Sita Janaki, Princess of Mithila, daughter
of King Janaka, was the not the easiest to please. Her father, Kin Janaka, was
finding it hard to find her a husband, arranges a Swayamvara where a princess
can chose her own husband from the assembly of Princes, Warriors, Kings,
merchants and learned men. And this time he arranges a contest where each
participant will have to string Pinaka, Shiva’s bow and hit a target. When the
king informs Sita about the Swayamvara, she has a few words with him.
She looks at
him with steel in her eyes
and asks
“What do you mean, win
me in
marriage father?
Am I a
chattel, an object, a prize
to be won?
Look at me, I am,
the daughter
of a king,
a Kshatriya
who can lift the Pinaka,
Shiva’s bow with
one hand!
I am a
singer, a dancer,
a princess
and a warrior!”
She raises
her voice, “Why can’t I follow my heart?
Why this
Swayamvar? Who will be this man?
Is he a
warrior or a king?
He might be
a prince of his land, but will
he be a
prince of my heart?”
And she
whispers softly and firmly
“Will he be
MY equal?”
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