Passage 8

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In plain words

Seeing Rāvaṇa fall, everyone was astonished. “If even so mighty a man cannot lift that bow, then no one will be able to lift it,” they thought, and were afraid even to come forward. Understanding the situation, Viśvāmitra signalled to Rāma with his eyes. Rāma rose. He was then a boy of fifteen years. As Rāma came walking, even His gait drew everyone to Him. That divine radiance filled everyone with wonder. It seemed as if all powers were following close behind Him, like His shadow. Rāma walked up calmly, settled His upper cloth with a smile, and took hold of the bow with His left hand. The moment He took hold of it, it rose. He bent it to draw the bowstring tight. At once it broke, with a tremendous noise. Everyone was startled. “What is this power of Rāma's! What a marvel!”: they were overcome with awe and wonder.

At once her companions brought Sītā. Sītā stood, holding a garland of flowers in her hand. Viśvāmitra: “Rāma! Are you ready?” he asked. Rāma: “Swami! My father sent me to guard your yajña. I have finished that task. Without my father's command I will not agree to this marriage,” He said. Viśvāmitra said this in Janaka's ear. Since Janaka was wise in the ways of kingship, he too agreed to this and at once sent word to Ayodhyā. He sent his army to bring King Daśaratha, his family and the rest of his retinue with every royal honour. It took them three days to come from there. For those three days Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa did not go out.

Here a little bit of fun took place. One day Rāma was sitting in His room with one leg crossed over the other, gently pressing His own feet. Nārada, who had come there at that time, saw the scene from outside, thought, “Poor thing, His feet may well be sore from walking all this way!”, and called Lakṣmaṇa. Lakṣmaṇa opened the door, went in and began to press Rāma's feet.