Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 71: Sītā’s Noble Lineage
Text 1.71.22
वीर्यशुल्कां मम सुतां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम्।
द्वितीयामूर्मिलां चैव त्रिर्ददामि न संशयः॥
vīrya-śulkāṁ mama sutāṁ sītāṁ sura-sutopamām
dvitīyām ūrmilāṁ caiva trir dadāmi na saṁśayaḥ
vīrya-śulkām = who has strength as her price; mama = my; sutām = [first] daughter; sītām = Sītā; sura-suta-upamām = and who is equal to the daughter of a celestial; dvitīyām = my second daughter; ūrmilām = Ūrmilā; ca eva = as well as; triḥ = with body, mind and words; dadāmi = I give; na saṁśayaḥ = let there be no doubt about this.
With my body, mind and words, I give my [first] daughter Sītā who has strength as her price and who is equal to the daughter of a celestial as well as my second daughter Ūrmilā. Let there be no doubt about this.
Vīrya-śulkām (“who has strength as her price”) also applies to Ūrmilā.1 Even though only Lord Rāma broke the bow, because it was observed that Lakṣmaṇa had similar strength, Lakṣmaṇa’s strength was the price with which Ūrmilā was married to Him. Ūrmilā was Janaka’s own daughter.2 Triḥ indicates that Janaka promised three times that he would give his two daughters to Daśaratha’s two sons.