Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 31, Shloka 10
सिद्धाश्रमात् शोणातटं प्रस्थानम् — Departure from Siddhāśrama and the Invitation to Janaka’s Yajña
Bow of Mithilā
धनुषस्तस्य वीर्यं तु जिज्ञासन्तो महीक्षित:।न शेकुरारोपयितुं राजपुत्रा महाबला:।।1.31.10।।
dhanuṣas tasya vīryaṃ tu jijñāsanto mahīkṣitaḥ | na śekur āropayituṃ rājaputrā mahābalāḥ || 1.31.10 ||
ఆ ధనుస్సు బలాన్ని పరీక్షించాలనుకున్న రాజులు మరియు మహాబలవంతులైన రాజకుమారులు కూడా దానిని ఎత్తి ఎక్కించగలగలేదు।
Mighty princes and kings have failed to string it, in their attempt to know its strength.
FAQs
True worth is proven, not claimed: the bow becomes a measure of capability, discouraging false pride and emphasizing integrity (satya) in self-assessment.
Viśvāmitra describes the extraordinary bow at Mithilā and notes that many rulers tried and failed to lift/string it.
Humility before dharma: even mighty rulers are shown limited, preparing the ground for a divinely aligned accomplishment rather than mere bravado.