Sarga 67: Rama Breaks the Bow
Dhanusha Bhanga
Rama effortlessly strings and breaks the bow of Shiva.
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तदेतद्धनुषां श्रेष्ठमानीतं मुनिपुङ्गव। दर्शयैतन्महाभाग अनयो: राजपुत्रयो:
Meaning
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
Meaning
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
Meaning
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
Meaning
O Brahmarshi, shall I touch this great bow with my hands lift and string it.
बाढम् इत्येव तं राजा मुनिश्च समभाषत। लीलय स धनुर्म्ध्ये जग्राह वचनान्मुने:
Meaning
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:
Meaning
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:
Meaning
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:
Meaning
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
Meaning
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
Meaning
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: