Baal Kaanda
54 - Janaka's despatching of messengers to Ayodhya and departure of the marriage procession from there
Chaupais
Description
Auspicious omens easily occur to him who has God with form as his own son. In the marriage which was going to take place, the bridegroom was no other than Sri Rama and Sita Herself was the bride; while the pious Dasaratha and Janaka were the parents of the bridegroom and the bride respectively; hearing of this marriage all good omens danced and said, "It is now that the Creator has justified us." In this way the procession set forth amidst the neighing of horses, the trumpeting of elephants and the clash of kettledrums. Learning that the chief of the solar race, King Dasaratha, was already on the way, King Janaka had the rivers bridged, and got beautiful rest-houses erected at different stages, which vied in magnificence with the city of immortals (Amaravati), and in which members of the bridegroom's party were supplied with excellent food, beds and clothing each according to his own taste. Finding ever new pleasures agreeable to themselves all the members of the bridegroom's party forgot their own home.