशरथात्मज: son of Dasatha, राम: Rama, मे to me, दृष्टवीर्य: having prowess, अत्यद्भुतम् marvellous, अचिन्त्यं च unimaginable, इदं this, मया by me, न तर्कितम् not conjectured.

"O Worshipful one I have witnessed the prowess of Rama, son of Dasaratha. I had not
imagined that this marvellous feat could be ever accomplished.
जनकानां कुले कीर्तिमाहरिष्यति मे सुता।

सीता भर्तारमासाद्य रामं दशरथात्मजम्।।1.67.22।।


मे my, सुता daughter, सीता Sita, दशरथात्मजम् son of Dasaratha, रामम् Rama, भर्तारम् as husband, आसाद्य after obtaining, जनकानाम् of Janaka's, कुले dynastry, कीर्तिम् glory, आहरिष्यति will bring.

By receiving Rama, son of Dasaratha, as her husband, my daughter Sita will bring glory to my dynasty.
मम सत्या प्रतिज्ञा च वीर्यशुल्केति कौशिक।

सीता प्राणैर्बहुमता देया रामाय मे सुता।।1.67.23।।


कौशिक O Son of Kusika, वीर्यशुल्केति as a reward of prowess, मम my, प्रतिज्ञा च vow also, सत्या has become true, प्राणै: more than vital life, बहुमता valued, मे my, सुता daughter, सीता Sita, रामाय for Rama, देया fit to given.

O Son of Kausika I announce Sita to be the 'Reward of prowess'. My vow has come true. She is more valuable than my life and fit to be given to Rama.
भवतोऽनुमते ब्रह्मन् शीघ्रं गच्छन्तु मन्त्रिण:।

मम कौशिक भद्रं ते अयोध्यां त्वरिता रथै:।।1.67.24।।


ब्रह्मन् O Brahman, कौशिक Kausika, भवत: your, अनुमते with the consent, मन्त्रिण: ministers, त्वरिता: hastily, रथै: in chariots, अयोध्याम् towards Ayodhya, शीघ्रम् immediately, गच्छन्तु may go, ते भद्रम् prosperity to you.

O Brahmarshi Kausika, be blessed With your consent my ministers will take the chariots to Ayodhya immediately.
राजानं प्रश्रितैर्वाक्यैरानयन्तु पुरं मम।

प्रदानं वीर्यशुल्काया: कथयन्तु च सर्वश:।।1.67.25।।


वीर्यशुल्काया: Sita, the reward of prowess, प्रदानम् for offering to Rama, सर्वश: in detail, कथयन्तु they may be communicated, प्रश्रितै: with reverential, वाक्यै: words, राजानम् king Dasaratha, मम my, पुरम् city, आनयन्तु bring him here.

That Sita, the reward of prowess is to be given to Rama be reventially communicated in detail to king Dasaratha and he may be conveyed here.
मुनिगुप्तौ च काकुत्स्थौ कथयन्तु नृपाय वै।

प्रीयमाणं तु राजानमानयन्तु सुशीघ्रगा:।।1.67.26।।


काकुत्स्थौ Rama and Lakshmana, मुनिगुप्तौ protected by sage Visvamitra, नृपाय for king, कथयन्तु be informed, सुशीघ्रगा: men who can go with great speed, प्रीयमाणम् delighted, राजानम् king, आनयन्तु bring.

The welfare of the descendant of Kausika (Rama and Lakshmana) under the protection of sage (Viswamitra) be reported to the king. The king who will be happy to hear this
be brought here by swiftfooted men".
कौशिकश्च तथेत्याह राजा चाभाष्य मन्त्रिण:।।1.67.27।।

अयोध्यां प्रेषयामास धर्मात्मा कृतशासनान्।

यथावृत्तं समाख्यातुमानेतुं च नृपं तदा।।1.67.28।।


कौशिकश्च Visvamitra also, तथेति "So be it " thus, आह said, धर्मात्मा virtuous, राजा च king also, मन्त्रिण: ministers, आभाष्य having consulted, तदा then, यथावृत्तम् as it happened, समाख्यातुम् to communicate, नृपम् to the king, आनेतुं च and to bring him, कृतशासनान् counsellors who took orders (from him), अयोध्याम् Ayodhya, प्रेषयामास sent forth.

The son of Kausika (Viswamitra) also said, "So be it". The virtuous king, having consulted his ministers, despatched counsellors to Ayodhya to communicate to king Dasaratha all that had taken place and bring him (to Mithila).
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे सप्तषष्टितमस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the sixtyseventh sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.