Bengali Ramayana - Shiva's Bow

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When Rama was about seven years old, Sita was

born in Janaka's house. Janaka found her while plowing

the ground. As Sita was growing up, one day Janaka

wondered who would be the ideal husband for her. The king

consulted with his priests. In the heaven, the Gods were

worried. What if Sita got married to someone other than

Rama? They approached Shiva. Shiva approached

Parashurama and told him to take his (Shiva's) bow to Janaka.

Janaka would give Sita to only that person who could

lift that bow. Only Vishnu as Rama would be able to

lift that bow, so Sita would be safe in Janaka's

house. Parashurama arrived in Janaka's house. He was a

sight. Matted hair, two full quivers on his back and on

one hand an axe and in the other, the bow. Janaka

welcomed him and asked him why he had come. Parashurama

told him. <br>It was a huge bow. So large that a

special room had to be built for it. <br>The news of the

bow spread far and wide. All kings came and tried to

lift the bow. Many left just after seeing the bow.

Some tried but no one could. In Lanka, Ravana heard

about the bow. He too wanted try it out. Accompanied by

Akampan, Marich, Prahastha and Sahodar Ravana went to

Mithila. Janaka greeted Ravana and took him to the room

where the bow was lying. He told him that if he

(Ravana) could lift the bow, Sita would be his. People

gathered around to see Ravana try his hand with the bow.

Tightening his clothes, Ravana bent over and tried lifting

his bow. He was unsuccessful. He tried a few times

and met with the same result. Dejected, he fled.