The Breaking of Shiva's Bow: Rama's Triumph at Sita's Swayamvara

Feeling dejected, Emperor Janaka expressed, "It seems the earth is without a hero. It looks like my daughter Sita will remain unmarried. I would never have taken such a pledge if I had known that the Earth was heroless."

Hearing this, everyone was silent, but Lakshmana couldn't control his anger. He said to Rama, "Emperor Janaka's words are insulting. If you allow me, I will lift the earth like a ball and break it into pieces like a mud pot. How difficult is it for us to break an old bow? I can take this bow and run a minimum of eight hundred yojanas."

Everyone feared Lakshmana's words, and the earth began to shake. Sita, however, was overjoyed. Rama soothed Lakshmana and instructed him to sit down.

"Dear Rama, lift Lord Shiva's bow and allay King Janaka's fears," commanded Sage Vishwamitra.

Upon hearing his guru's command, Rama got up and touched his guru's feet. He was calm and composed as he picked up the bow like a flower garland and applied so much force to the bowstring that it broke in half, making a fierce sound that shook the ground like an earthquake.

When Ram broke the Pinaka during Sita's swayamvara, it caused an explosive sound that drew the attention of Lord Parashurama, the son of Sage Jamadagni. Parashurama, born a Brahmin, was the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu and had cleansed the world of Kshatriyas twenty-one times. He was livid when he realized someone had broken the Pinaka. He stormed into Emperor Janaka's court with a bow in one hand and an axe in the other. All the kings and princes there were afraid of his wrath.