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The Childhood of Sita
27
At last Rama appeared on the scene. Nobody took him seriously, not even the ladies on the balcony. But Sita said her silent prayers for his success. He made obeisance to the bow by touching it thrice and then lifted it with one hand, as it were a hollow wooden cape. Hardly did he pull the string when it snapped into two with the sound of a million peals of thunder and the distant rocks and ravines resounded. And flowers raised on him. Janaka rushed to him and embraced him. Viswamitra proudly patted him on the back. All the princes, led by Ravana, departed in consternation, swearing revenge.
"May I send word to your father, so that we can celebrate the marriage soon ?” suggested Janaka. "If it pleases you," observed Rama, bowing to Viswamitra who said, "Be it so. And, Lakshmana, Urmila shall marry you." Lakshmana reverently acquiesced in the great sage's demand. Turning to Janaka, Rama humorously remarked, "I have two more brothers." "And we have consorts for them too_Mandavi and Sruthakirthi, the beautiful and virtuous daughters of my cousin Kusadhwaja."
Thus it all ended happily. But Sita's right eye did not stop throbbing.
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