Baal Kaanda
50 - Laksmana's fulmination
Chaupais
Description
In an assembly where any one of Raghu's race is present no one would dare speak such scandalous words as Janaka has done, even though conscious of the presence of Sri Rama, the Jewel of Raghu's race. (Turning towards his brother, he added) "Listen, O Delighter of the solar race, I sincerely tell You, without any vain boasting: if I but have Your permission, I will lift the round world like a ball and smash it like an ill-baked earthen jar; and by the glory of Your majesty, O blessed Lord, I can break Mount Meru like a radish. What, then, is this wretched old bow? Realizing this, my Lord, let me have Your command and see what wonders I work; I will string the bow as though it were a lotus-stalk and run with it not less than eight hundred miles.