Sarga 67: Rama Breaks the Bow
Dhanusha Bhanga
Rama effortlessly strings and breaks the bow of Shiva.
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रामाय इति होवाच पार्थिवम्
Meaning
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
Meaning
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
Meaning
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
Meaning
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:
Meaning
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
Meaning
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
Meaning
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
Meaning
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:
Meaning
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
Meaning
How then can men bend, string, fix the arrow, pull the string and lift it?