सुनो भैया भूप सकल दै कान। बज्ररेख गजदसन जनक-पन बेद-बिदित, जग जान॥ १ ॥ घोर कठोर पुरारि-सरासन, नाम प्रसिद्ध पिनाकु। जो दसकंठ दियो बाँवों, जेहि हर-गिरि कियो है मनाकु॥ २ ॥ भूमि-भाल भ्राजत, न चलत सो, ज्यों बिरंचिको आँकु। धनु तोरै सोई बरै जानकी, राउ होइ कि राँकु॥ ३ ॥ सुनि आमरषि उठे अवनीपति, लगैं बचन जनु तीर। टरै न चाप, करैं अपनी सी महा महा बलधीर॥ ४ ॥ नमित-सीस सोचहिं सलज्ज सब श्रीहत भए सरीर। बोले जनक बिलोकि सीय तन दुखित सरोष अधीर॥ ५ ॥ सप्त दीप नव खंड भूमिके भूपतिबृन्द जुरे। बड़ो लाभ कन्या-कीरतिको, जहँ-तहँ महिप मुरे॥ ६ ॥ डग्यौ न धनु, जनु बीर-बिगत महि, किधौं कहुँ सुभट दुरे। रोषे लखन बिकट भृकुटी करि, भुज अरु अधर फुरे॥ ७ ॥ सुनहु भानुकुल-कमल-भानु! जो तव अनुसासन पावौं। का बापुरो पिनाकु, मेलि गुन मंदर मेरु नवावौं॥ ८ ॥ देखौं निज किंकरको कौतुक, क्यों कोदंड चढ़ावौं। लै धावौं, भंजौं मृनाल, ज्यों, तौ प्रभु-अनुग कहावौं॥ ९ ॥ हरषे पुर-नर-नारि, सचिव, नृप कुँवर कहे बर बैन। मृदु मुसुकाइ राम बरज्यो प्रिय बंधु नयनकी सैन॥ १० ॥ कौसिक कह्यो, उठहु रघुनंदन, जगबंदन, बलऐन। तुलसिदास प्रभु चले मृगपति ज्यों निज भगतनि सुखदैन॥ ११ ॥
Listen, brothers—all you kings, give ear! Janaka's vow is a thunderbolt-line and an elephant's tusk: the Vedas proclaim it, and the world knows it. (1) Terrible and hard is the Foe of Tripura's bow, famed by the name Pināka. It humbled ten-headed Rāvaṇa, who had made Hara's mountain seem trifling. (2) It shines upon the earth's brow and does not move, like Brahmā's written decree. King or pauper, whoever breaks the bow shall wed Jānakī. (3) Hearing this, the earth's lords rose in wrath; the words struck them like arrows. The greatest champions did all they could, yet the bow did not budge. (4) Ashamed, all bowed their heads in thought, their bodies stripped of splendor. Looking toward Sītā, Janaka spoke—grieved, angry, and distraught. (5) The kings of the earth's seven continents and nine regions have assembled. The great prize of maiden and fame was here, yet the rulers turned away everywhere. (6) The bow did not stir—as though the earth lacked heroes, or its warriors hid somewhere. Lakṣmaṇa blazed in anger, twisting his fierce brows; his arms and lips quivered. (7) ‘Hear me, sun of the solar clan's lotus! If I receive your command, what is poor Pināka? I would string Mandara and Meru and make them bow. (8) See the sport of your servant and how I string the bow! I shall seize it, run, and snap it like a lotus stalk—then may I be called your follower. (9) The city's men and women, ministers, and kings rejoiced: ‘The prince has spoken nobly!’ With a gentle smile Rāma checked his dear brother by a signal of his eyes. (10) Kauśika said, ‘Rise, Raghunandana, adored by the world, abode of strength.’ Tulsīdāsa says the Lord strode like a lion to bring his devotees joy. (11)