'This Janaka must be mad!' murmured the people who thronged the hall to which the massive bow of Shiva was brought. They could not take their eyes away from the youth who walked in with his younger brother, led by the sage. 'If he wants to give Sita away in marriage, why should he trouble this boy! Better give her to him, without putting him to any test! Who else can be a better suitor for Sita!'
'veLLam aNaiththavan villai eduththu,' 'Picking the bow of the one in whose locks is enshrined the Ganges,
'ip piLLai mun ittadhu pEdhamai' and putting it before this boy, this child, demanding him to string it, is foolish. Why does he not relax the condition!' Each and every single one of them around liked Sri Rama so much that they desired and had even already decided that this was the right suitor for their princess. They had seen hundreds of kings in the past struggling and failing even to move the bow an inch from the box in which it was kept. They were afraid now that this condition may come in the way of this boy marrying their princess.
Rama's eyes were on the bow and on the bow only. He was waiting for the word 'go' from the mouth of his preceptor, who engaged the audience in a peroration on the pedigree of the boy. This was enjoined by Sage Satananda, who narrated the history of the bow. 'Hundreds of kings have tried their hands. Not even one could move it up. Many were disappointed and in their anger even marched on us with large armies. But they were all no match to the valour of our King and crumbled to the dust. We have been firm in our condition. The person, whoever he is, has to prove his prowess, strength and skills with the bow before he can seek the hand of our princess.' 'We were worried all these days,' the sage added, 'about whom we shall give our princess away in marriage to. If Rama could string it and shoot an arrow, he would put an end to all the mental agony that our King and all of us are undergoing.'
Viswamitra smiled. Turned his head towards Rama.
'punaindha sadai mudi thuLakki, pOr Etrin mugam paarththaan.' He looked at the face of the lion-of-the-battlefield. His jata mudi
moved a little as he nodded his head approvingly and invitingly. Rama was itching to try his hand with the bow. He was more like the curious child who is impatiently waiting for the new toy to be bought from the showcase and be handed over. His mind was set only on the bow and not even on this 'girl whom he is supposed to marry, if the condition is fulfilled. It is hardly possible that he would have heard the words of Satananda! He jumped up the very moment his preceptor signalled him of his approval.
'pozhindha ney aagudhi vaai vazhi pongi ezhundha kozhung kanal enna ezhundhaan.' He flared up like the leaping tongue of flame that shoots up the moment it is fed with ghee.
The women folk who were witnessing the event were in tears. They joined their palms and prayed for the success of this boy, who had won all their hearts in no time.
'karangaL kuviththu,' Joining their palms,
'iru kaNgaL panippa,' with tears forming at the end of their eyes,
'irum kaLiru ich chilai Etrilan aayin,' if at all this calf-elephant (Rama) does not string this bow, 'narandha naRaik kuzhal nangayum naamum,' we, together with the girl (Sita) whose curly locks are perfumed with musk, 'murungu eriyil puga mUzhgudhum' will all fall into the blazing fire and give our lives up.
Rama had become their endeared in the few moments that they saw him moving like the lion-of-the-battlefield that he is, towards the mountain of a bow of Lord Shiva.
'This Janaka must be mad!' murmured the people who thronged the hall to which the massive bow of Shiva was brought. They could not take their eyes away from the youth who walked in with his younger brother, led by the sage. 'If he wants to give Sita away in marriage, why should he trouble this boy! Better give her to him, without putting him to any test! Who else can be a better suitor for Sita!' 
Viswamitra smiled. Turned his head towards Rama.
'punaindha sadai mudi thuLakki, pOr Etrin mugam paarththaan.' He looked at the face of the lion-of-the-battlefield. His jata mudi
moved a little as he nodded his head approvingly and invitingly. Rama was itching to try his hand with the bow. He was more like the curious child who is impatiently waiting for the new toy to be bought from the showcase and be handed over. His mind was set only on the bow and not even on this 'girl whom he is supposed to marry, if the condition is fulfilled. It is hardly possible that he would have heard the words of Satananda! He jumped up the very moment his preceptor signalled him of his approval.
'pozhindha ney aagudhi vaai vazhi pongi ezhundha kozhung kanal enna ezhundhaan.' He flared up like the leaping tongue of flame that shoots up the moment it is fed with ghee. 
