Janaka Declares the Earth Empty of Heroes
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 249
Doha 252 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Janaka rises amid the defeated kings. Everyone desired Sita and the glory promised by the contest, yet no one could string Shiva's bow. They could not lift it even a hair's breadth from the ground.
Distress hardens into bitter speech. Let no ruler boast of valour, he says, for the earth is empty of heroes. Let them abandon hope and return home. Fate has not written Vaidehi's marriage, yet abandoning the vow would destroy his merit and leave his daughter unwed.
Had he known the world held no warrior, Janaka would never have made a promise that now exposes him to ridicule. Men and women hear the words and look sorrowfully upon Sita. Across the hall, Lakshmana's brows bend, his lips tremble, and anger flashes in his eyes.
Janaka's despair crosses the hall and strikes Lakshmana like a challenge to the house of Raghu.
Read the passage from the Manas
कहहु काहि यहु लाभु न भावा। काहुँ न संकर चाप चढ़ावा।। रहउ चढ़ाउब तोरब भाई। तिलु भरि भूमि न सके छड़ाई।। अब जनि कोउ माखै भट मानी। बीर बिहीन मही मैं जानी।। तजहु आस निज निज गृह जाहू। लिखा न बिधि बैदेहि बिबाहू।। सुकृत जाइ जौं पनु परिहरऊँ। कुअँरि कुआरि रहउ का करऊँ।। जो जनतेउँ बिनु भट भुबि भाई। तौ पनु करि होतेउँ न हँसाई।। जनक बचन सुनि सब नर नारी। देखि जानकिहि भए दुखारी।। माखे लखनु कुटिल भइँ भौंहें। रदपट फरकत नयन रिसौंहें।।
Tell me, who does not desire this prize? Yet no one has strung Shankara's bow. Never mind stringing it; it does not even stir. The whole world has witnessed our plight.