Baal Kaanda
56 - The wedding of Sita and Rama and Their farewell
Chaupais
Description
All the other princes were married according to the same rites as have been described in the case of Sri Rama's marriage. The richness of the dowry was beyond description; the whole pavilion was packed with gold and jewels. There were a number of shawls, linen and silk of various colours and designs and of immense value, elephants, chariots, horses, men-servants and maid-servants and cows adorned with ornaments and vying with the cow of plenty and many other things which were more than one could count and defied description. They alone who saw the dowry could have some idea of it; even the guardians of the different realms regarded it with envy. The king of Ayodhya gladly accepted it all and gave to the beggars whatever they liked; only that which was left was taken to the lodgings of the bridegroom's party. Then with joined palms Janaka honoured the whole bridegroom's party and spoke in gentle tones.