Baal Kaanda
54 - Janaka's despatching of messengers to Ayodhya and departure of the marriage procession from there
Chaupais
Description
The elephants trumpeted and their bells clanged with a terrific din; on all sides there was a creaking of wheels and a neighing of horses. The clash of kettledrums would drown the peal of thunder; no one could hear one's own words, much less of others. At the entrance of the king's palace, there was such an enormous crowd that a stone thrown there would be trodden into dust. Women viewed the sight from house-tops, carrying festal lights in salvers used on auspicious occasions, and carolled melodious strains of various kinds in an ecstasy of joy beyond description. Then Sumantra (King Dasaratha's own charioteer and trusted counsellor) got ready a pair of chariots and yoked them with steeds that would outrun even the horses of the sun-god, and brought them in all their splendour before the king; their beauty was more than goddess Sarada could describe. One of them was equipped with the royal paraphernalia while the other was a mass of splendour and shone brightly.