(With the intention of) ascertaining the prowess of Rama, the son of Dasharatha. Hearing that he had arrived at the frontier of his dominion, Dasharatha, sent his own son Rama to receive (Parshu) Rama with respect. Seeing him (Dasharatha's son) arrived and standing before him with upraised weapons, Rama, smilingly spoke these words to him, “O king of kings, O lord, O ruler of earth, string, if you can with all your strength, this bow in my hand which was made to destroy the Kshatriyas."
जिज्ञासमानो रामस्य वीर्यं दाशरथेस्तदा। तं वै दशरथः श्रुत्वा विषयान्तमुपागतम्॥ प्रेषयामास रामस्य रामं पुत्रं पुरस्कृतम्। स तमभ्यागतं दृष्ट्वा उद्यतास्त्रमवस्थितम्॥ प्रहसनिव कौन्तेय रामो वचनमब्रवीत्। कृतकालं हि राजेन्द्रधनुरेतन्मया विभो॥