Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1933

c9.1933

The King who had been thinking about the marriage of Sītā thought that what he saw was a good omen. So the King made a proclamation that only the one who could take the bow of Śiva, draw it, and shoot with it would become eligible to marry Sītā. Hearing this many adventurers came to the palace and tried to handle the Śaivacāpa and retreated admitting defeat. It was at this time that Viśvāmitra brought Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa to the forest for the protection of sacrifice. Hearing about the Svayaṃvara of Sītā, Viśvāmitra took the princes to the palace of Janaka. The King was greatly pleased when he learned that the princes were the sons of Daśaratha, of the solar dynasty. Next morning, at the instruction of his elders and priests and teachers, Śrī Rāma stood on the dais in the middle of the hall, where the Śaivacāpa was placed, ready to handle it. He lifted up the bow with his left hand, drew it easily and fastened the string tightly and the bow was broken. When the Kings who were present, heard the roaring sound of the breaking of the bow, they shivered with fear as serpents at the sound of thunder. Sītā jumped with joy like a peacock. A letter was sent to Daśaratha then and there. Friends and relatives arrived. Under the guidance of the presiding priest Śatānanda, the marriage ceremony was conducted. Rāma married Sītā, Bharata married Māṇḍavī, Lakṣmaṇa married Ūrmilā, and Śatrughna married Śrutakīrti. The brides and bridegrooms went to Ayodhyā with their parents and relatives. (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa).