Sri Ram is wholesome in respect of beauty, noble characters, fine virtues, noble pedigree and proper age (i.e. he is in his teens and has attained a marrigable age). (In other words, the sage indirectly recommended to Janak to consider Ram as a suitable candidate for becoming a groom for his daughter Sita for whom he has organized the bow ceremony. The wise sage chose the correct moment to advocate Ram’s case as a suitable groom for Janak’s daughter because the king has just now shown keen interest in the two princes, Ram and Laxman, and the sage thought that a word of recommendation on his part may help Janak make up his mind in favour of Ram.) The king heard all this (i.e. the subtle hint that the sage was giving to him about Ram being an eligible bachelor and a suitable candidate to be selected as the groom), but remembering his stern vows (that Sita would be married only to someone who lifts and strings the sturdy bow of Lord Shiva, and that he cannot unilaterally decide to select Ram as the groom for his daughter at this late hour when countless other princes have already arrived, and with the ceremony scheduled for the next day in full public view it is unthinkable at this late stage to rescind on his vows) the king became very pensive, gloomy and depressed. (This was because though Janak personally favoured and liked to see Ram as the groom for his daughter Sita, the things were in such a fix that he cannot do so. Janak was mentally regretting his own decision to hold the bow ceremony, and his mind churned rapidly to find some way out so that he could wriggle out of his dilemma, save his face and reputation, and somehow be able to marry Sita with Ram. But it appeared to be an impossible task.)