The Kings Fail to Lift the Bow and Janaka Speaks in Despair
Even the mightiest kings cannot so much as move Shiva's bow. Seeing this, Janaka speaks words of sorrow that leave the whole assembly stunned.
Bal Kand · Episode 50 / 59
Episode Text
सुनि पन सकल भूप अभिलाषे। भटमानी अतिसय मन माखे॥ परिकर बाँधि उठे अकुलाई। चले इष्टदेवन्ह सिर नाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
suni pana sakala bhūpa abhilāṣe। bhaṭamānī atisaya mana mākhe॥ parikara bāṃdhi uṭhe akulāī। cale iṣṭadevanhaṃ sira nāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the vow, all the kings longed to take it on. Those proud of their valor became deeply heated in mind. They tied their belts, rose in agitation, and departed after bowing their heads to their chosen deities.
तमकि ताकि तकि सिवधनु धरहीं। उठइ न कोटि भाँति बलु करहीं॥ जिन्ह के कछु बिचारु मन माहीं। चाप समीप महीप न जाहीं॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tamaki tāki tāki sivadhanu dharahīṃ। uṭhai na koṭi bhāṃti balu karahīṃ॥ jinha ke kacha bicāru mana māhīṃ। cāpa samīpa mahīpa na jāhīṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
They glare at the bow and then seize it, applying strength in countless ways, but it does not lift. Those kings who have some discernment in their minds do not even go near the bow.
तमकि धरहिं धनु मूढ़ नृप उठइ न चलहिं लजाइ। मनहुँ पाइ भट बाहुबलु अधिकु अधिकु गरुआइ॥ २५० ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tamaki dharahiṃ dhanu mūḍha nṛpa uṭhai na calahiṃ lajāi। manahuṃ pāi bhaṭa bāhubalu adhiku adhiku garuāi॥ 250 ॥
Meaning:
Those foolish kings grasp the bow in anger, but when it does not rise, they depart in shame, as though the bow becomes heavier and heavier by receiving the strength of warriors' arms.
भूप सहस दस एकहि बारा। लगे उठावन टरइ न टारा॥ डगइ न संभु सरासनु कैसें। कामी बचन सती मनु जैसें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūpa sahasa dasa ekahi bārā। lage uṭhāvana ṭarai na ṭārā॥ ḍagai na saṃbhu sarāsanu kaisaiṃ। kāmī bacana satī manu jaisaiṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Then ten thousand kings together tried to lift the bow at once, yet it would not budge. How unfaltering Shiva's bow was, just as Sati's mind is never swayed by a lustful man's words.
सब नृप भए जोगु उपहासी। जैसें बिनु बिराग संन्यासी॥ कीरति बिजय बीरता भारी। चले चाप कर बरबस हारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba nṛpa bhae jogu upahāsī। jaisaiṃ binu birāga saṃnyāsī॥ kīrati bijaya bīratā bhārī। cale cāpa kara barabasa hārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
All the kings became fit only for ridicule, like a renunciant without detachment. Fame, victory, and great valor—all were defeated and sent away by the bow.
श्रीहत भए हारि हियँ राजा। बैठे निज निज जाइ समाजा॥ नृपन्ह बिलोकि जनकु अकुलाने। बोले बचन रोष जनु साने॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
śrīhata bhae hāri hiyaṃ rājā। baiṭhe nija nija jāi samājā॥ nṛpanhaṃ biloki janaku akulāne। bole bacana roṣa janu sāne॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The kings, defeated in heart, became bereft of splendor and sat down in their own assemblies. Seeing the kings, Janaka became agitated and spoke words that seemed steeped in anger.
दीप दीप के भूपति नाना। आए सुनि हम जो पनु ठाना॥ देव दनुज धरि मनुज सरीरा। बिपुल बीर आए रनधीरा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dīpa dīpa ke bhūpati nānā। āe suni hama jo panu ṭhānā॥ deva danuja dhari manuja sarīrā। bipula bīra āe ranadhīrā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing the vow I had declared, many kings came from every island. Gods and demons too came in human form, and many brave, battle-ready heroes came as well.
कुअँरि मनोहर बिजय बड़ि कीरति अति कमनीय। पावनिहार बिरंचि जनु रचेउ न धनु दमनीय॥ २५१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kuāṃri manohara bijaya baṛi kīrati ati kamanīya। pāvanihāra biraṃci janu raceu na dhanu damanīya॥ 251 ॥
Meaning:
The one who wins the beautiful maiden, great victory, and exceedingly charming fame seems as though Brahma himself had not fashioned a bow that could be subdued.
कहहु काहि यहु लाभु न भावा। काहुँ न संकर चाप चढ़ावा॥ रहउ चढ़ाउब तोरब भाई। तिलु भरि भूमि न सके छड़ाई॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kahahu kāhi yahu lābhu na bhāvā। kāhūṃ na saṃkara cāpa caṛhāvā॥ rahau caṛhāuba toraba bhāī। tilu bhari bhūmi na sake chaṛāī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Tell me, who would not be pleased with this boon? No one has ever strung Shiva's bow. Raising it, stringing it, or breaking it was out of the question; no one could even move it by a sesame's breadth.
अब जनि कोउ माखै भट मानी। बीर बिहीन मही मैं जानी॥ तजहु आस निज निज गृह जाहू। लिखा न बिधि बैदेहि बिबाहू॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
aba jani kou mākhai bhaṭa mānī। bīra bihīna mahī maiṃ jānī॥ tajahu āsa nija nija gṛha jāhū। likhā na bidhi baidehi bibāhū॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Let no one proud of valor be angered now. I have understood that the earth has become empty of heroes. Give up hope and return to your own homes; fate has not written the marriage of Vaidehi.
सुकृतु जाइ जौं पनु परिहरऊँ। कुअँरि कुआरि रहउ का करऊँ॥ जौं जनतेउँ बिनु भट भुबि भाई। तौ पनु करि होतेउँ न हँसाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sukritu jāi jauṃ panu pariharauṃ। kuāṃri kuāri rahau kā karauṃ॥ jauṃ janateuṃ binu bhaṭa bhubi bhāī। tau panu kari hoteuṃ na haṃsāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
If I abandon my vow, my merit is lost; so what am I to do, except let the maiden remain unmarried? Had I known that the earth was without heroes, I would not have made a vow and become a subject of ridicule.