The bow
A play (based Ramayana)
Cast
a) King Janaka b) sage Viswamitra c) Rama
d) Lakshmana e) Sita f) herald
g) Minister h) courtiers (2) i) princes (4)
j) Ladies –in-waiting (2)
Others ministers and courtiers
Scene 1: the court of king Janaka in Mithila.
An excited buzz among courtiers and ministers gathered there.
Minister salience! His majesty will be here soon.
Courtier 1 (aside) what is it? What does the king want to tell us?
Courtier 2 (aside) I am not sure. But I have heard it is something to do with princess Sita. Herald his Royal majesty, king Janaka of Mithila.
King (enters. Takes his place on the throne)
Minister: - your majesty, we are here as ou commanded. What is it that you wish to tell us?
King:-I have called you here to tell you of my decision. Ad you know, my daughter, the princess Sita is ready for marriage.
Ministers-yes! The beautiful princess Sita!
King: - I have decided that a girl as good and beautiful as my daughter shall marry only the best and bravest man in the country.
All yes. Only the best will do for our princess.
Minister:-who is the lucky man, your majesty?
King -that is what I wish to talk about. There is to be a test.
Minister: - a test, your majesty?
Courtiers: - (to each other) a test?
What kind of test?
King: -yes. You see, there are many princes in this great land. It will not be easy for me to choose from among them.
Minster: - yes, indeed, your majesty. But what will you do?
King: - I will let the bow decide.
Minister: - the bow? I don’t understand, your Majesty.
King: - the bow of Shiva will decide for us.
All: - the bow of Shiva!
Minister: - but, your majesty, many of our strongest men struggle even to move it from one place to another. What can you mean? How will the bow decide?
King: - exactly! To this day, no man has been able to lift bow. But the man who marries my Sita will be the man who not only lifts that ow ut strings it.
All:-oh!
King: - minister, make arrangements. Make sure that all the princes of the land know about the test. Four weeks from now, we will meet here for the test.
Minister: - it shall be done, your majesty.
Scene 2-the forest
Sage Viswamitra with Princes Rama and Lakshmana
Viswamitra:-Rama, you have done well. You have succeeded in all the tasks I set you. I am proud of you.
Rama:-thank you, Guru. Without your blessings I could have done nothing.
Viswamitra:-and now, there is one more task ahead of you.
Rama: - guru, you have only to ash.
Viswamitra: - I want you both to come with me to Mithila, to the court of king Janaka.
Viswamitra: - king Janaka of Mithila has announced that he wishes to give his daughter, the princess Sita, in marriage. He has decided upon a test. He will give his daughter to the man who lifts the bow of Shiva.
Rama, Lakshmana (together) the bow of Shiva!
Viswamitra: - you are surprised. Yes, it is a difficult task. As you know, nobody has managed to lift the bow. No ordinary man can. A coward will run in terror from it. He who is selfish will not even be able to go near it. Only the brave and the pure in heart can touch it or even come close to it.
Lakshmana: - are we going to watch the contest?
Viswamitra (smiling o himself) wait and see. Now go and get ready. We must start immediately.
Scene 3: the court king Janaka.
The bow is in place, Ministers, courtiers and princes, on a balcony to the left, Sita and her ladies –in- waiting.
1st lady –in- waiting princess, look at all those Princes. One of them is surely going to be husband. Which one will you have?
Sita: - none of them. Nobody is going to be able to lift the bow. Everybody who has tried so for has failed.
2nd lady –in-waiting oh, princess! How can you say that? Surely, one of them is going to lift the bow. You will have to marry him. You heard what his majesty said.
Sita: - we shall see.
Herald:-his royal majesty, king Janaka of Mithila.
King (enters, takes his place on the throne)
Minister: - your majesty, everything is ready, as ordered.
King: - then let them begin.
Minister: - royal princess! His royal Majesty, king Janaka of Mithila bids you all welcome. He invites you to lift the great bow of Shiva. He, who succeeds in lifting the bow and stringing it, will win the hand of the beautiful princess Sita. As you all know, in the last few days, many have tried. And al has failed.
1st prince: _ let me try. I have defeated hundreds in single combat. Nobody doubts my strength. If anybody succeeds, it will be me.
1lady-in waiting Oh! Princess! Look at those muscles! He looks like wrestler! Minister: welcome, your highness. Here is the bow.
1st prince (approaches and tries to lift the bow) oh! Ah mf (fails to lift bow. Gives up and returns to his seat.)
2nd prince:-let me try. I not have the strength of my friend there, but it is not strength alone that matters. Brains count. And of that I have great deal. (Approaches bow and walks around it slowly, examining it from every angle.)
Sage Viswamitra, Rama and Lakshmana enter quietly right take their seats. Like Viswamitra, Rama and Lakshmana are in ochre robes.
2nd lady –in- waiting (giggling) such a weakling! (Mimicking the prince) brains count. And of that I have a great deal. What a show –off!
Sita Shhh. Look! Those men are who have just come in., over there.
1 lady –in- waiting ooh! Look at the one next to the old man. He’s so handsome! Ut why is he dressed like that, in such plain robes? He can’t be a prince.
2nd lady –in –waiting but he is also tall. And he looks strong, too. Oh, princess, what if he lifts the bow?
Sita (smiles)
Lady –in – waiting oh, look1 she’s blushing!
2nd prince (attempts to lift ow and fails) it’s
Rama wined.
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