This page has not been fully proofread.

38
 
the bow in the middle with exceeding ease,
in the sight of thousands of men. The
righteous-minded Rama, fixed the string
and bent the bow. Rama, the foremost of
men and of great fame, broke the bow in
the middle.
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
तस्य शब्दो महानासीद् राजा बिगतसाध्वसः ।
उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्य वाक्यज्ञो मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥
 
Its sound was very great. With his fear
removed, the king, well-versed in speech,
addressed with folded hands, Visvamitra
the best of ascetics thus :
 
भगवन् दृष्टवीर्यो मे रामो दशरथात्मजः ।
अत्यद्भुतमचिन्त्यं च न तर्कितमिदं मया ॥
जनकानां कुले कीर्तिमाहरिष्यति मे सुता ।
सीता भर्तारमासाद्य राम दशरथात्मजम् ॥
भवतोऽनुमते ब्रह्मन् शीघ्रं गच्छन्तु मन्त्रिणः ।
मम कौशिक भद्रं ते अयोध्यां त्वरिता रथैः ।
राजानं प्रश्रितैर्वाक्यैरानयन्तु पुरं मम ॥
 
"O venerable one ! the heroism of
Rama, son of Dasaratha, has been seen
by me. It is highly wonderful and beyond
conception. This was not anticipated
by me.