The next morning, at Janak's palace in Mithila, Ram and Lakshman approached Guru Vishwamitra. "Gurudev," they asked humbly, "may we gather flowers for your puja?" The sage smiled and blessed them. "Certainly, go ahead." The brothers set out for Pushp Vatika, the royal flower garden.

Interestingly, the Ramayan speaks of two legendary gardens: the Ashok Vatika of the demon King Ravan and the Pushp Vatika of Raja Janak. Sita appears in both, though under starkly different circumstances.

Upon entering the Pushp Vatika, Ram and Lakshman sought the guards' permission to gather fresh blooms for their Guru. The guards gladly offered to assist, but Ram graciously declined. "This service we wish to perform with our own hands." As the brothers carefully picked the dew-laden blossoms, Sita was about to emerge through the flowering boughs and step into the pages of the Ram Katha.

Sacred First Meeting

As the day of Her swayamvar drew near, Sita, accompanied by Her sakhis was on Her way to Goddess Gauri’s temple to offer prayers. Just as She approached the steps, one of Her companions espied Ram and Lakshman in the verdant groves. Flushed with excitement, she rushed back, exclaiming, "Sita! You can perform the puja later—something wonderful has happened! Those two princes who have inundated all of Mithila in divine bliss are in the garden. Come quickly!" A wave of anticipation rippled through Sita as She hastened toward Pushp Vatika.

Before Ram saw Sita, the soft, rhythmic tinkling of Her anklets reached His ears, stirring sweet curiosity within Him. Turning to Lakshman, Ram asked, “What is this enamoring melody? Is Kamdev, the god of love, marching in triumph?”

Lakshman, however, had already caught a glimpse of Sita. With a knowing smile, he led Ram into a secluded bower. “What are you doing?” Ram asked, amused. “Ensuring the attraction is mutual,” Lakshman replied playfully. With deep devotion, Lakshman adorned his elder brother, and even placed a peacock feather in His hair as the crowning touch. Notably, this is the only occasion in the Ramayan when Ram is described as wearing a morpankh.

As they stepped out from the foliage, Ram’s eyes fell upon Sita. Time stood still. At the sight of Her, a surge of divine bliss overwhelmed Him and tiny drops of perspiration appeared upon His forehead. Just then, walking through the garden, Sita suddenly beheld Ram. She enshrined His beauteous Form within Her heart and closed Her eyes in deep absorption. One of Her sakhis teased affectionately. “What are you doing? This is no time to meditate—look at Him!”

Sita opened her eyes and gazed again at Ram. She watched Him gently plucking flowers, noticing the shimmer of perspiration on His brow.  A tender wish arose within Her: How wonderful it would be to marry Him. But She wondered: If He sweats merely from plucking flowers, how will He ever lift and break Lord Shiv's mighty bow?

Filled with longing, concern and faith, Sita hurried to the temple. There, She poured Her heart out to Goddess Gauri, beseeching Her to grant Ram the strength to break the sacred bow. As Sita bowed, a miracle unfolded. The garland adorning the deity slipped and fell upon Sita. The murti then spoke, 

मनु जाहिं राचेउ मिलिहि सो बरु सहज सुंदर साँवरो।

करुना निधान सुजान सीलु सनेहु जानत रावरो॥ ~ Ramcharitmanas

You shall attain the very groom to whom Your heart is bound—dark-complexioned, ocean of compassion, all-knowing, He who understands your virtue and love.

Sita knew that Goddess Gauri had answered Her prayer.

एहि भाँति गौरि असीस सुनि सिय सहित हियँ हरषीं अली।

तुलसी भवानिहि पूजि पुनि पुनि मुदित मन मंदिर चली॥ ~ Ramcharitmanas

Hearing the divine blessing, Sita and Her companions were flooded with joy. Tulsidas ji says that after repeatedly bowing before Goddess Bhavani, Sita returned to the palace, Her heart overflowing with happiness.

Breaking of the Bow

The long-awaited day of Sita’s swayamvar had finally arrived. Kings and princes from distant lands had assembled in King Janak’s magnificent court, while Janak presided from his throne. Soon, Ram and Lakshman entered the grand arena. Their radiant presence riveted the attention of all, yet each beheld the Lord differently.

As Tulsidas ji beautifully writes,

जाकी रही भावना जैसी प्रभु मूरत देखी तिन तैसी। 

As is one’s inner sentiment, so is the form in which one perceives the Lord.

To the gyanis, Ram appeared as the cosmic Form, possessing countless mouths, arms, and eyes. King Janak’s relatives saw Him as a beloved kinsman. Janak and the queens gazed upon Him with the tenderness reserved for a child, while the yogis perceived Him as the serene, self-effulgent Supreme Reality. To the devotees, He was their beloved Lord—the fountain of absolute bliss.

Then came the definitive moment for which the assembly had gathered. At the centre of the court rested the mighty Shiv Dhanush—a divine weapon so heavy that no prince had been able to budge it, let alone lift it. At Sage Vishwamitra’s command, Bhagavan Ram stepped forward. With effortless grace, He lifted the sacred bow, drew the string, and snapped it in two.

A thunderous sound rent the air.

While King Janak was delighted, the assembled princes sprang to their feet in fury. Swords half-drawn, they roared, “Who has dared to break the bow? Let him first conquer us—only then may he claim the hand of Sita!” Lakshman’s eyes flashed. He could not bear a word spoken against his brother. Stepping forward, he declared, "If any among you wish to challenge him, you must cross me first." His voice cut through the clamour, neutralizing the tumult in the assembly.

The Eternal Union  

With the court silenced, King Janak instructed Sita's maids to escort Her into the assembly. Holding the varmala in Her hands, Sita walked gracefully toward Ram. Describing this moment, Tulsidas laments that the choicest metaphors and similes had already been spent elsewhere, leaving him bereft of words worthy of portraying Mother Sita’s divine beauty. Even the most exalted adjectives themselves confess their helplessness: capable only of describing the allure of the material world, they pale before Her incomparable resplendence.

Sita then came to a halt and stood before Ram. She raised the varmala to place it around His neck. In His natural humility, Ram bowed His head so She could garland Him with ease. But Sita paused. One moment passed, then another. Ram remained standing, His head bowed. A tense hush fell over the assembly, everyone wondering why the garland had not yet been placed.

At last, Ram whispered, "Why do You delay?"

Sita replied softly, "Why did You delay so long in breaking the bow?"

A few more moments passed.

As Maryada Purushottam—Ram gently reminded Her of the setting. "Sita, this is no longer just between us. What will these kings think, seeing Me stand before You with My head bowed for so long?" Sita answered, "That is precisely the lesson I wish for them to learn. Those who could not even move the bow stand proudly with their chests puffed out in haughty arrogance. Yet the One who accomplished the impossible stands before the world with His head bowed in perfect humility."

This exchange reminds us that Maa Sita is, after all, Bhakti personified. If She does not teach the very first lesson of devotion—humbleness—who else will?

Seeing that the moment had lingered long enough, Ram glanced at Lakshman. “Please help,” He murmured. “You are the incarnation of Ananta Shesh. Lift the earth beneath Sita’s feet just a little, so that the garland may reach Me.” Lakshman smiled. “If I lift the earth, it will rise equally beneath both of You. The distance between You will remain exactly the same.”

From his seat, Sage Vishwamitra witnessed the beautiful impasse and signaled Lakshman. Understanding his guru’s silent command, Lakshman stepped forward and fell at his brother’s feet. As Ram bent down even lower to lift His brother, Sita lovingly placed the jayamala around Shree Ram’s neck.

Boliye Sitaram Bhagavan Ki Jai!

Nectar of Katha

What we have traversed is but a sweet glimpse into the vast ocean of Ram Katha. Having briefly summarized Ram’s divine pastimes, Shukadev Goswami grew silent. King Parikshit, too, remained quiet for some time, absorbing the profound stillness before urging his master to continue.

Shukadev then began to narrate the pastimes of Lord Krishna. Yet, after reciting just two verses, he paused once again. Parikshit could no longer contain his eagerness. "Shukadev Maharaj," he pleaded, "I will not be satisfied with only two verses. My soul longs to hear the pastimes of Shree Krishna in absolute, exquisite detail." It is for this reason that the Tenth Canto, spanning ninety glorious chapters, stands revered as the very heart of the Shreemad Bhagavatam.

The veil now lifts on the most enchanting mysteries of the Krishna avatar, one by one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What enables us to recognize God when He appears before us?

Answer: The Lord’s Form is divine, but our senses, mind, and intellect are material, that limit our perception of Him. In Bhagavad Gita verse 9.11, Shree Krishna says: “When I descend in My personal form deluded persons are unable to recognize Me. They do not know the divinity of My personality, as the Supreme Lord of all beings.”

This is not our first lifetime. We have passed through innumerable births, and the Lord has descended countless times. When Ram lived on Earth for 11,000 years, it is possible that we too were present. Likewise, when Krishna descended for 125 years, we may have seen Him, yet failed to benefit from His divine presence. This is because we can perceive His divinity only to the extent that our inner being is spiritually purified.

It is like looking through green-tinted glass: everything appears green. In the same way, each person sees God through the lens of their own inner state. That is why, in King Janak’s court, each person saw Lord Ram differently.

Question: Why did King Janak make breaking the Shiv Dhanush a condition for Sita’s marriage?

Answer: Raja Janak had witnessed a striking incident when Sita was still a little girl. One day, while cleaning, she noticed some dust beneath the Shiv Dhanush. With childlike simplicity, she lifted the mighty bow so that the area beneath it could be cleaned. When Janak saw this, he understood that his daughter was no ordinary child; she was divine. It was then that he made his resolve to give Janaki’s hand only to one capable of lifting and stringing that sacred bow.

To relish the nectar of the Ram Katha more deeply, watch Swami Mukundananda’s Ram Katha Lecture Series on YouTube.

Video Resource

#1 Lesson from Shree Ram Sita Marriage Story - When Humility Wins Over Pride | Swami Mukundananda