Baal Kaanda
56 - The wedding of Sita and Rama and Their farewell
Chhands
Description
Sri Rama and Princess Janaki sat together on a costly seat and King Dasaratha was glad of heart to see them. Joy thrilled along his veins again and again as he perceived the wish-yielding tree of his meritorious deeds bear new fruits. There was rejoicing all over the universe; everyone proclaimed that Sri Rama's wedding had been accomplished . With one tongue how could anyone describe in full the joy which knew no bounds? Then, receiving Vasistha's order, Janaka sent for the other three princesses, Mandavi, Srutakirti and Urmila, each clad in a bride's attire. The eldest daughter of his younger brother Kusaketu, who was an embodiment of goodness, virtue, joy and beauty, he gave in marriage to Bharata after performing every rite with love. Janaki's younger sister (Urmila), whom he knew to be the crest-jewel of charming girls, Janaka gave in marriage to Laksmana with all honour. Finally the bright-eyed and fair-faced princess Srutakirti, who was a mine of all virtues and was well-known for her beauty and amiability, the king gave to Ripusudana. When each pair of bride and bridegroom saw that they were wellmatched with each others*, they felt shy, but rejoiced in their heart of hearts; everyone joyfully applauded the beauty of each pair, while the gods rained down flowers. All the lovely brides with their handsome bridegrooms shone forth in the same pavilion as though the four states of consciousness (viz., waking, dream, sound sleep and absorption into Brahma) with the phase of the soul presiding over each gleamed all at once of the heart of an individual.