Baal Kaanda
55 - Arrival of the marriage procession and its reception etc., at Janakapura
Chaupais
Description
Again he paid divine honours to the King of Ayodhya, taking him to be the peer of Siva and none other; and mentioning how his fortune and rank had been enhanced through relation with King Dasaratha, he made humble supplication to the latter and extolled him with joined palms. King Janaka worshipped all the members of the bridegroom's party with the same honour in every respect as he had paid to the bridegroom's father, and assigned appropriate seats to them all. How am I to describe with my one tongue the warmth of his feeling? Janaka honoured the whole bridegroom's party with gifts, polite behaviour, supplication and sweet words. Brahma, Hari, Hara, the guardians of the eight quarters of the world* and the sun-god, all of whom had knowledge of Sri Rama's glory, disguised themselves as noble Brahmanas and witnessed the spectacle with great delight. Janaka worshipped them as on a par with gods and, though he recognized them not, assigned them exalted seats.