Baal Kaanda
54 - Janaka's despatching of messengers to Ayodhya and departure of the marriage procession from there
Chaupais
Description
The splendour of the marriage procession was more than one could describe. Fair and auspicious omens occurred. The blue-necked jay picked up food on the left and announced as it were all good fortune. On a fair field in the right appeared a cow, and a mongoose was seen by all. A soft, cool and fragrant breeze was blowing in a favourable direction; a blessed (unwidowed) woman appeared with a pitcher and a child in her arms. A fox turned round and showed himself again and again and a cow suckled its calf in front of the procession; a herd of deer came round to the right, as if good omens appeared in visible form. A Brahmani-kite promised great blessings; and a Syama bird was observed on an auspicious tree to the left. A man bearing curds and fish and two learned Brahmanas each with a book in his hand came from the opposite direction.