By Kambar (Kavichakravarthy Kamban)
Translated in English by P. R Ramachander
Kamba Ramayanam – Bala Kandam 4 (Padalam 12)
12. Karmukha padalam
(The chapter of the bow.)( The bow is brought by the servants of the king. Sixty thousand of them lifted the bow by placing wooden logs in between them. In Valmiki Ramayanam five hundred people drag it by keeping it in an iron cart. Guru Sadananda told them the story of that bow as well as that of Sita.Under the orders of sage Viswamithra Rama breaks that bow,. King Janaka, all devas, and all people of Mithila became happy and celebrate the event. One of the friends of Sita goes and informs this to the love sick Sita. After listening , Sita concludes that it is Rama himself. As per the advice of Viswamithra , Janaka sends emissaries along with marriage proposal.)
666. ”What can I tell against your words, I am greatly upset because,I had kept this illusory bow as the condition of marriage of my daughter ,And because of the condition my wish has not so far been fulfilled ,And suppose this lad who has all good characters,Is able to shoot an arrow out of this great bow,He would be helping me to get out of my sea of sorrow,And my daughter also would realize the result of her penance.”
667. Then seeing his assistants who were standing before him, he said,“Bring that mountain like great bow here” and those four people saluted him, Said “yes”,Ran quickly and went to the place where the bow decorated with gold was kept.
668. Sixty thousand of his people who had a body like a strong elephant,Who had mountain like shoulders which were covered by hair,After keeping pillar like stays in several places in between the bow,Carried it on those pillars which they kept on their shoulders.
669. The earth where the bow was kept got her much needed rest,And the Meru mountain which has grown very tall became very shy on seeing it,And the people who have spread like an ocean , seeing the bow coming,Felt that there would not be any more space for them.
670. Some people told, “Except Lord Vishnu holding the conch and the wheel,Who had red hands and who was like a he lion , no one else can lift it,And suppose he cannot who is there in this world , who can even dare to touch it ,And if today this lad bends this bow , Sita’s marriage would live well.”
671. They further said,” Calling it a bow is a word of deceit, for this is like Golden Meru,“ Even Brahma who is supposed to have made it has not touched it with his hand, But had made it using his great penance.” Some people there told,“WE do not know who in the early times was able to pull its string?”
672. Some where doubting whether it was made by using the tall Meru mountain,And some others told, “No it was made using Mandhara mountain after ,The long pretty ocean was churned.” And some others said,“It is indeed the king of serpents who had great luster and some said,
Perhaps the bow Of Indra might have slipped from sky and has fallen down.”
673. Some said, “Why did this king ordered this bow to be brought?”“Are there any foolish people like this king who wants to bend that bow”“Possibly by some good deed done in earlier life , he may be able to do it”,And some said,” Has the maid Sita ever seen this bow?”
674. Some said, “What would be the aim of the arrow kept in this bow?”,“Janaka has kept this bow only for the good of his daughter Sita”,“Would the God Vishnu be able to bend this arrow?”And some said, “This is the play of fate” and became sad.
675. When the people of Mithila who had assembled were talking like this,The servants of the king who brought it kept in the bow on earth, making the back of earth bend,And all those kings who saw it were telling, “who is going to bend this bow?”And being scared even to touch the bow started shivering.
676. Janaka seeing Rama who was like an elephant calf and his beauty,And seeing that bow which was giving him pain and again thought of his daughter,And when he was getting worried whether Sita would ever get marired,Sadananda the son of Gautama started telling.
677. That Shiva who bent the mountain Meru as a bow ,Because “Daksha had insulted Uma who was by his side”,Due the ebbing anger which was not having patience ,Took this bow and reached the place of Yaga of Dhaksha.
678. Some of those devas who had come there started running greatly tired, And entered and hid in places where the devas will never hide,The fire in the fire sacrifice was put out and Shiva also lost his anger.
679,. Lord Shiva seeing that all the devas were shivering ,And knowing well that their life span was very long,Gave that great bow to a king born in the clan of Janaka, Who used to cultivate his country using his sword.
680. ” I Should tell about the greatness of this bow now?Except for sages who are equal to Lord Shiva , no body can do it.Also please hear the story of the daughter of Janaka ,Who has hips like the storey of the chariot.
681. For performing the yagna , on the hump of a bull with steel like two horns, A beam which was shining like crystal was fixed and to which was tied,A golden plough embedded with several gem was tied to it ,And this was dragged several times on the fertile field over several channels.
682. While ploughing on the face of the plough , like a shining sun,There appeared a form which appeared to be that of goddess earth,A child whom even Goddess Lakshmi who was born with nectar from ocean of milk,Would move to one side and salute and who appeared to be the queen of all girls.
683. How can I tell about the good natures of this girl for all those good natures, Are quarrelling with each other to become one with that girl who was like a flower branch.What about her beauty? After this girl with big ear globes appeared ,All other girls lost their beauty like the rivers losing their holiness,When the river called Ganges came down from the sky to this earth.
684. ”Oh lord who knows everything , due to their mastery in arts like archery ,And their fate lying on different directions , all devas were attracted by Goddess Lakshmi ,This Lakshmi like girl all the kings of earth loved and this happening,Cannot be found in any other case on this earth.”
685. ,All kings who were having huge army of elephants with trunk and are in rut,Along with their ocean like army , making sound like a torrential sea,Came requesting for her hand in marriage and we told them that ,Only a person who can bend the bow ,of lord Shiva who wore,The tiger skin and elephant hide as dress , by his own strength,Would be suitable to marry this pretty maid in a firm manner.
686. ”Oh saint who protects the world using the bow of words,Those kings who were not able to bend this great bow,Who were not even capable of bending the sugarcane bow of God of love ,Since they loved this black haired beauty who came with,The huge bow of Shiva which was like a mountain, Called us and started waging war against us.
687. The big army of our great king due to unremitting war,Started reducing like the wealth which reduces only just kings.And the army of those kings who loved this girl,Whose curled hair was surrounded by the humming of bees, Went on increasing just like the desires of those kings.
688. Those devas who wear shining crowns seeing that this king,With strong and pretty shoulders was thinning down,In the battles to protect the bow of the God who has bull as steed,Took mercy on him and helped him by giving the four segments of the army,And the kings went away like a crow getting scared of an owl.
689. From that day till to date no body has gone near this bow,And the kings with chariots who went to hiding , also did not come back,And we were all thinking that Sita would never get married,And so if This Rama is able to pull the string of this bow it would be good,Because the beauty of Sita who decorates her hair with flowers would not be wasted.
690. After keenly hearing all that was told by sage Sadananda ,The learned sage after deep thought shook his pretty matted hair ,And saw the face of Rama who was like a bull ready to fight ,And that hero who was like a picture understanding the signShown by the great sage , saw that great bow with interest.
691. He stood up the like the rising flash of fire from the sacred fire,When all the ghee is together poured in to it as oblation,And went towards the bow and the devas shouted, “The bow is broken”, And words of blessings were told by sages who had won ,Over their three enemies Passion , jealousy and anger.
692. The one sent by the ancient sage who has undertaken great penances,Before he broke that great bow , the God of love shot his arrows.At the minds of ladies with pretty ornaments ,And they all became a victim the love bow of his.
693. Some ladies told, The feet of the great bow we are seeing is strong, And some told that if the red and pretty hand of the shy Sita,Is not caught by the long hand with red palm of this lad,Sita with a shining forehead would not have any further life.
694. Some ladies with folded hands in salutation said,If this lad who is like an elephant calf is not able to bend ,This bow bringing tears of joy in to our eyes ,The Sita with musk scented hair and also ourselves, Would jump and drown in the burning fire.
695. If the charitable king indeed wanted to become happy by this marriage,He would have told this Rama to get married to Sita and not ,Put this bow of the Shiva who carries Ganges before him,And ask him to bend and send an arrow, as it is foolish.
697. When all the ladies were talking like this within them selves,With the good blessings of great sages and creating joy,Among all in the world of devas Rama who was like a big bull, Making the golden mountain Meru and the elephants ashamed,Walked and reached the place where the bow was kept.
698. He lifted that huge bow of Shiva which resembled a golden mountain,Like a garland of flowers meant for wearing it To Sita ,Who was like a difficult to search gem and ,Was wearing golden bangles as well as armlets.
699. All those who had stopped blinking of their eyes,So that they could see all the happenings, saw,Rama planting his feet on the lower end of the bow,And tying the string on the other end but,Due to the speed of the action they could only see,That he took it by his hand but they also heard it break.
700. The devas and Lord Brahma who was born in a lotus,Thinking that great universe has broken and getting worried,As to with whom they will surrender and seek protection,If this is the case of the world of devas, what can be told about earth?And the snake which carries the universe on his head and ,Was lying like a root to the world got greatly scared.
701. The devas concluding that The victory and the fearful spear of Janaka,Has been helped by the good deeds he did in last birth only today,Showered flowers, The clouds showered Gold and all the great oceans, Sprinkled various types of gems and made huge applauding sound, And all great sages chanted words of blessing to the king.
702. White conches , horns and several other musical instruments blared in the city,People were giving flower garlands , ornaments , sandal paste , scented powders ,Scented oils , the pearl from the sea , gold , gems and fine cloth to each other,And like the ocean was making huge sound like in season , and sound reverberated.
703. Ladies with spear like eyes and rising moon at night danced like peacocks ,Dancing when they see dark clouds With playing of Veena(yaazh) like dripping of honey, Decorated with smile , ear studs and were spreading light every where.
704. Like one drunk with toddy that spoils the brain, the black eyed damsels,With red shot eyes hugged their husbands so that the love tiff is removed,Like the white clouds drinking water from the sea with large waves ,The poor people went on taking away the wealth of their king.
705. Drinking the sweet music of dancers , nectar like songs of ladies,The song of Panars (minstrel musicians) singing religious songs to accompaniment of Yaazh,Which appeared as if they were extracting honey from such songs,The songs of various tunes using the flute , using their ears ,Devas stood there with benumbed bodies like statues.
706. The ladies of the world of devas who had come down to see the strength of Rama,During the breaking of the bow , came down from the sky and by acion and form,Danced with damsels of earth and not able to find out the difference hugged them,But seeing their long black eyes wearing Kajal blinking ,They understood that they were not Deva damsels and stood perplexed.
707. Some of them said ,”son of Dasaratha “ Some said , “Lotus eyed lad”,Some said his colour is black like cloud, some said it resembled Black kamyapoo flowers,Same said, “He is not human being”, Some said , He is Lord Vishnu of the sea where fishes live,” And some of them were saying :”this world is in stupor.”
708. Some said ,”to see the beauty of Rama , Sita should have thousand eyes,”Some said, “since every time we see the flower branch like sita , we see a new prettiness,It is Rama who needs the thousand eyes” some said , “see his brother , the world is lucky,”And some others , “let us all salute Viswamithra who brought these lads to this city.”
709. When things like these were happening in the court , we will start telling about ,What happened in the” maiden house” to Sita who spent the night along with the moon,And afterwards with the desire to see that lad again , who was little energized ,Though her soul had undergone torture ,and who had very thin waist and very huge breasts,Black eyes with reddish tinge and who was Wearing golden bangles .
710. Sita with a soul which was swinging between life and death like a swing,Got up from the flower bed , which was the reason for melting of her body,With friends who were wearing ornaments made of pure gold surrounding her,She went and reached the banks of lake which was crowded with faultless lotus flowers,Where in a room built by crystal , and laid down in a pretty bed of flowers ,Which was cooled by moon stones as well as sprinkling of cold water.
711. Oh lotus plants which has cool pleasant scent ,Understanding that a girl is suffering due to parting with her lover ,And exhibiting your greatness , you showed his colour by your leaves ,And I was little consoled and you also showed the colour of his eyes,Which stole my colour resembling young leaves using your flowers,But why did you retreat without giving him to me.
712. I saw him with bow like Meru mountain tied with a string like Adhi sesha,With his hands caressing that string , with mountain like shoulders ,With the quiver tied in between the arrows , With wave of sacred thread like lustrous moon light,And with a chest covered by flower garland . If I am able to see him once more ,I would definitely be able to see my soul once again.
713. With a face like moon who is in the sky , with a hair braid ,Which is roved about by bees wanting to drink honey from flower garland,That cloud which was wearing a very long bow using its two eyes,Drank and drank my soul , It is true that the cloud is there ,Within me now and not only that will be there always.
714. When that cruel God of love with his long victorious bow ,Using his cruel arrows has attacked my soul like ,The fire attacking the cotton and wounded my mind,And when confusion and sorrow mixes in my mind,He did not come near me to tell ,”do not be scared “And offer me protection. What type of masculinity is his ?
715. Oh breasts of mine which do not thin down,Since you are growing out and out,What great thing are you going to achieve.Like a moon who is not able to appear in the sky,Would the way open for me to tightly hug the chest of him,Who has a shining face , who holds a bow which is difficult to bend ,In his hand . Please tell me the various penances that I should do for that.”
716. ”That God of love after wandering in my mind and hit an arrow,On my breasts where the sickness of mind primarily rises, like pouring poison on it,But The moon which appeared before me yesterday is not moon,Because it did not have stain on it , and where did that moon come from?”
717. ”oh my mind, that god of love came near me making my mind boil,And send a poisoned arrow and due to the pain it caused ,My soul did not stay there and without getting destroyed ,Came out from there and surrendered at the feet of that lad,Who was like a big black elephant from whom the warm water of rut flows out,And followed him .I do not understand how my soul came back?’
718. “Similar to the cloud that was formed in the sky coming down on earth,That Lord with the sacred thread that he wore on his chest came before me,And though he does not go away from my mind , I am not able to recognize him,Even though he is visible before my eyes, why am I not able to recognize him?”
719” .Like those fools from whose hands the pot of gold containing nectar slipped,Though it was born in the milky ocean and became available to them by their good deeds,I did not hug tightly the shoulders of the lord which appeared before me ,And why am I lamenting like this after losing the chance at that time?”
720. When Sita , near whose breasts the golden coloured love scar appeared ,With a very sorry heart was piteously weeping and getting drowned in sorrow ,We will now tell the news brought by one of her friends , who had a cool mind,And who had moon like face with kajal tainted eyes , who happened to witness ,The breaking of the mountain like bow by Rama personally .
721. That Neela Maa who had eyes like a blue lotus in a very big lake,Shining like with many more colours than the rain bow since she was wearing ,Due to wearing several necklaces and ear globes in both her ears,Came running with her braided hair with flowers and dress slipping down.
722. AS soon as she came she did not salute the feet of Sita but shouted,With great joy , danced and sang songs and seeing her Sita told,“please tell me the reason for the joy of your mind and happenings that caused it”,And then friend immediately saluted Sita and started telling.
723. A son of Dasaratha who has ocean like collection of elephants,Horses and Chariots , Who is great in wisdom and who has long hands,Which shower his riches like clouds shower rain and,Who rules over his kingdom with all the earth praising him,Is there who is more pretty than God of love ,Who puts the entire world in to trance by his arrows.
724. That lad who has strong shoulders like Maramara trees,And who raises a doubt in our mind whether he is Lord Vishnu,Who sleeps on a serpent and who is named as Rama,Along with his younger brother and a sage,Whose fame cannot be measured has reached our town.
725. That one who has shoulders wearing shoulder rings,Had came here to see the divine bow of Lord shiva ,And as per the orders of the king he had bent that bow,And tied the string easily making the land of devas shiver.
726. Within a second by stepping on one end of the bow,Possibly with a feeling that it is but a very old bow,He bent by the strength of his shoulders and then,Devas praised him , Flowers were showered from the sky,And that bow broke and fell , making the people of king’s council shiver.
727. Hearing that he was like a cloud and came with a great sage ,And also that he was lotus eyed and as strong as Vishnu .Sita decided, “It is him”, and her suspicion was cleared ,And with her hip enlarging her waist belt shook.
728. People who used to tell that she does not have any waist,Would be now saying that she indeed has a waist,With her breasts enlarging she was breathing deeply ,And decided in her mind that he is that person,And if he is not I would certainly embrace death.
729. With emotion of love increasing she felt little feeble ,And Janaka hearing the sound of breaking of the bow,Created by Brahma who lives in a lotus flower with fresh leaves,Became extremely happy and started telling sage Viswamithra,
730. Oh great one , is it your desire that the ritual of marriage ,Of this lad who looks like your son be celebrated today itself?Or do you desire that we should call to this city the king Dasaratha,Who wears heroes armlets an huge army along with sound raised by drums, And celebrate the marriage ?Please think well and tell me.
731. When Janaka who isan expert in wrestling told these words ,And when the sage said that it would me more proper for Dasaratha to reach there,Janaka with matchless joy gave a letter and told his messengers,To inform about all happenings there and sent them away swiftly.
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About Kavichakravarthy Kamban
Historians place him in the 9th century CE, But surely Kamban belongs to the third great wave of Tamizh literature that started with the Sangam period (dated before the Common Era), followed by the widespread impact of Bhakti literature of the Alwars (vaishnavite saints) & Nayanamars (shaivaite saints). Kamban Authored Ramanaya in Tamil…Known as Kamba Ramayanam..
Kambar has been the milestone for the Tamil scholars that none had reached. He was also known as “Kamba Naatazhvar” at his time. Many Tamil authors from the modern world have written the books on the poet Kamban.
FAQs
Kambar or Kavichakravarthy Kamban (1180–1250) was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of the epic Ramayana.
Valmiki Ramayana and Kamba Ramayanam are two versions of Ramayana written in the Sanskrit and Tamil languages respectively. … Kamba Ramayanam is originally called as Ramavataram. Although Valmiki Ramayana is the original version of the story of Rama, Kamba Ramayana is believed to be based on the work by Valmiki.
The Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil epic that was written by the Tamil poet Kambar during the 12th century. Based on Valmiki’s Ramayana (which is in Sanskrit), the story describes the life of King Rama of Ayodhya.
The book is divided into six chapters, called Kandam in Tamil. The Kandams are further divided into 123 sections called Padalam (படலம்) in Tamil. These 123 sections contain approximately 12,000 verses of the epic.