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Whose bow Sri Rama broke - Varuna's or Shiva's?
In Ayodhya Kanda, Sita, while narrating her marriage episode to Anasuya, wife of Sage Atri, states that Janaka himself received a great bow from Varuna, the god of Water (rain-god), but not from Lord Shiva.
महा यज्ने तदा तस्य वरुणेन महात्मना |
दत्तम् धनुर् वरम् प्रीत्या तूणी च अक्षय्य सायकौ || (Ayodhya Kanda 118th Sarga 39th Sloka)
In ancient days, Janaka on the occasion of a great sacrifice, received with affection from Varuna (वरुणेन महात्मना) the rain-god, an excellent bow with two quivers that should never lack arrows.
असंचाल्यम् मनुष्यैः च यत्नेन अपि च गौरवात् |
तन् न शक्ता नमयितुम् स्वप्नेषु अपि नर अधिपाः || (Ayodhya Kanda 118th Sarga 40th Sloka)
That bow was so heavy in weight that no man could lift it up nor any of the kings were bale to bend it even in their dreams.
तच् च दृष्ट्वा धनुः श्रेष्ठम् गौरवाद् गिरि सम्निभम् |
अभिवाद्य नृपा जग्मुर् अशक्ताः तस्य तोलने || २-११८-४३
Seeing that excellent bow, resembling a mountain in weight, and being unable to lift it up, the princes offered salutation to it and went away.
सुदीर्घस्य तु कालस्य राघवो अयम् महा द्युतिः |
विश्वामित्रेण सहितो यज्नम् द्रष्टुम् समागतः || २-११८-४४
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा रामः सत्य पराक्रमः |
After a very long time, this Rama born in Raghu dynasty with a great splendour possessing a true valour, along with his brother Lakshmana together with a sage Visvamitra, came to witness a sacrifice.
इत्य् उक्तः तेन विप्रेण तद् धनुः समुपानयत् || २-११८-४७
निमेष अन्तर मात्रेण तद् आनम्य स वीर्यवान् |
ज्याम् समारोप्य झटिति पूरयाम् आस वीर्यवान् || २-११८-४८
Hearing the words of Vivamitra, Janaka caused the bow to be brought there. The mighty and the valiant Rama bent that bow merely within an instant and immediately stringed the bow with the bow-cord and drew the bow to the full.
Now, the question is, whose bow did Sri Rama actually break? The prevalent story is Sri Rama broke Shiva's bow.
If you read Bala Kanda, canto 66, verses 7 to 12, King Janaka says about the origin of the Bow. In verse 11 - 12, he clearly says the following:
Full of grace, Rudra or Shiva deposited the bow upon the high souled gods. Then the celebrated bow (of Shiva) was deposited with Devarata (forefather of King Janaka).
So, the bow was first bestowed with gods and then they entrusted it to King Devarata of Mithila dynasty.
In canto 71, of Bala Kanda, when King Janaka described his lineage, he says the following in the verse 15-16.
King Sudhanva came all the way from the town of Sankasya and besieged Mithila (verse 15)
He sent a word to me saying "The superb bow of Lord Shiva as well as your lotus-eyed daughter may be kindly be given to me".
On refusal, o great, he fought with me and was killed by me (King Sudhanva is killed by King Janaka) (verses 16-17)
So, it's again clear that it was the bow of Shiva.
In canto 75, of Bala Kanda, Parashurama relates the history of bows of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. Parashurama says the following (verses 20-21).
Feeling enraged Lord Rudra entrusted his bow which was passed on to King Devarata of Mithila.
So, from all this it is very clear that it was the bow of Lord Shiva only.
In Ayodhya Kanda, in canto 118, Sita on request by Anasuya, gives a summary of events from her descent to earth, how she was found by King Janaka and her subsequent marriage to Lord Rama.
In verse 38, Sita says the following.
At a great sacrifice, an excellent bow, as well as a pair of quivers were given to King Devarata, by Varuna.
So, the bow was passed on to devathas by Rudra, which in turn was passed on to Devarata through Varuna (as an agent of gods as enjoined by Shiva, whom the gods had previously approached for the bow)
So, by considering all the above verses, IT WAS BOW OF RUDRA or SHIVA ONLY, which was passed on to devathas, who in turn through Varuna passed it on to King Devarata.
So, RAMA BROKE THE BOW OF SHIVA AND NOT THAT OF VARUNA
Source: hinduism.stackexchange
This post is for sharing knowledge only, no intention to violate any copy rights
In Ayodhya Kanda, Sita, while narrating her marriage episode to Anasuya, wife of Sage Atri, states that Janaka himself received a great bow from Varuna, the god of Water (rain-god), but not from Lord Shiva.
महा यज्ने तदा तस्य वरुणेन महात्मना |
दत्तम् धनुर् वरम् प्रीत्या तूणी च अक्षय्य सायकौ || (Ayodhya Kanda 118th Sarga 39th Sloka)
In ancient days, Janaka on the occasion of a great sacrifice, received with affection from Varuna (वरुणेन महात्मना) the rain-god, an excellent bow with two quivers that should never lack arrows.
असंचाल्यम् मनुष्यैः च यत्नेन अपि च गौरवात् |
तन् न शक्ता नमयितुम् स्वप्नेषु अपि नर अधिपाः || (Ayodhya Kanda 118th Sarga 40th Sloka)
That bow was so heavy in weight that no man could lift it up nor any of the kings were bale to bend it even in their dreams.
तच् च दृष्ट्वा धनुः श्रेष्ठम् गौरवाद् गिरि सम्निभम् |
अभिवाद्य नृपा जग्मुर् अशक्ताः तस्य तोलने || २-११८-४३
Seeing that excellent bow, resembling a mountain in weight, and being unable to lift it up, the princes offered salutation to it and went away.
सुदीर्घस्य तु कालस्य राघवो अयम् महा द्युतिः |
विश्वामित्रेण सहितो यज्नम् द्रष्टुम् समागतः || २-११८-४४
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा रामः सत्य पराक्रमः |
After a very long time, this Rama born in Raghu dynasty with a great splendour possessing a true valour, along with his brother Lakshmana together with a sage Visvamitra, came to witness a sacrifice.
इत्य् उक्तः तेन विप्रेण तद् धनुः समुपानयत् || २-११८-४७
निमेष अन्तर मात्रेण तद् आनम्य स वीर्यवान् |
ज्याम् समारोप्य झटिति पूरयाम् आस वीर्यवान् || २-११८-४८
Hearing the words of Vivamitra, Janaka caused the bow to be brought there. The mighty and the valiant Rama bent that bow merely within an instant and immediately stringed the bow with the bow-cord and drew the bow to the full.
Now, the question is, whose bow did Sri Rama actually break? The prevalent story is Sri Rama broke Shiva's bow.
If you read Bala Kanda, canto 66, verses 7 to 12, King Janaka says about the origin of the Bow. In verse 11 - 12, he clearly says the following:
Full of grace, Rudra or Shiva deposited the bow upon the high souled gods. Then the celebrated bow (of Shiva) was deposited with Devarata (forefather of King Janaka).
So, the bow was first bestowed with gods and then they entrusted it to King Devarata of Mithila dynasty.
In canto 71, of Bala Kanda, when King Janaka described his lineage, he says the following in the verse 15-16.
King Sudhanva came all the way from the town of Sankasya and besieged Mithila (verse 15)
He sent a word to me saying "The superb bow of Lord Shiva as well as your lotus-eyed daughter may be kindly be given to me".
On refusal, o great, he fought with me and was killed by me (King Sudhanva is killed by King Janaka) (verses 16-17)
So, it's again clear that it was the bow of Shiva.
In canto 75, of Bala Kanda, Parashurama relates the history of bows of Lord Shiva and Vishnu. Parashurama says the following (verses 20-21).
Feeling enraged Lord Rudra entrusted his bow which was passed on to King Devarata of Mithila.
So, from all this it is very clear that it was the bow of Lord Shiva only.
In Ayodhya Kanda, in canto 118, Sita on request by Anasuya, gives a summary of events from her descent to earth, how she was found by King Janaka and her subsequent marriage to Lord Rama.
In verse 38, Sita says the following.
At a great sacrifice, an excellent bow, as well as a pair of quivers were given to King Devarata, by Varuna.
So, the bow was passed on to devathas by Rudra, which in turn was passed on to Devarata through Varuna (as an agent of gods as enjoined by Shiva, whom the gods had previously approached for the bow)
So, by considering all the above verses, IT WAS BOW OF RUDRA or SHIVA ONLY, which was passed on to devathas, who in turn through Varuna passed it on to King Devarata.
So, RAMA BROKE THE BOW OF SHIVA AND NOT THAT OF VARUNA
Source: hinduism.stackexchange
This post is for sharing knowledge only, no intention to violate any copy rights