Thereafter Vishwamitra led the princes to his hermitage, which was situated in a pleasant grove where deer disported and birds sang sweetly. All the sages welcomed them. It chanced that when six days had gone past, the Brahmans prepared to offer up a sacrifice. Suddenly a band of Rakshasas, led by Maricha, son of the hag Taraka and Savahu, rushed towards the altar to defile the offering with bones and blood. Rama thought of his Celestial weapons, and they immediately appeared beside him. He cast one at Maricha which drove him hundreds of miles out to sea, and he threw a fire weapon at Savahu which consumed him; then he attacked and slew all the other demons.... The sages rejoiced greatly, and honoured the prince. Next morning Vishwamitra informed Rama and Lakshmana that he and the other sages purposed to attend a great sacrifice which was to be offered up by Janaka, Rajah of Mithila. “You will accompany us,” he said, “and the rajah will show you Shiva's great bow, which neither god nor man can break.” Now, both while they abode at the hermitage and as they journeyed towards Mithila, the princes heard the sacred legends of Vishnu in his dwarf incarnation, of the Churning of the Ocean, of the descent of Ganga through Shiva's hair, and of the cursing of Indra by a sage. At length they reached the capital of Janaka,[338] King of Mithila, who welcomed Vishwamitra, and said: “Who are these courageous young men with the majesty of elephants and the fearlessness of tigers? Comely are they as the twin Aswins.” [338] “The remains of the capital founded by Janaka, and thence termed Janakpur, are still to be seen, according to Buchanan, on the northern frontier at the Janeckpoor of the maps.”—Note to Professor H. H. Wilson's translation of the _Uttara Rama Charita_. Said the sage: “These are sons of Dasaratha; they are slayers of Rakshasas, and desire greatly to behold Shiva's mighty bow.” Then the monarch spake to the nobles and warriors, and said: “Bring forth the bow.” His command was immediately obeyed. From an inner hall many stalwart men hauled the stupendous bow on an eight-wheeled iron chariot into the presence of the monarch of Mithila. “Behold the bow of Shiva!” cried the warriors. Said Janaka: “Behold the mighty bow which has been treasured by generations of kings. Many rajahs and warriors have endeavoured in vain to bend it; even Rakshasas and Asuras have failed; the gods themselves quail before it.... To the rajah who can bend this mighty weapon I will give in marriage my daughter, the beauteous Sita.” Rama gazed with wonder, and then said: “Permit me to lift and bend thy bow.”