Chapter 13
Videha
Janaka’s Videha was a well-ordered and a well-administered state. It was near the foot of the Himalayan ranges. People living close to mountains are generally sedate by temperament. Janaka himself was averse to splendor and regalia. He belonged to a dynasty that had a tradition of spirituality. He was more of a philosopher than a king. With a mind that was at ease with himself and the world, he was always a good companion to everyone around. When Vishvamitra arrived in Mithila with Rama and Laxman, Janaka was preoccupied with the sacrificial rites that kings used to perform in order to remain in harmony with the gods in heaven and the rivals and friends on earth. Vishvamitra had arrived just a little before the completion of the ceremony. Rama and Laxman were enjoying this little break from the expeditions of forests. As they were Vishvamitra’s protégés, and very young among the guests of honor, they were doted upon by sages, priests and the attendants of the king. One day Janaka himself invited them to his palace with Vishvamitra.
“Tell me what I can do for your holiness,” he said to Vishvamitra.
Vishvamitra who saw an opportunity in all such meetings with great kings, said, “We have heard about the great ancient bow in your custody, and it is said to be the most difficult bow to handle.”
Janaka looked up at Vishvamitra warily. Vishvamitra noticed his hesitation. He proceeded in a circumspect manner.
“Your Lordship, these young men are adept at handling missiles of war. They are eager to see this great bow. They will be content to have a look at it before returning to their capital. “
Janaka looked at them with interest. He said, “Your Holiness, let me tell you all about this great bow. Let me also tell you why it has been kept here. This bow had been entrusted to one of our ancestors for safe custody. It is said that Lord Shiva, after he had destroyed the sacrificial fire of his father-in-law, King Daksha who had tried to humiliate him by not inviting him to the ceremony of the great yajnya, picked up this bow and threatened the gods who were guests of honor there. He threatened to kill them. After the gods had appeased him he let them go unhurt. But he did not revoke the threat. The remorseful gods propitiated Shiva and asked for this bow. Shiva’s anger had subsided by then. He gave the bow to the gods who in turn gave it to our ancestor Devrat.”
Rama had heard this old myth of Shiva’s wrath. He was amazed to learn that the bow in Janaka’s possession had belonged to the mythological times.
Janaka was watching Rama. He had begun to like these two young men from Ayodhya. After a pause he proceeded testily, “I have two daughters, but no son.” He was addressing Vishvamitra as he said this. Laxman looked at Rama from the corner of his eye.
“The elder of the two is Seeta,” Janaka said.
Just then two young girls peeped in on some errand and finding three strangers seated there, vanished in the adjacent chamber. One of them caught Rama’s eye briefly. She seemed nearly of his age, while the other one seemed a little younger. For a split moment, she looked at Rama and withdrew behind the curtain.
Janaka was not aware of this coming and going. He continued,”Seeta is a foundling, very precious to me for that reason. I found her encased in a basket when I was tilling earth. I simply called her 'Seeta’, that is, one who came out of the tilled soil. Though adopted, she is my first child. Urmila was born a year later to my wife.
There was gentleness and peace on Janaka’s face as he related this.Rama looked around the room where they were seated. Everything seemed to be warm and composed. He wondered which of the two girls who had peeped in was Seeta. Destiny smiled—an ascetic born to a king and an earthling gifted to another king!
Janaka said, “Now it’s time for me to get my daughters married to the right men. Seeta is much sought after. Many kings have personally come here to ask for her hand in marriage. But I have decided that the one, who will be able to lift this bow, string it and get it in a ready position, will marry Seeta.
Laxman was amused, and only upon being secretly chided by Rama, gained control over his laughter.
Janaka noticed this and said, “This is not an ordinary bow. None of the kings could do even so much as lift it up from the ground. You will understand what I am saying when you have a look at it.”
Vishvamitra looked at Rama meaningfully. Rama closed his eyes meditatively. Laxman looked on curiously.
Janaka said, “I have no hesitation in showing it to you. In fact, I shall be only too happy if Rama is able to do what no one else has done before.”
Rama came out of his momentary trance and looked at Janaka. Janaka said, “I am not jesting; I mean it.
Vishvamitra said, “Your Lordship, I request you, please show the bow to Rama.”
Janaka sent his ministers to the town-museum. They brought it in a cart moving on eight wheels. Several able-bodied men heaved up the iron casket containing the bow and placed it before them.
Janaka said to Vishvamitra, “Your Holiness, this is the bow. Let the two princes have a look at it.”
By that time the news had spread around. A crowd of several thousand had gathered outside the mansion. The casket had to be carried and placed on the ground outside. When every one of the crowd was seated peacefully and the important dignitaries had occupied their seats Seeta herself arrived, accompanied by her mother and sister Urmila. They sat a little distance away from Janaka.
The queen looked at Rama and Laxman: both clad in simple garments that allowed them to move about with ease. Vishvamitra used to take special care to see that they did not stand out among the foresters as princes. Still, there was an unusual grace and dignity in them. Unless called upon to spring into action, they moved about in a leisurely manner with no shred of worry or anxiety. They breathed evenly and their eyes sparkled with a sense of amusement which was quite in keeping with their age.
The queen looked at Seeta who hadn’t enough time to get decked up thoroughly for the occasion. She was wearing a golden yellow garment and a few prominent jewels fit for a princess. Urmila was a shade fairer than her. Seeta could not be called a beauty exactly. But there was a certain intensity about her. She looked like a reflection of the sun in the ripples of a lake. Urmila who was standing beside her was viewing everything with a detached mind. She recalled how her father’s kingdom was under a siege for more than a year by the rejected suitors who joined hands to avenge their failure to win Seeta. She wondered how their father could offer a chance to this prince whose only companions were an old sage and a young brother. The two brothers looked like twins. However, the fairer one was a bit impulsive according to her because he nudged his brother whenever he found something ludicrous or pompous in the behavior of the courtiers. Rama who was going to pick up the challenge was composed and grave. A certain inwardness and silence seemed to be the mark of his character. He seemed to give an impression that he had gone through all this before, that he had known Seeta before, and was meeting her again here and now.
Seeta’s heart fluttered. She eyed the garland of fresh flowers which the gardener had made hurriedly for this occasion. He had come personally to deliver it to her and said, “My lady, I have made garlands several times before. But I have a feeling; this is the most precious of all. These flowers spoke to me.”
“What did they say?” she asked.
“They said, we are lucky; a god is going to embrace us!”
There were drops of tears in her eyes which she tried to hide.
The gardener was standing right now in the midst of the spectators, looking at the garland one moment and at Rama the next.
Rama took a few steps, came near the casket and stood there for a moment as everybody watched with bated breath.
Rama silently sought Vishvamitra’s consent. Vishvamitra spoke with great aplomb, “Go ahead, my boy, have a look at it.” He knew well that he was making an understatement. Rama looked in the direction of Seeta. Their eyes met. The anguish in her eyes told him that this moment was going to decide her fate; there was no time to lose. He bent; opened the casket; and before anyone could realize what was happening, the great bow was up in the air, turned and bent into a half-circle and all this seemed to have happened without a beginning. Nobody saw Rama making an effort to lift it and string it. What they remembered to have seen was Rama standing upright; with the string stretched back right up to his ear. And the next moment, the ancient bow cracked with an awesome twang. It was as if the earth had split into two and the very sun ran helter skelter in the sky.
It took people quite some time to realize that Rama had indeed accomplished the impossible. There was jubilation all around. It was as if the gods in heaven had come down to celebrate Rama’s victory.
Urmila embraced Seeta spontaneously. Janaka and his wife looked at their daughter. She was still standing where she was, lost to the crowd and lost to herself. The distance between her and Rama seemed immeasurable.
Shatananda moved forward and ordered Seeta to follow him to Rama. She took a few measured steps and found herself standing in the presence of Rama. She was surrounded by the women of the royal family, every one of whom was trying to make her presence felt.
Shatananda made way for Janaka, the queen, and princess Urmila. He invited Vishvamitra and Laxman and led them to the spot where Rama was standing. The cracked bow was lying securely in the casket beside him.
Seeta had found her husband. She stood before Rama, holding the garland in her trembling hands. Rama stood before her, tall and unbending, not realizing that he had to bow down a little for Seeta to be able to garland him. Seeta looked up, raised her hands with the garland and made an effort to raise herself a little on her toes. Everyone was too excited to notice her effort except Laxman. He pressed his foot hard on Rama’s toes, which drove Rama to look down at his feet, bending a little in that process. Seeta caught that moment and quickly put the garland around his neck.
