The Ramcharitmanas 1

by Tulsidas

  Of all the raised platforms there was one tier of seats

  More beautiful, bright and spacious than the others.

  There the great king seated the muni

  Along with the two brothers.

  (244)

  Seeing the Lord, the kings and princes all lost heart

  Like stars that grow dim when the full moon rises.

  In all their hearts was the firm conviction

  That Ram, without doubt, would break the bow,

  And that, even if Bhav’s mighty bow did not break,

  Sita would still place her garland upon Ram’s breast.

  Thinking thus they said, ‘Let’s go home, brothers,

  Abandoning fame, glory, might and splendour.’

  But other kings laughed at these words

  And blinded by ignorance and arrogance, they cried,

  ‘Even by breaking the bow it will be difficult to wed her,

  So without breaking it, who can marry the princess!

  Even if Death himself should oppose us,

  For Sita’s sake, we will defeat him in battle!’

  Hearing this, other kings smiled,

  Pious and sagacious men devoted to Hari, and said,

  ‘Ram will wed Sita,

  Shattering the arrogance of the princes.

  For who can conquer in battle

  Dasharath’s valiant sons?

  (245)

  Do not brag and boast, and invite death unnecessarily.

  Do vain fancies bear fruit or imagined sweets satisfy hunger?

  Listen to our advice, sincere and free of deceit:

  Know in your hearts that Sita is Jagadamba, mother of the universe,

  And that Raghupati is the father of the universe.

  Reflect upon this and gazing upon their beauty, fill your eyes with their splendour.

  Handsome, pleasing and endowed with every virtue,

  These two brothers reside in Shambhu’s heart.

  Why do you abandon this ocean of nectar, so close at hand,

  And seeing a mirage, chase after it and rush to die?

  Go and do whatever pleases you,

  But as for us, we have today received the fruit of this birth.’

  So saying, the good kings, with deep affection,

  Turned their gaze upon Ram’s incomparable beauty.

  The gods watched from their chariots in the sky,

  Showering down flowers and singing sweet and melodious songs.

  Then, knowing it to be the appropriate moment,

  Janak sent for Sita.

  Her lovely and accomplished friends,

  With due honour, brought her there.

  (246)

  Sita’s radiance is impossible to describe,

  For she is Jagadambika, mother of the universe, and the embodiment of grace and virtue.

  All comparisons seem inadequate to me,

  For they are enamoured only of the limbs and bodies of ordinary women.

  In describing Sita, who will dare offer these same comparisons

  And bring disrepute upon himself as a bad poet?

  Should Sita be compared to another woman,

  Where in this world would there be a maiden so beautiful?

  Gira is too talkative, while Bhavani has only half a body,

  Rati is very sorrowful because of her bodiless lord,

  As for the goddess Ramaa, who has poison and liquor as her beloved brothers,

  How can Vaidehi be compared to her?75

  Even if the ocean was filled with the nectar of beauty,

  And the tortoise was grace embodied,

  Even if radiance the rope, and passion Mount Mandar,

  And Mar himself churned the ocean with his lotus hands,

  And even if Lakshmi, the source of beauty and bliss,

  Had been born in this manner—

  Even then the poet would shrink

  To say that she could be compared to Sita.

  (247)

  Her lovely attendants, singing sweet songs in heart-enchanting voices,

  Led Sita to the arena.

  Her delicate frame adorned with a beautiful sari,

  The mother of the universe was she and her great beauty was unparalleled.

  Jewels and ornaments graced her form—

  Her handmaidens had bedecked her every limb with care.

  When Sita stepped into the arena,

  Seeing her beauty, men and women alike were captivated.

  Rejoicing, the gods sounded their drums,

  While apsaras sang and rained down flowers.

  In her lotus hands glowed the garland with which she would signal her choice.

  As she glanced quickly at all the assembled princes,

  Sita, bewildered, wanted only Ram,

  Though all the kings were smitten by love for her.

  When she saw the two brothers by the muni,

  Her eyes, finding the treasure they were seeking, were filled with longing.

  But, out of respect for her elders and seeing the huge gathering,

  Sita grew abashed

  And turned her gaze upon her friends,

  Having taken Raghubir into her heart.

  (248)

  Beholding Ram’s handsome form and Sita’s glowing beauty,

  Men and women forgot to blink.

  All of them had the same thought, but hesitating to say it aloud,

  Entreated Vidhi in their hearts.

  ‘Remove quickly, O Vidhi, Janak’s foolish stubbornness

  And give him our good sense!

  Let the king, without hesitation, abandon his vow,

  And marry Sita to Ram!

  The world will speak well of him, for his decision will appeal to everyone,

  But if he continues to be obstinate, his stubbornness will become as a fire in his heart in the end.’

  All were consumed by the same ardent longing,

  ‘The dark-complexioned one is the right groom for Janaki.’

  Then Janak called his bards and minstrels,

  Who came singing the glory of his line and dynasty.

  The king said, ‘Go and announce my vow,’

  And the bards proceeded to do so with joyous hearts.

  These excellent words the bards then cried aloud:

  ‘Listen, all you kings and princes,

  We raise our arms to heaven

  And declare Videh’s great vow.

  (249)

  The might of kingly arms is the moon, and Shiv’s bow is Rahu,

  And all know that it is heavy and hard to bend and declare it to be so.

  Even Ravan and Bana, great and mighty heroes both,

  Saw this bow and stealthily crept away.

  The same great and unyielding bow of Purari—

  Whoever in this assembly of princes breaks it today,

  Will be hailed in all the three worlds,

  And Vaidehi too will wed him without a thought.’

  Hearing the vow, all the assembled princes were filled with desire.

  Haughty warriors excessively proud of their valour,

  Tightening their girdles, they rose, impatient,

  And bowing their heads before their chosen gods, stepped forward.

  With flushed faces, they glared at Shiv’s bow and grasped it,

  But could not lift it even though they tried in innumerable ways with all their strength.

  Those kings who had some sense or discernment,

  Did not go near the bow.

  Foolish kings grabbed the bow in passionate fury,

  But being unable to lift it, retired in shame.

  It was as though, upon receiving the strength of each successive warrior,

  The bow grew heavier and heavier.

  (250)

  Then ten thousand kings together

  Tried to lift it, but despite their efforts, could not shift it.

  Shambhu’s bow could not be moved

  Just as a faithful wife’s heart cannot be moved b
y the amorous words of a libertine.

  All those royal princes became as worthy of derision

  As a sanyasi without detachment.

  Their fame, victory and heroic valour,

  They helplessly surrendered to the bow.

  Shorn of glory, defeated at heart, the kings

  Returned to sit with their attendants.

  Janak looked in dismay at the princes,

  And spoke words that seemed steeped in anger.

  ‘Countless kings from every land

  Have come here hearing of the vow I made.

  Gods and demons, assuming the bodies of men,

  And great heroes steadfast in war—all have come.

  A beautiful maiden, a grand victory,

  And most desirable fame—

  But it seems that Viranchi has not created the man

  Worthy of winning these by breaking the bow.

  (251)

  Tell me, who would not want these prizes?

  Yet no one has been able to string Shankar’s bow.

  Leave along stringing it or breaking it, friends,

  You could not lift it from the ground even by the height of a sesame seed!

  Now, let no haughty warrior be outraged,

  That I see the earth to be empty of heroes.

  Give up your hopes and return to your homes, each of you—

  Fate has not written that Vaidehi should be wed.

  All the merit I have earned through virtuous acts will be lost if I abandon my vow,

  So let the maiden remain unwed—what can I do?

  My friends, had I known that the earth had no heroes left,

  I would not have made myself an object of laughter and derision by taking this vow.’

  Hearing Janak’s words, all the men and women

  Looked at Janaki and grew sad.

  But Lakshman was furious—his eyebrows twisted into a frown,

  His lips trembled, and his eyes flashed with anger.

  For fear of Raghubir he could not speak,

  But Janak’s words pierced him like arrows.

  Then, bowing his head at Ram’s lotus feet,

  He spoke with grave authority:

  (252)

  ‘In any gathering where anyone from the line of Raghu is present

  No one utters such improper words,

  As Janak has just spoken

  Knowing the jewel of Raghu’s line to be here.

  Listen, sun of the lotuses of the solar line—

  I say what I truly believe and speak without arrogance.

  If I but have your permission,

  I can lift up this world like a ball

  And shatter it like an unbaked earthen pot.

  I can pull up Mount Meru by its roots like a radish

  Thanks to your power and glory, divine Lord.

  So what, then, of this wretched old bow?

  Lord, knowing this, only give me your permission

  And then witness the show that I will put on—

  I will string the bow as easily as if it were a lotus stalk

  And run with it for a hundred yojans.

  I will snap it, Lord, like a mushroom stalk,

  By the strength of your glory.

  And if I cannot do this, Lord, I swear by your feet

  To never hold bow or quiver again.’

  (253)

  When Lakshman spoke these angry words

  The earth shook, the celestial elephants76 tottered and swayed,

  And all the people and the gathered kings grew afraid.

  Sita rejoiced in her heart, and Janak was abashed.

  The guru, Raghupati and all the sages

  Were secretly delighted and trembled with joy.

  But Raghupati stopped Lakshman with a sign,

  And lovingly made him sit beside him.

  Vishvamitra, knowing it to be the right and auspicious moment,

  Spoke in tones filled with great affection,

  ‘Rise, Ram, break Bhav’s bow

  And remove, son, Janak’s great distress.’

  Hearing his guru’s words, Ram bowed his head at his feet,

  Neither joy nor sorrow in his heart.

  He stood up with inherent grace,

  His kingly bearing putting a young lion to shame.

  Raghubar ascended the raised arena

  As the morning sun rises behind Mount Udayagiri.

  The sages were filled with joy like lotuses opening their petals in the sunshine,

  While their eyes, like honey bees, rejoiced.

  (254)

  The hopes of the assembled kings were destroyed like the night,

  And their boastful words faded away like clustered stars.

  Arrogant princes wilted like water lilies that close their petals in the light of the sun,

  And deceitful kings hid away like owls.

  Munis and gods, like koks during the day, became free of sorrow

  And rained down flowers in manifest adoration.

  Saluting his guru’s feet with deep affection,

  Ram asked the sages for their permission.

  The Lord of all the worlds then stepped forward with easy grace

  With the gait of a noble elephant intoxicated with love.

  As Ram stepped forth, all the men and women of the city

  Rejoiced, their bodies quivering with joy and anticipation.

  They called upon ancestors and gods, invoking their own past virtuous deeds,

  ‘If the merit we have earned has any power at all,

  May Ram break Shiv’s bow

  Like a lotus stem, Lord Ganesh!’

  Looking upon Ram with motherly love,

  And calling her companions to her,

  Sita’s mother, overwhelmed by affection,

  And lamenting, spoke.

  (255)

  ‘Friends, all those watching this spectacle

  Say they are our well-wishers.

  But is there is no one here who will explain to his guru

  That he is only a child and such insistence is not good for him?

  Ravan and Banasur did not dare touch the bow,

  And all other kings were defeated despite their boasts—

  And now that same bow is to be given into the hands of this young prince?

  Can a young swan lift up Mount Mandar?

  The king has lost all his good sense

  And Vidhi’s ways, my friends, are impossible to understand!’

  One wise companion replied in sweet tones,

  ‘Do not count the strong amongst the weak, my queen.

  Look at Rishi Kumbhaj, and consider the boundless ocean—

  Yet he drained it, and is famed throughout the world.

  The disc of the sun seems small to look at,

  But when it rises, darkness flees the three worlds.

  A mantra is exceedingly small,

  But it overpowers Vidhi, Hari, Har and all the gods,

  And the mightiest elephant, though maddened and in rut,

  May be tamed by a tiny goad.

  (256)

  Kam, with the help of a bow and arrows made only of flowers,

  Brings the whole world under his sway.

  Devi, knowing this, throw away all doubt.

  Ram will break the bow, my queen!’

  Hearing her companion’s words, the queen’s faith was restored,

  Her sorrow disappeared and her affection for Ram increased.

  Then Vaidehi, looking only at Ram,

  Anxiously implored whichever god came to mind.

  Restless, she pleaded with them in her heart,

  ‘Be gracious to me, Mahesh and Bhavani,

  Make fruitful my adoration of you,

  Be kind to me and lighten the weight of the bow.

  Lord of Shiv’s legions, divine granter of boons, Ganesh,

  Until this day I have worshipped you.

  Now hear my prayer, as again and again I implore you—

  Lessen the heaviness of t
he bow.’

  Glancing again and again at Raghubir’s form,

  She invoked the gods and took courage.

  Her eyes filled with tears of love,

  And her body trembled with longing.

  (257)

  Gazing at him, she filled her eyes with his beauty.

  Then, recalling her father’s vow, her heart grew restless once more.

  ‘Ah, Father is determined upon his cruel vow,

  With no thought for gain or loss!

  His ministers are afraid, and give no counsel,

  Which is not fitting for an assembly of the wise.

  Here is a bow, more difficult to break than adamant,

  And before it, this dark-complexioned boy, with his young and tender frame!

  O Vidhi, how do I stay resolute and calm?

  Can the delicate stalk of a siris blossom pierce a diamond?

  This whole assembly has lost its mind.

  So now, O Shambhu’s bow, you are my only hope!

  Give away to the assembled crowd your unyielding heaviness,

  And, looking upon Raghupati, grow light to match his tender frame.’

  Such was the anguish in Sita’s heart

  That even a fraction of an instant seemed a hundred aeons.

  Glancing first at the Lord, then shyly again at the ground,

  Her beautiful eyes look even more beautiful—

  It seems as though a pair of Kamdev’s fish77

  Are playing in the moon.

  (258)

  The bumble-bee that was her voice lay imprisoned in her lotus mouth

  It could not come out, seeing the night of her modesty.78

  Her tears remained in the corners of her eyes,

  Unspent, like a great miser’s gold.

  Knowing her great distress, she composed herself

  And taking courage, summoned up faith in her heart.

  ‘If in deed, thought and word, my promise is true,

  And my heart is truly filled with love for Raghupati’s lotus feet,

  God, who resides in every heart,

  Will certainly make me Raghubar’s handmaiden.

  Anyone who has true love for someone

  Will find that one, of that there is no doubt.’

  As she looked at the Lord, she was filled with love for him,

  And Ram, in whom resides compassion, understood all.

  He looked at Sita, and then glanced at the bow,

  As Garud might glance at a tiny snake.