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Book I. Canto Lxxiii. The Nuptials

Canto Lxxiii.: The Nuptials.


On that same day that saw the king

His gift of kine distributing,

The lord of Kekaya's son, by name

Yudhjit, Bharat's uncle, came,

Asked of the monarch's health, and then

Addressed the reverend king of men:

'The lord of Kekaya's realm by me

Sends greeting, noble King, to thee:

Asks if the friends thy prayers would bless

Uninterrupted health possess.

Right anxious, mighty King, is he

My sister's princely boy to see.

For this I sought Ayodhy fair

The message of my sire to bear.

There learning, O my liege, that thou

With sons and noble kinsmen now

Wast resting here, I sought the place

Longing to see my nephew's face.'

The king with kind observance cheered

His friend by tender ties endeared,

And every choicest honour pressed

Upon his honourable guest.

That night with all his children spent,

At morn King Das'aratha went,

Behind Vas'ishtha and the rest,

To the fair ground for rites addressed.

Then when the lucky hour was nigh

Called Victory, of omen high,

Came Rma, after vow and prayer

For nuptial bliss and fortune fair,

With the three youths in bright attire,

And stood beside his royal sire.

To Janak then Vas'ishtha sped,

And to Videha's monarch said:

'O King, Ayodhy's ruler now

Has breathed the prayer and vowed the vow,

And with his sons expecting stands

The giver of the maidens' hands.

The giver and the taker both

Must ratify a mutual oath.

Perform the part for which we wait,

And rites of marriage celebrate.'

Skilled in the laws which Scriptures teach,

He answered thus Vas'ishtha's speech:

'O Saint, what warder bars the gate?

Whose bidding can the king await?

In one's own house what doubt is shown?

This kingdom, Sage, is all thine own.

E'en now the maidens may he found

Within the sacrificial ground:

Each vow is vowed and prayed each prayer,

And they, like fire, are shining there.

Here by the shrine my place I took

Expecting thee with eager look.

No bar the nuptial rites should stay:

What cause have we for more delay?'

When Janak's speech the monarch heard

To sons and saints he gave the word,

And set them in the holy ring.

Then to Vas'ishtha spoke the king

Of Mithil: 'O mighty Sage,

Now let this task thy care engage,

And lend thine aid and counsel wise

The nuptial rites to solemnize.'

The saint Vas'ishtha gave assent,

And quickly to the task he went.

With Vis'vmitra, nothing both,

And S'atnanda aiding both.

Then, as the rules prescribe, they made

An altar in the midst, and laid

Fresh wreaths of fragrant flowers thereon.

The golden ladles round it shone;

And many a vase, which branches hid

Fixed in the perforated lid,

And sprays, and cups, and censers there

Stood filled with incense rich and rare;

Shell-bowls,and spoons, and salvers dressed

With gifts that greet the honoured guest;

Piles of parched rice some dishes bore,

Others with corn prepared ran o'er;

And holy grass was duly spread

In equal lengths, while prayers were said.

Next chief of saints, Vas'ishtha came

And laid the offering in the flame.

Then by the hand King Janak drew

His St, beautiful to view,

And placed her, bright in rich attire,

Rma to face, before the fire,

Thus speaking to the royal boy

Who filled Kaus'aly's heart with joy:

'Here St stands, my daughter fair,

The duties of thy life to share.

Take from her father, take thy bride,

Join hand to hand, and bliss betide!

A faithful wife, most blest is she,

And as thy shade will follow thee.'

Thus as he spoke the monarch threw

O'er her young limbs the holy dew,

While Gods and saints were heard to swell

The joyous cry, 'Tis well! 'Tis well!

His daughter St thus bestowed,

O'er whom the sacred drops had flowed.

King Janak's heart with rapture glowed.

Then to Prince Lakshman thus he cried'.

'Take Urmil thine offered bride,

And clasp her hand within thine own

Ere yet the lucky hour be flown.'

Then to Prince Bharat thus cried he;

'Come, take the hand of Mndavi.'

Then to S'atrughna: 'In thy grasp

The hand of S'rutakirti clasp.

Now, Raghu's sons, may all of you

Be gentle to your wives and true;

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Keep well the vows you make to-day,

Nor let occasion slip away.'

King Janak's word the youths obeyed;

The maidens' hands in theirs they laid.

Then with their brides the princes went

With ordered steps and reverent

Bound both the tire and Janak, round

The sages and the sacred ground.

A flowery flood of lucid dyes

In rain descended from the skies,

While with celestial voices blent

Sweet strains from many an instrument,

And the nymphs danced in joyous throng

Responsive to the minstrel's song.

Such signs of exultation they

Saw on the princes' wedding day.

Still rang the heavenly music's sound

When Raghu's sons thrice circled round

The fire, each one with reverent head,

And homeward then their brides they led.

They to the sumptuous palace hied

That Janak's care had seen supplied.

The monarch girt with saint and peer

Still fondly gazing followed near.
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