Valmiki Ramayana 2.118.40: Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 40
अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा
Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative
असञ्चाल्यं मनुष्यैश्च यत्नेनापि च गौरवात् ।
तन्न शक्ता नमयितुं स्वप्नेष्वपि नराधिपाः ॥४०॥
asañcālyaṃ manuṣyaiś ca yatnenāpi ca gauravāt |
tan na śaktā namayituṃ svapneṣv api narādhipāḥ ||40||
वो धनुष इतना भारी था कि कोई भी इंसान उसे हिला नहीं सकता था। कितना भी कोशिश करो, काम नहीं बनता था। राजा लोग तो उसे झुकाना भी नहीं जानते थे। सपने में भी वो धनुष झुक नहीं पाता था।
Because of its weight, no human could move that bow despite great effort nor were the kings capable of bending it even in their dreams.
FAQs
Dharma here is implicit: true worth is proven by capability and righteousness, not by status. Even kings cannot accomplish what is beyond their strength and merit.
Sītā recounts the earlier svayaṃvara context: the bow was so heavy that assembled rulers could neither move nor bend it.
Rāma’s exceptional strength guided by restraint (maryādā) is foreshadowed by contrasting it with the inability of other rulers.
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