Baal Kaanda
56 - The wedding of Sita and Rama and Their farewell
Chaupais
Description
Taking the five initial morsels as an oblation for the five vital airs the guests commenced dining, and were enraptured to hear songs full of raillery. Confections of various kinds, sweets as ambrosia and more delicious than one could describe, were served to them. Expert cooks then began to serve a variety of seasoned articles which were too numerous to be named. Of the four categories of food mentioned in the scriptures (viz., 1. that which can be directly swallowed, 2. that which must be masticated before it can be gulped, 3. that which can be licked with the tongue and 4. that which can be sucked) each comprised an indescribable variety of dishes. Similarly there were seasoned dishes of various kinds, having six different flavours, each flavour being exhibited in numberless varieties. As the dinner was in progress, women railed in melodious strains at men and women both, mentioning each by name. Even raillery at an opportune time is agreeable and welcome; King Dasaratha and his whole party felt amused to hear it. In this way the whole party dined and in the end they were all reverently supplied with water to rinse their mouth with.