The Proclamation of Janaka's Vow
The royal bards proclaim Janaka's vow: whoever can lift and string Shiva's bow will win Sita's hand. The announcement heightens the excitement of the assembled kings.
Bal Kand · Episode 49 / 59
Episode Text
तब बंदीजन जनक बोलाए। बिरिदावली कहत चलि आए॥ कह नृपु जाइ कहहु पन मोरा। चले भाट हियँ हरषु न थोरा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba bandījana janaka bolāe। biridāvalī kahata cali āe॥ kaha nr̥pu jāi kahahu pana morā। cale bhāṭa hiyaṃ haraṣu na thorā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Then King Janaka summoned the bards. They came singing the praise of the dynasty. The king said, Go and proclaim my vow. The bards departed, and their hearts were no less full of joy.
बोले बंदी बचन बर सुनहु सकल महिपाल। पन बिदेह कर कहहिं हम भुजा उठाइ बिसाल॥ २४९ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bole bandī bacana bara sunahu sakala mahipāla। pana bideha kara kahahiṃ hama bhujā uṭhāi bisāla॥ 249 ॥
Meaning:
The bards spoke excellent words: Listen, all you kings and guardians of the earth. Raising our arms, we proclaim the great vow of Videha.
नृप भुजबल बिधु सिवधनु राहू। गरुअ कठोर बिदित सब काहू॥ रावनु बानु महाभट भारे। देखि सरासन गवँहिं सिधारे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nṛpa bhujabala bidhu sivadhanu rāhū। garua kaṭhora bidita saba kāhū॥ rāvanu bānu mahābhaṭa bhāre। dekhi sarāsana gavaṃhiṃ sidhāre॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The strength of kings' arms is like the moon, and Shiva's bow is like Rahu; it is huge and hard, as all know. Even the great warriors Ravana and Banasura, on seeing that bow, fled away.
सोइ पुरारि कोदंडु कठोरा। राज समाज आजु जोइ तोरा॥ त्रिभुवन जय समेत बैदेही। बिनहिं बिचार बरइ हठि तेही॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
soi purāri kodaṃḍu kaṭhorā। rāja samāja āju joi torā॥ tribhuvana jaya sameta baidehī। binahiṃ bicāra barai haṭhi tehī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Whoever breaks that hard bow of Purari (Shiva) today in this royal assembly, Sita will, together with the victory of the three worlds, choose him without hesitation and with determination.