Baal Kaanda
56 - The wedding of Sita and Rama and Their farewell
Chhands
Description
Precious gems had been strung together and woven into the lovely wedding crown and each of His limbs ravished the heart. At the sight of the bridegroom (Sri Rama) the women of the city as well as pretty celestial ladies all tore blades of grass (in order to avert the evil eye). After scattering about Him gems, raiment and ornaments they waved lights around Him and sang festal songs. The gods rained down flowers; while bards, panegyrists and rhapsodists uttered His praises. Married women, whose husbands were alive, happily brought the brides and bridegrooms to the apartment reserved for the tutelary deities, and with festal songs they most lovingly began to perform customary rites. Goddess Gauri Herself taught Rama how to offer a morsel of food to Sita; while Sarada urged Sita to do likewise with Rama. The whole gynaeceum was absorbed in the delight of merry-making; everyone enjoyed the fruit of her birth. In the gems on Her hand Janaki saw the reflection of Sri Rama, the repository of beauty; hence She dared not move Her arm or eyes for fear of losing sight of Him. The rapture and love that characterized the gaiety and mirth of the occasion surpassed all telling; Sita's companions alone knew them. They escorted all the four charming couples to the palace assigned to King Dasaratha and his party. At that moment blessings might be heard on all sides and there was great exultation in the city as well as in the heavens. Everyone exclaimed with a delighted heart, "Long live the four lovely couples!" Great Yogis, Siddhas, eminent sages and divinities sounded their kettledrums on beholding the Lord; and raining down flowers and crying "Victory, victory, victory" they gladly returned, each to his own realm