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Janaka salutes Vishvamitra and asks him what is fitting now. Parashurama has gone to the forest, and the men and women of the city have rejoiced, their pain gone. Now instruments sound very loudly and troops of women sing. Janaka’s happiness is past telling, and Sita‘s fear is gone. Rama has broken the bow, and the sage Janaka asks is the one in whose company the two boys came to his city.
The sage answers that the marriage was made the moment the bow broke. Even so Janaka should follow the custom of the line and send messengers to Ayodhya for Dasharatha. Janaka sends them at that hour. Then he orders the city adorned and a wedding pavilion built. The craftsmen, bowing to the Creator, raise it with pillars of golden plantain, leaves of green jewel, flowers of ruby, and bees that hum at the touch of the wind. The splendor of Janaka’s palace is seen in every house of the city. In Ayodhya the messengers give the letter to a father who has had no true news of his two sons since the day the sage led them away. He rises himself and takes it. As he reads, water comes to his eyes. He stays as he is, saying nothing sour or sweet, before he steadies himself and reads it. When Bharata, come in from his play, asks where it came from, the king reads it again. Then he asks the messengers, over and over, whether the two children are well. Their answer tells of a bow no hero could move, of Bana, who went round it and left. Of Rama breaking it as an elephant breaks a lotus stalk. Of Parashurama, come in fury and gone to the forest after giving Rama his own bow. And of Lakshmana, at whose look kings tremble. Vasishtha hears it all, speaks of merit and of rivers going to the sea, and says to make ready the wedding party and go quickly. The episode ends among the queens, with the letter taken from one another and pressed to their hearts. Gifts to the brahmins and largesse to the beggars, and a blessing on four sons.
The people of Janakpur and Ayodhya
The main figures in this episode
- Janaka Sita’s father. His happiness is past telling. He salutes Vishvamitra, says the two brothers have made him a man whose work is done, and asks what is fitting now. He sends messengers to Ayodhya at the sage’s word. He orders the leading men of the city to adorn it on all four sides, and sends for the servants and orders a wondrous wedding pavilion. His palace’s splendor is seen in every house of the city. His letter is read in Ayodhya, where Dasharatha asks how Janaka knew his sons.
- Sita and Rama the bride and the bridegroom of the pavilion being built. Sita’s fear is gone, and, in the messengers’ account, none of the many kings gathered for her could move the bow. Rama broke it by the lord’s grace, in Janaka’s words. In the messengers’ account he broke it without effort. Parashurama, seeing his strength, gave him his own bow. Janaka, the messengers, Vasishtha, and Dasharatha all speak of Rama. Neither he nor Sita speaks in this episode.
- Lakshmana the fair one of the two boys who bear bow and quiver, with the sage Vishvamitra, in Dasharatha’s description. He is one of the two brothers dear as life whom Bharata asks after. He is an ornament of the world and a store of radiance in the messengers’ words. At his look kings tremble as elephants at the stare of a lion’s cub. His renown and deeds Dasharatha tells again and again.
- Vishvamitra the sage Janaka salutes and asks. He answers that the marriage depended on the bow and was made the moment it broke. He tells Janaka to follow the custom of the line, asking brahmins, the elders of the line, and the gurus, and the conduct the Vedas set out. And to send messengers to Ayodhya for Dasharatha. He is the sage who led the two boys away, in Dasharatha’s words, and with whom they are.
- Dasharatha the father in Ayodhya. He rises himself to take the letter, and reads it with water in his eyes and his breast full. He stays as he is with his two sons in his heart and the letter in his hand. He steadies himself and reads it, and reads it again on hearing Bharata’s words. He seats the messengers near him and asks over and over whether the two children are well and how Janaka knew them. He begins to give largesse to them. He carries the letter to Vasishtha and tells him the whole story. He bows his head to the guru’s word, and reads the letter aloud to the inner household. He tells his sons’ renown and deeds again and again, and goes out saying it is the sage’s grace.
- Bharata and Shatrughna the two brothers at play in Ayodhya. They come at the news with their friends. Bharata, with great affection and abashed, asks his father where the letter came from, whether the two brothers are well, and in what country they are. Both thrill at the letter with an affection more than their limbs can hold. The assembly, seeing Bharata’s pure love, is especially glad.
- Vasishtha the guru. To him Dasharatha gives the letter and, calling the messengers with respect, tells the whole story. He speaks of the man of merit, of rivers going to a sea that has no desire. Of Dasharatha’s service to guru, brahmins, cows, and gods and Kausalya’s purity. Of a son such as Rama and four fine boys. He says to make ready the wedding party with the drums sounding and go quickly.
- The queens and Janaka’s messengers the queens, who hear Janaka’s letter read aloud. They shine in bloom with love, as if they were peahens that had heard the voice of the clouds. They take the letter from one another and press it to their hearts, and give gifts to brahmins and largesse to beggars. And the messengers, sent at the hour of the sage’s word. They reach Ayodhya, give the letter, and answer the father’s questions. They call his largesse against propriety and cover their ears. They are called with respect when the king tells the guru the whole story, and are given lodging.
Janaka’s happiness, and the next step asked of the guru
The instruments sounded very loudly, and everyone had put on festive dress. Troops of women, lovely of face and lovely of eye, sang sweetly in cuckoo voices. Janaka’s happiness was past telling, as if a born pauper had found a treasure. Sita’s fear was gone, and she was happy, as if she were a chakora’s daughter at the rising of the moon. The chakora is the bird that gazes at the moon.
Janaka made his salute to Vishvamitra. “By the lord’s grace Rama has broken the bow. The two brothers have made me a man whose work is done. Now say what is fitting, master.” In the commentary’s reading, the lord whose grace he names is the sage he is speaking to.
Vishvamitra said: “Listen, able king. The marriage depended on the bow, and the moment the bow broke, the marriage was made. Gods, men, and nagas all know it. Even so, go now and do what the custom of the line is, asking the brahmins, the elders of the line, and the gurus. And what the Vedas set out as conduct. Go and send messengers to Ayodhya, to invite King Dasharatha and bring him.”
Saying, “Very well, gracious one,” the glad king called the messengers at that hour and sent them.
The pavilion rising under the craftsmen’s hands
Then he called all the leading men, and they came and bowed their heads with respect. The king, as the commentary marks it, said to them: “Adorn the markets, the roads, the houses, the temples, and the city on all four sides.” Glad, they went to their own houses. Then he sent for the servants: “Build a wondrous wedding pavilion.” Setting his word on their heads, they went, glad.
They sent for many craftsmen, men skilled and wise in the making of pavilions. Bowing to the Creator, the craftsmen began, and made pillars of golden plantain. Leaves and fruit were made of green jewel, which the commentary names emerald, and flowers of ruby. At the sight of the work, so wondrous, Brahma’s mind was lost.
The bamboos were all made of green jewel, straight and knotted, and they could not be recognized. The commentary adds that no one could tell whether they were jewel or common bamboo. A creeper of gold was made, the betel vine. Handsome with its leaves, it could not be made out. Of that vine they made the ties, worked and inlaid, with handsome strings of pearls between them. Rubies, emeralds, thunderbolt-stones, which the commentary reads as diamonds, and turquoise were cut, carved, and inlaid into lotuses.
Bees humming in the wind, and lamps of jewels
Bees were made, and birds of many colors, that hummed and cooed when the wind touched them. Images of gods were carved out on the pillars, every one standing with the things of good omen in its hands. Squares of many patterns were filled in, the designs laid down for a rite. They were made of elephant jewels, which the commentary names elephant pearls, handsome by nature.
Mango leaves, very handsome, were carved from blue jewel. Blossoms of gold and clusters of emerald shone on silken cords.
Bright, fine festoons, the garlands hung across a doorway, were made, as if Kamadeva had laid out his snares. Many auspicious pitchers were made, and handsome banners, flags, curtains, and whisks, and many enchanting lamps of jewels. The wondrous pavilion was past describing. Which poet has the wit to describe the pavilion in which Sita will be the bride?
From Janaka’s palace to every house in the city
With Rama, an ocean of form and virtue, for its bridegroom, that pavilion was famed through the three worlds. And the splendor of Janaka’s palace was seen in every house of the city.
Whoever looked at Tirhut, the land of Mithila, in that hour found the fourteen worlds small. The wealth that shone in a lowly house there charmed Indra at the sight. Lakshmi lives in that city, deceiving, in the fine appearance of a woman, and Sarasvati and Shesha shy from telling its splendor.
A letter in the hand, two sons in the heart
The messengers reached Ayodhya, Rama’s holy city, and rejoiced at the sight of the handsome city. At the king’s gate they sent in word, and King Dasharatha, hearing it, had them called in. Making their salute, they gave him the letter. The glad king, rising himself, took it, and as he read the letter, water came to his eyes, his limbs thrilled, and his breast filled.
Rama and Lakshmana in his heart, the fine letter in his hand, he stayed as he was, saying nothing sour or sweet. Then, steadying himself, he read the letter, and the assembly rejoiced at the truth of what it heard.
Where they were at play the news reached them, and Bharata came with his friends and his brother Shatrughna. With great affection, abashed, he asked: “Father, where has the letter come from? Are the two brothers, dear as life, well? Say, in what country are they?” Hearing these words steeped in affection, the king read the letter again.
Hearing the letter, both brothers thrilled. The affection was more than their limbs could hold. Seeing Bharata’s pure love, the whole assembly was especially glad.
A father’s questions to the messengers, over and over
Then the king seated the messengers near him and spoke sweet, enchanting words. “Brother, tell me, are the two children well? Did you see them well with your own eyes? One dark, one fair, bearing bow and quiver, in the years of boyhood, with the sage Vishvamitra: do you know them? Tell me their nature.” Helpless with love, the king said it over and over. “From the day the sage led them away, it is today that true news has reached us. Tell me, how did Janaka know them?” At these dear words the messengers smiled.
They said: “Listen, crest-jewel of kings: no one is as blessed as you, whose sons are Rama and Lakshmana, both ornaments of the world. Your sons are not ones to be asked after. Lions among men, they are the light of the three worlds. Before their fame the moon seems dim, and before their might the sun seems cool. Of them, master, you ask how they were known? Is the sun seen by a lamp held in the hand?”
Valor and propriety in the messengers’ words
The messengers went on. “At Sita’s svayamvara many kings gathered, and warriors each greater than the last. None could move Shiva’s bow. All the strong heroes were beaten. Shiva’s bow broke the power of all in the three worlds who were proud of their heroism. Bana too, who could lift Meru, went round it and left with his heart beaten. And he who lifted Shiva’s mountain in sport met defeat too in that assembly.” A svayamvara is the rite in which a bride chooses her husband from the kings gathered for her. Janaka’s had bound the choice to the bow. The one who lifted Shiva’s mountain is Ravana, in the commentary’s naming.
“There, hear it, great king: Rama, the jewel of Raghu’s line, broke the bow without effort, as an elephant breaks a lotus stalk. Hearing of it, the lord of the Bhrigus came in fury and glared in many ways. Seeing Rama’s strength, he gave him his own bow and, with many humble words, went to the forest. King, as Rama is of strength past measure, so is Lakshmana a store of radiance, at whose look kings tremble as elephants at the stare of a lion’s cub. Lord, having seen your two boys, no one comes under our eyes now.” The commentary gives the sense of these words: no one else rises to their sight now.
The messengers’ making of words, steeped in love, might, and heroism, was dear to all. The king with his assembly was filled with love, and he began to give largesse to the messengers. Saying it was against propriety, they covered their ears, and everyone, weighing the dharma of it, was pleased. The commentary reads the pleasure as the sight of the messengers’ conduct, true to dharma.
Vasishtha’s blessing, and the praise of the four boys
Then, rising and going to Vasishtha, the king gave him the letter. Calling the messengers with respect, he told the guru the whole story.
Hearing it, the guru spoke with great happiness. “For the man of merit the earth is spread with happiness. As rivers go into the sea, though the sea has no desire, so happiness and wealth go unbidden, by their nature, to the man of dharma. You serve guru, brahmins, cows, and gods, and as pure is Queen Kausalya. A doer of good like you there has not been, is not, and will not be in the world. Whose merit is greater than yours, king, whose son is such as Rama? Heroic, humble, holders of the vow of dharma, oceans of virtue, your four fine boys. For you there is welfare at all times. Make ready the wedding party with the drums sounding, and go quickly.”
Hearing the guru’s words, the king said, “Very well, master,” bowing his head. Having had the messengers given lodging, he went to the palace.
The letter pressed to the mothers’ hearts
Calling the whole inner household, the queens’ quarters of the palace, the king read Janaka’s letter aloud. Hearing the message, all rejoiced, and the king told them all the rest. The commentary gives it as what he had heard from the messengers’ mouths.
The queens shone, in bloom with love, as if peahens had heard the voice of the clouds. The elder women gave blessings gladly. The commentary reads the verse’s word for them as the old women of the house, or as the wives of the gurus. The mothers were lost in great joy.
They took the most dear letter from one another and, pressing it to their hearts, cooled their breasts. Dasharatha told Rama and Lakshmana’s renown and deeds again and again. Then, saying “It is the sage’s grace,” he went out.
The queens called the brahmins and gave them gifts with joy, and the brahmins went away giving blessings. The beggars were called and given largesse of ten million kinds, and a blessing was spoken: “May the four sons of the emperor Dasharatha live long.”
The joy that became work
Janaka was glad when, saying “very well,” he sent the messengers at that hour. The leading men went home glad, and the servants went glad, his word on their heads. In Ayodhya the glad king rose himself and took the letter. The assembly rejoiced at the truth of what it heard and, seeing Bharata’s pure love, was especially glad. The guru spoke with great happiness and said to make ready the wedding party. The women of the inner household rejoiced at the message. The mothers were lost in great joy, and the queens gave the brahmins gifts with joy.
The next episode opens with those who spoke the blessing going off dressed in many kinds of clothes. Drums struck loudly in joy, the news reaching everyone and congratulations beginning in every house. And the fourteen worlds filled with eagerness for the wedding of Sita and Rama.
The same story, elsewhere: Valmiki’s Ramayana, chapter 4: Mithila, the Breaking of Shiva’s Bow, and the Wedding of Sita.
Source: the Gita Press edition of Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, Balkand, doha 286 to sortha 295, read with Hanuman Prasad Poddar’s Hindi commentary.