Uttar Kaanda
200 - Sri Rama's Reception; meeting with Bharata; universal rejoicing on meeting Sri Rama
Chaupais
Description
All the people placed at their door vases of gold picturesquely decorated and equipped with necessary articles. Everyone prepared and set festoons, flags and buntings, all to make a glad show. All the streets were sprinkled with perfumes and scented water and a number of mystic squares were drawn and filled in with pearls found in the projections of an elephant's forehead. Every kind of festive preparation was taken in hand; the city was en fete and a large number of kettledrums sounded all at once. Ladies scattered their offerings about the Lord wherever He went, and invoked blessing on Him with their hearts full of joy. Bevies of young women sang festal songs, while gold plates provided with lights were ready at hand, which they waved about the Lord, who is the Reliever of all agony and brought delight to Raghu's race even as the sun delights a bed of lotuses. The splendour, the wealth and the good fortune of the city have been extolled by the Vedas, Sesa (the serpent-god) and Sarada (the goddess of speech and learning). But they too were dazed to see this spectacle. Uma, (continues Lord Siva,) how, then, can any mortal recount His virtues?