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Bhagavad Gita Chapter X – Verse 31

Among purifiers I am the wind; among warriors I am Rama; among fishes I am the shark; and among streams, I am Jahnavi, the Ganga. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter X – Verse 31)

Rama was the incarnation of Bhagavan. He was a king and a mighty warrior. There is an interesting story of his strength and prowess.

Sita, the daughter of King Janaka, was the most beautiful and the cleverest princess in the land. Many were the princes who had asked for her hand. But none of these could win her, as Sita was not satisfied with her suitors. She wanted to be wedded to the most valiant prince of the domain. To test the strength of the claimants, Janaka had proclaimed through all the land that only he who would succeed in stretching the gigantic bow of Shiva would be accepted by his daughter as her husband; none other need apply .Now princes and warriors came from all directions, for Sita was the jewel of the land. They all tried their valor at the bow. But so big and heavy was the bow that some could hardly lift it off the ground, not to speak of stretching it. Others were more successful. They succeeded in stretching the bow halfway. But so terrific was the force that when they let go of the string, the vibration threw them back on the ground, and many were quite stunned by the blow.

At last came Rama’s turn. Already it was whispered about that Sita did not want to marry and that therefore she had devised an impossible test. Disheartened, one after another the princes returned home. But Rama was in no way dismayed. He entered the field, took hold of the bow, lifted it off the ground and stretched it. Such was his strength that the bow snapped in two in his hands. A thunder-like sound filled the air, and the world trembled.

The king was much pleased with this feat of strength and gave Rama his daughter Sita as wife. And with her he gave him half the kingdom. And Sita was very satisfied. They were worthy of each other.

‘I am that Rama,’ says Sri Krishna. ‘And I am the Ganga, the most holy of all rivers.’