Six Times Sita

Chapter 2: The Swayamvara

It is late when Guru Vishwamitra decides to halt for the night and invites the brothers to sit by their little fire.

"You did well today," he says, and Rama thinks the sage almost looks pleased.

"It was all your blessings, Guruji," he demurs, "and that of our parents'."

Beside him Lakshmana supresses a snort, noting how he left Guru Vashistha out of the mix. While their companion ruminates on this with a beatific smile, his brother whispers in his ears, "You are going to be a great politician one day."

Rama elbows him. Lakshmana elbows back, and then it is a boyish game that is barely discreet. Rama can feel the beginnings of a smile twitching on his face.

They are interrupted by Guru Vishwamitra, who folds his hands sternly over his lap, turns to them, and asks, without the barest hint of hesitation, "Say, Rama, have you ever thought of marriage?"

Rama sputters. Beside him, Lakshmana tenses, prepared to fend off any and all questions until Rama decides what to answer, like he always did back in Ayodhya, because Rama has the best brother in the whole wide world. But Guru Vishwamitra rolls over any protests.

"We shall stop at Mithila next, and the noble King Janaka has under his care four comely young maidens – two his own, and two his brother's."

The crickets chirp in the shadow of the forest. Rama stares, unblinking and silent.

"Forgive my impudence, revered one," Lakshmana says at last, when it becomes evident that Rama will not answer, "but my brother believes it is improper to speak of such matters without consulting our elders." His brother chances a glance at him. "And he also thinks the man and the woman should get to know each other beforehand."

The last part is entirely Lakshmana's own addition, since he despises the idea of marriage and has long hoped to turn away any potential suitors by acting churlishly. That is unlikely to happen, given that few fathers care for their daughters' opinions, and Lakshmana is charming even in his devilry. Rama refrains from mentioning any of this, especially because Lakshmana has clearly caught the 'four maidens' comment.

Guru Vishwamitra nods, meanwhile, as if he has expected something such all along.

"That is all very well, my boy, but let me tell you this. Janaka's eldest child is the mightiest woman to ever walk upon Aryavart, and the most virtuous. When she was yet a child, she lifted with one dainty hand the Destroyer's bow. Then her father declared that such a maiden's hand may only be claimed by one who could perform a similar feat."

"How... awe-inspiring," Rama manages at last, already daunted by the thought of this princess.

Guru Vishwamitra smiles. It is the kind of smile that Shatrughan has when someone is about to find dead fish among their clothes.

"Do not worry about your father," the sage says nonchalantly. "We shall reach Mithila by tomorrow. Look sharp, Rama, it is the princess's Swayamvar. You will lift the Pinaka, and then knowledge and valour shall be wedded, and what a joyous day it shall be! Do you not agree?"

"Ah, Guruji," Rama gropes about for anything that will dissuade him. "The Pinaka is a legendary bow, and I am but a young boy."

"I have faith in your ability, Bhaiyya," says the traitor heretofore known as Lakshmana, Rama's brother, "and as he told you, our Guru thinks similarly."

"I do not even know her name," Rama says, desperately elbowing Lakshmana when the latter starts to snicker.

Their Guru shrugs. "That is easily solved. She is called Sita."

A couple of things in this chapter:

1. Vishwamitra's feud with Vashistha: This is a prominent feature in most Ramayana retellings I have seen or read, but uh, I'm not sure how much of it is true? By one version, Vishwamitra, then a King, covets Vashistha's wish granting cow Nandini, and tries to snatch her from him. Vashistha repels all attacks, and Vishwamitra loses his sons and army in the process. In another version, Vashistha is chosen as the family priest for the Bharatas (the descendants of Bharata, Shakuntala's son, yes that one), and so Vishwamitra gets angry, and there is a whole war about it call the Battle of Ten Kings, referenced in Rigveda, between the Bharata King and a bunch of tribes. Anyway, the two are said to have reconciled later, but in his fic Rama would rather be safe than sorry.

2. Sita lifting the Pinaka: The Pinaka is Shiva's bow, and he fought quite often with it before it came to Janaka's possession. Now I don't think this is attested in the Valmiki Ramayana, but it has been some time since I last read it so I could be wrong. It is however a very popular piece in other retellings - Sita, while playing with her sisters, accidentally lifts the box with the Pinaka to fetch the ball that rolled underneath. Janaka is stunned by this explains the significance of the contents of the box to the girls. Thereafter, depending on the version, either Parashurama, Janaka, or Sita herself decided that she is to marry whoever performs a similar feat. I think it is quite sweet honestly, and a proof of how similar and equal Rama and Sita are!