|| om tat sat ||

ततः प्रभाते विमले कृत कर्मा नराधिपः ।
विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं अजुहाव स राघवम्॥

Then the king having completed his morning ablutions then invited great Viswamitra as well as Rama and Lakshmana.

Balakamda
Sixty sixth Sarga

Then the king Janaka having completed his morning ablutions then invited great Viswamitra as well as Rama and Lakshmana. The king Janaka who is a follower of right path worshipped them and then spoke to sage Viswamitra and Raghava. "Oh Bhagavan ! welcome to you. O Great one ! What can I do for you. You may please order me. I will follow your orders".

When the great king Janaka spoke like that then the learned Viswamitra spoke to the valiant king as follows. "May everything be good . These two kshatriya princes , sons of Dasartha desire to see the bow which is widely known as the best. After seeing they would go as they please".

Having been told thus , Janka replied to the venerable sage as follows. " I will tell you why this bow is here".

"Oh Sage the sixth king in the line of Nimis is very well known by name Devarata. Bhagavan gave this bow in his hands for safe keeping. Once upon a time during the destruction of Daksha's Yagnya Rudra took this bow and spoke to all Devas."You have not given the rightful share being asked by me and I am going to cut the best and most valuable limbs". Then O best of sages ! the terrified Devas prayed to Siva. Then Siva was pleased with their prayers. Pleased with all of them , he gave them this bow which is like gem. Then this was given in old times to our ancestor for safe keeping".

Janaka continued.

"Then once when I was tilling the soil with a plough. Then a girl came up by the plough and she is known as Sita.
Emerging from the earth she grew up like my daughter. This Ayonija is to be claimed by valor only. Oh Best of sages ! For this daughter who emerged out of earth many kings came as suitors. Oh Bhagavan ! Since she is to be given the most valiant among all , I could not give her to any one. Then all the kings together wanted to come to Mithila to test their skill. They wanted to test their skill by taking aim with the Bow. But they could not even lift the bow let alone taking aim. Oh Venerable sage ! Realizing that their valor is too little I did not agree to give my daughter. Then I will tell you what happenned further. Oh Sage ! The kings had a suspicion hat they were called to be insulted only. So they attacked Mithila with great anger. The they started causing many troubles for Mithila. Oh best of sages ! after a full year the instruments to defend Mithila became weak. Then I was extremely sad. Then I performed penance to please all Devas. The pleased Devas gave me fourfold forces. Then all those kings were humbled. Losing their valor , they ran away in all directions commiting heinous acts".

Janaka contiued.

"O Best of sages ! You have done many good acts ! I will show that great bow to Rama and Lakshmana too .Oh Great sage ! If Rama can take aim with the bow then I give my daughter Sita who is Ayonija to the son of Dasartha !

Thus the sixty sixth sarga of Balakanda in Srimad Valmiki Ramayan comes to an end .

||om tat sat ||

यद्यस्य धनुषो रामः कुर्यादारोपणं मुने ।
सुतां अयोनिजां सीतां दद्यां दाशरथेरहम् ॥

Oh Great sage ! If Rama can take aim with teh bow then i give my daughter Ayonija to the son of Dasartha !
||om tat sat ||

||om tat sat||