Baal Kaanda
57 - Return of the marriage procession to Ayodhya and rejoicing in the city
Chaupais
Description
The sky became dark with the fumes of burning incense, as though overhung with the fast gathering clouds of the month of Sravana (August). The gods rained down wreaths of flowers from the trees of paradise, which looked like rows of herons in their graceful flight. Lovely festoons made of Jewels looked like rainbows appearing in a row. Charming ladies, appearing on house-tops as quickly as they went out of sight, looked like the fitful flashes of lightning. The beat of drums resembled the crash of thunder; while beggars were as clamorous as the Cataka birds, frogs and peacocks. The gods poured down showers in the form of sacred perfumes, which gladdened the crop in the form of all the citizens. Perceiving that a propitious hour had arrived the preceptor (Vasistha) gave the word, and the jewel of Raghu's race, King Dasaratha, gladly entered the city with all his followers, fixing his mind on Bhagavan Sambhu, Goddess Parvati and Their son, Lord Ganesa.