Parashurama

Dashratha said he saw some ill omens. He told Vashistha the same. The sage told him not worry. He had his sons with him.
The noise of the instruments that were playing reached the ears of Parshurama, He wanted to know why this noise was coming from Mithila. He sensed some had married Sita and he needed to see what was the matter.
Meanwhile Janaka's family kissed and embraced their daughters and were bidding them farewell. They were advising their daughters to look at their in-laws as their parents and take care of them.
Parashurama appeared there.With an axe in a hand and the other hand holding his bow, he asked to stop.
Seeing him, Dashratha was scared. He bowed down at the feet of Parshurama.
Parashurama wanted to know who had broken the bow of Shiva. Dashratha said his son Rama had done that. Parashurama said who was this Rama who carried his name (Parashurama's name was Rama, as he carried an axe or Parashu, he was called Parashurama).
Hearing this Rama came forward and begged forgiveness.

Parashurama said he killed Kshatriyas and rivers of blood had flown because of that. One who had broken Shiva's bow deserved death.

Dashratha asked the sage to forgive his son. Lakshmana said to the sage that he had killed Kshatiyas when Rama and Lakshmana were not on this earth.

Parashurama said one who broke the bow, broke it because it was old. He challenged Rama to lift his bow and string it.

Sita was afraid. Once Rama broke a bow and got her. If he broke one more bow, who knows how many co-wives she would have to live with.

Parashurama flung his bow at Rama with anger. The bow was very heavy. Rama caught it easily with his left hand. Rama asked for an arrow. Parashurama gave an arrow to Rama, all his power went to Rama and he was left an ordinary brahmin.

Rama asked the sage why he should string the bow. Lakshmana asked Rama to go ahead. Rama smiling, strung the bow and twang its string. The sound that was produced, shook the worlds.

In the nether world, Vasuki started shaking. He was not able to withstand the weight of the bow and implored Rama to lift it off the earth.

Rama lifted the bow and said to Parashurama, I will not harm you, as you are a brahman. At the same time, the arrow should not go futile. What should I do with this?

Parashurama said, I recognize you as Narayan. Please stop my way to the heaven.

Rama with an arrow stopped the way to heaven for the sage. Parashurama left to carry on with his mediation.

For Dashratha it was like finding some lost treasure. He resumed his journey towards Ayodhya.

They reached the ashrama where Rama had saved the sacrifice. The wives of the sages came and greeted Rama.

From there they went and stopped only when they reached Ayodhya.

Breaking of the bow

When Rama stepped into the hall where the bow was kept, everyone present asked Rama to try and lift the bow. Many present there thought how would a young person like this manage to lift the bow, when they themselves had tried and failed.

Lakshmana asked Rama to lift the bow and dispel and doubts of the people present. Rama asked for permission from Vishwamitra.

Rama easily lifted the bow. This was the bow of Shiva, so Rama was scared to break it. He asked Vishwamitra what he should do. The sage said do as you feel like; lift the bow and break it.

Rama pulled at the bow, with a mighty sound the bow broke into two.

Such was the noise that people present were momentarily deafened. The worlds started shaking.

Janaka was elated. Music started playing. Rama went to the house of a priest of Janaka where he was taken care of, by the priest's family.

Vishwamitra then went to Janaka's palace.

Sita seeing the sage, bowed down before him. Janaka asked the sage to find out an auspicious time and moment when Rama's marriage could take place.

The sage then went to the place where Rama and Lakshmana were. He told Rama it was wish that he weds and goes home with his bride.

Rama said it had been many days since he had seen his father and further delay would worry his father. All four brothers were born on the same day, so it did not seem correct to get married, when they were not present. Also, they would like to marry one who had daughters who could get married to the other brothers. 

Rama goes to Janaka's palace

The sages blessed Rama for saving the sacrifice.  The offerings of the sacrifice was distributed amongst all. All were tired and went to sleep early.

The next days the sages were discussing among themselves about the previous day's happenings. They said Rama was not an ordinary person, but a God who was amongst them.

Hearing this Vishwamitra said that King Janaka was arranging a swayamvar for Sita. The sage said many kings had come to win Sita but all fled seeing the bow that had to be lifted to win the princess.

Rama and Lakshmana left with Vishwamitra to see the bow of Shiva. When they reached the palace gates, a message was sent to Janaka that Vishwamitra had come with slayer of Taraka.

The king welcomed them and made them comfortable. Vishwamitra told Janaka all that had happened.

Janaka after hearing this, wanted Rama as the husband for his daughter. People hearing this thronged to see the princes.

Janaka said anyone who can break the bow of Shiva can take my daughter Sita as his wife.

Rama wanted to see the bow and Janaka decided to take him there. At that momemnt. Sita with her attendants was also there. She asked her companions to find out who the handsom princes were, especially the dark one.. The companion said that was Rama, prince of Ayodhya.

Friendship with Guhaka and meeting Bharadwaj

On an auspicious day of full moon, Dashratha decided to have a bath in the Ganges along with his sons. Dashratha gave away wealth to the poor.
The chariots sped like comets, accompanied by horsemen and priests. The sound of the movement covered the skies.

On their way, they came across the sage Narada. Narada asked where they were going, to which Dashratha said they were going to have a bath in Ganga.

Narada said You do not know about Rama. Having a look at his face is more then having a dip in the river. Rama is none other than Narayan from whose feet Ganga has originated. You look as Rama as your mortal son and have forgotten about his divinity.

Hearing this Dashratha decided to return back home. Rama then said there would be many who will try deviate one's path. If one has taken a decision, that needs to be adhered to.

Hearing this, Dashratha resumed his journey towards Ganga.

On the way they came across the Chandala Guhaka. Dashratha was passing through the Chandala territory which Guhaka did not like. He stopped them from proceeding further. A fight broke out. Guhaka said You are disturbing me and your army is destroying my land and fields. If you need to go to the river Ganges, choose an alternate path. If you so desire to proceed from this path only, show me your son Rama.

Guhaka started calling out to Rama, and scared for Rama's safety, Dashratha hid Rama in the chariot. Dashratha picked up his bow and he was about to shoot an arrow when he thought he would invoke a bad name if he killed a Chandala. If he let go, the Chandala would pick up a fight.

They started exchanging words and then arrows. Dashratha remembered a weapon called Pashupat. The weapon tied the Chandala with ropes. Dashratha then had the Chandala placed in his chariot.

Guhaka was thinking of Rama. He had obstructed the path only to have a glimpse of Rama, but so far he had not seen him. He thought of a way out. As his hands were tied, he started shooting arrows, holding the bow with one foot, and using the other foot to shoot.

Bharata saw this and reported to Rama about this. Rama curious wanted to see this and went to Guhaka and asked why he was doing thus.

Guhaka said Let me tell you about myself. When Dashratha did not have any sons, he had accidentally killed the son of a blind sage. As this was a death of a sage, the king had gone to his Guru, Vashistha for help and for a way to atone from the sin.
Vashistha was not there then, but I was, as the sage's son called Vamadeva. I had told the king to take your name three times. Hearing this my father had cursed me to become a Chandala. I had then asked what I had to do, to get relief from the curse. My father then said, I would be relieved the moment I saw Rama.
Rama embraced Guhaka.
Rama went to his father and asked for Guhaka to be released, to which Dashratha agreed readily.
Rama then asked Lakshmana to get some logs and start a fire.
When the fire was lit, Rama and Guhaka pledged friendship around the fire.

Guhaka left and Dashratha along with sons proceed towards Ganga.

After bathing, Dashratha distributed alms to the poor and to the brahmins.

When the sun set, Dashratha went to the hermitage of sage Bhardwaj nearby.

The sage was sitting in his hut when Dashrath entered along with four sons. The king with folded hands, presented his sons to the sage, and asked him to bless them.

The sage said Dashratha, you are lucky to have the one who is the father of all worlds as your son.
The sage had a vision of Vishnu standing instead of Rama, in his form of four hands. On his body, the sage saw, the other Gods sitting.

The sage took the king and the princes and asked them to rest for the night. All slept there.
When half of the night was over, the sage woke up. Indra had given a bow for Rama. The sage kept the bow and quiver near Rama's head. He had a dream where in he had been instructed to give the bow and the quiver to Rama.

In the morning Rama saw the bow and the quiver. The sage told Rama that Indra had left the bow for him. The quiver would always be full for arrows, and that was also for Rama.

Rama pleased showed them to Dashratha.

Taking leave of the sage, Dashratha left for Ayodhya.

Ravana tries his luck

In Lanka, Ravana heard this and wanted to try his luck too. Accompanied with Prahasta, Mahodar, Maricha and Akampan, Ravana left for Mithila.
Janaka was worried. If Ravana was not able to lift the bow, he could forcibly carry away Sita.

Janaka went to welcome Ravana when the latter arrived. Ravana said he wanted Sita as his wife. Janaka said : You are unequalled in strength. I would gladly give away my daughter to you but I am bound by a promise. Parashurama gave me a bow. No one has been able to lift the bow. If you can lift the bow, I will give away Sita to you.

Ravana started laughing. He said the bow was nothing for one who had lifted the Mount Kailasha. He said Fetch Sita here. I will hold a hand of hers and with the other hand, I will lift the bow.

Janaka said, the condition is that the bow needs to be strung before anything.

Prahastha also advised Ravana and asked him to abide by the promise.

Ravana went to the room where the bow was kept. Seeing the bow he was a bit scared. What if he was not able to lift the bow?
He tightened his clothes and with his twenty hands he tried to lift the bow but he could not move it at all. He asked his uncle Prahastha for advice.

Prahastha said they would become laughing stock after all the boasting. He asked Ravana to try once more.

Ravana tried but the bow would not move. He then said Uncle, it seems like my life will go off. I am unable to move it a bit. He asked Prahastha to also try and lift along with him.

Prahastha said if they were successful, who would marry Sita amongst them? He asked Ravana to try again.

Ravana failed again. This time he said Enough done. Send for the chariot.

With his hands around his waist he looked towards the sky fearing Indra watching him and laughing at him.

Ravana with his followers fled from Mithila the moment the chariot arrived.

Shiva's bow for Janaka

When Rama was seven years old, Sita was born in Mithila. She was found by Janaka when he was running the plough in his fields. Sita's beauty was incomparable. This was Lakshmi who was being brought up Janaka as his daughter.
When she lined by deer shaped eyes with kohl, it was difficult to make out if this was Durga or Lakshmi. When she walked, it looked like a swan in flight.
Janaka was wondering who the able husband for Sita would be.
Brahma and Indra were worried too. What if someone married Sita apart from Rama? They went to Kailasha. They asked Shiva to help protect Sita from all. Only Rama should be able to wed Sita.
Saying this Brahma and Indra left.

Shiva sent for Parashurama and asked him to carry his bow to Janaka. He further said, Parasuram should tell Janaka that his daughter will marry only that person who would able to break this bow. Only Narayana apart from Shiva had the ability to lift the bow.

Hearing Shiva's command, Parashurama left for Mithila. He was great to look at - matted hair on his head, two quivers on his back, an axe in a hand and the bow in the other.

Janaka welcomes Parashurama in Mithila.