Baal Kaanda
54 - Janaka's despatching of messengers to Ayodhya and departure of the marriage procession from there
Chaupais
Description
On hearing the letter the two brothers experienced a thrill of joy; their whole frame was bursting with an excess of emotion. The whole court was particularly delighted to see Bharata's unalloyed love. The king then seated the messengers close by him and spoke to them in sweet and winning tones: "Tell me, friends, are the two boys well? Have you seen them well with your own eyes? The one dark and the other fair of hue, they are equipped with bow and quiver and are of tender age and accompanied by the sage Kausika. Do you recognize them? If so, tell me something about their temperament." Overwhelmed with love the king asked thus again and again. "From the day the sage took them away it is only today that I have obtained authentic news about them. Tell me how King Videha was able to know them." At these fond words the messengers smiled.