Doha - 311
Said the damsels to one another with tears in their eyes and the hair on their body standing erect, "Friends, the Slayer of the demon Tripura will accomplish everything: the two kings are of such boundless merit."
Chaupala -
In this way they all prayed and a flood of joy inundated their heart. The princes who had come as Sita suitors rejoiced to see the four brothers and returned each to his own home extolling Sri Rama's widespread and spotless fame. Thus a few days elapsed to the delight alike of the citizens and all the members of the bridegroom's party. At length the blessed day of wedding arrived; it was the delightful month of Margasirsa and the beginning of the cold season. Having carefully examined and determined the propitious nature of the planets, date, asterism the conjunction of the stars, the day of the week and the hour of the wedding the Creator despatched the note concerning the hour of the wedding through Narada; it was just the same that Janaka's astrologers had alread determined. When all the people heard of this, they observed, " The astrologers of this place are so many creators as it were."
Doha - 312
The most auspicious and sacred hour before sunset (which is the time when cows generally return home from pastrure, and is consequently marked by clouds of dust raised by their hoofs) arrived; perceiving propitious omenns, the Brahmanas apprised King Videha of its approach.
Chaupala -
The king asked the family priest (Satananda), "What is the cause of delay now?" Satananda then summoned the ministers, who came equipped with all auspicious articles. A number of conches, drums and tabors sounded Festal vases and articles of good omen (such as curds turmeric and blades of Durva grass) were displayed Graceful women (whose husbands were alive) sang songs, and holy Brahmanas murmured Vedic texis. In this manner they proceeded to invite the bridegroom's part with due honor and called at the latter's lodgings. When they witnessed King Dasaratha's Glory Indra (the lord celestials) looked very small to them. " Them hour has come; be good enough to start now,' they submitted. At this the drums gave a thundering beat. After consulting his preceptor any going through the family rites King Dasaratha sallied forth with a host of sages and holy men.
Doha - 313
Witnessing King Dasaratha's good fortune and glory and believing their birth as fruitless, Brahma and the other gods began to extol him with a thousand tongues.
Chaupala -
The gods perceived that it was fit occasion for happy rejoicings; hence they rainted down flowers and beat their drums. Siva Brahma and hosts of other gods mounted aerial cars in several groups. Their frames thilling over with emotion and their hearts overflowing with joy they proceeded to witness Sri Rama's wedding. The gods felt so enraptured to see Janaka's capital that their own realms appeared to them as of small account. They gazed with amazement at the wonderful pavilion and all the different works of art which were of a transcendental character. The people of the city both men and women, were so many mines of beauty, well-formed, pious, amiable and wise. I their presence all the gods and goddesses appeared like stars in a moonlit night. The Creator (Brahma) was astounded above all; for nowhere did he find his own handiwork.
Doha - 314
Siva admonished all the gods saying, " Be not lost in wonder; calmly ponder in your heart that it is the wedding of Sita and the Hero of Raghu's race."
Chaupala -
At the very mention of whose name all evil is uprooted and the four ends of human existence are brought within one's grasp, such are Sita and Rama," said the Destroyer of Cupid Sankara In this way Sambhu admonished the divinities, and then spurred on His noble bull. The gods beheld Dasaratha marching (to Janaka's palace) with his heart full of rapture and the hair on his body standing erect, The assemblage of holy men and Brahmanas accompanying the king appeared like joys incarnate ministering to him By his side shone forth the four handsome princes, incarnations as it were of the four types of final beatitude The gods were greatly inspired with love to see two lovely pairs, one possessing the hue of emeralds and the other of golden hue. They were particularly delighted at heart to see Rama; and extolling the king they rained down floweres on him.
Doha - 315
As uma and the Slayer of the demon Tripura gazed again and again at Sri Rama's charming beauty from head to foot, the hair on Their body stood erect and Their eyes were bedewed with tears.
Chaupala -
His swarthy form possessed the glow of a peacock' neck, while His bright yellow raiment outshone the lightning. wedding ornaments of every kind, all auspicious and graceful in everyway, adorned His person. His countenance was as delightful as the moon in a cloudless autumnal night; while His eyes put to shame a blooming pair of lotues. The elegance of His form was transcendent in all its details; though captivation the soul, it defied description. Beside Him shone forth His lovely brothers, who rode curveting their restive steed. The other princes too displayed the pace of their horses and the family bards recited the glories of their line. Even the king of birds, Garuda blushed for shame to note the speed of the steed that Rama bestrode; it was charming beyond description in everyway; it seemed as though Cupid himself had taken the form of horse.
Ch
It seemed as if Cupid himself had appeared with all his charm in the disguise of a horse for the sake of Sri Rama and facinated the whole universe with its youth and vigour, form and virtues as well as with its pace. A bejewelled saddle. thick set with beautiful pearls, gems and rubies shone on his back; the exquisite band with small tinking bells and the lovely bridly, dazed gods, men and sages alike.
Doha - 316
Marching with its mind completely merged in the Lord's will, the horse looked most beautiful, as though a cloud irradiated by stars and the fitful lightning had mounted a peacock and made it dance.
Chaupala -
Even Sarada is unable to descibe the noble steed on which Sri Rama rode. Sankara (who has five faces, with three eyes each) was enamoured of Sri Rama's beauty and congratulated himself on His possessing as many as fifteen eyes. when Sri Hari (Visnu) fondly gazed on Rama, both Rama and Her lord were equally enchanted (The four-faced) Brahma too was delighted to behold Sri Rama's beauty; but he felt sorry to think that he had only eight eyes. The generalissimo of the heavenly host (the six-faced Kartikeya) exulted over the fact of his possessing half as many eyes again as Brahma. When the wise lord of celestials gazed on Sri Rama (with his thousand eyes), he thought Gautama's curse as the greatest blessing. All the gods envied Indra and observed, " No one can vie with Purandara (Indra) today." The whole host of heavenly beings rejoiced to behold Sri Rama and there was joy beyond measure in the court of both the monarchs.
Ch
There was great rejoicing in court of both the kings and a tempestuous clash of kettledrums on both sides; the gods rained down flowers shouting in their joy, "Glory, glory, glory to the Jewel of Raghu's race!" In this way when it was known that the marriage procession was approaching, all sorts of music began to play; while queen Sunayana(Sita's mother) summoned married women whose husbands were alive and prepared with their help auspicious materials for the ceremony of waving lights round the bridegroom.
Doha - 317
Kinding lights of various kinds and collecting all other articles of good omen, a bevy of graceful women, who possessed the charming gait of an elephant proceeded joyfully to perform the ceremony of waving lights round the bridegroom.
Chaupala -
They all had moon-like faces, and eyes like those of a gazelle; by the elegance of their form they robbed Rati (Love's consort) of all self-conceit. Atired in costly garments of various colours they had adorned their person with all kinds of ornaments. They had further beautified all their limbs with auspicious materials, and sang melodies that put to shame eeven a female cuckoo. Bracelets, small bells round their waistband as well as anklets made a jingling sound as they moved and even Love's elephants blushed for shame to see their gait. All kinds of music played and there were rejoicing both in the heavens and in the city. Saci (Indra's consort). Sarada, Rama, Bhavani and other oddesses, who were pure-hearted and cleaver by nature, assumed the disguise of lovely women and joined the royal gynaeceum. They sang festal songs in a melodious voice; and as everyone was overcome with joy no one could recognize them.
Ch
Who should recognize whom when everyone in the gynaeceum proceeded in her ecstatic joy to join the ceremony of waving lights round the bridegroom, who was no other than the Supreme Spirit incarnate. Melodious songs were being sung and kettledrums gently sounded; the gods rained down flowers and everything looked most charming. All the women were delighted at heart to behold the bridegroom, who was the fountain of joy; tears of love rushed to their lotus-like eyes and the hair on their pretty limbs stood erect.
Doha - 318
The joy which Sita's mother felt in her heart on beholding Sri Rama in the attire of a bridegroom was more than a thousand Saradas and Sesas could not tell in a hundred Kalpas.
Chaupala -
Restraining her tears out of regard for the auspicious occasion, Queen Sunayana performed the ceremony of waving lights with a gladdened heart, and duly completed all the rites prescibed by the Vedas as well as by family usage. The five kinds of music were being played, accompanied by five varieties of other sounds and festal songs; carpets of different sorts were spread on the way. After waving lights the qyeen offerend water to Sri Rama for washing His hands with and the latter then proceeded to the pavilion. Dasaratha shone in all his glory with his followers; his magnificence put to shame the guardians of the different world. From time to time the gods rained down flowers; and the Brahmans recited propitiatory texts appropiate to the occasion. There was such a great uproar in the heavens as well as in the city that no one could hear one's own words, much less of others. In this way Sri Rama entered the pavilion; after offering Him water to wash His hands with, He was conducted to His seat.
Ch
When Rama was installed on the seat reserved for Him, lights were waved round Him and everyone rejoiced to behold the bridegroom, scattering about Him gems and raiments and ornaments in profusion; while women sang festal songs. Brahma and the other great gods witnessed the spectacle discuised as Brahmanas; and as they gazed on the beauty of Sri Rama, who delighted Raghu's race even as the sun brings joy to the lotues, they regarded this privilege as the fulfilment of their life.
Doha - 319
Having gathered the offerings scattererd about Sri Rama, the barbers, torchbearers, family bards and dancers bowed their head and gladly invoked blessings on Him with a heart overflowing with joy.
Chaupala -
Having observed every custom that derived its authority from the Vedas or from popular tradition the two kings Janaka and Dasaratha, embraced each other with great love. The two monarchs while embracing each other presented a glorious spectacle; poets made repeated efforts to find a suitable analogy but felt abashed at their failure. Finding no comparison anywhere, they felt baffled and concluded that the pair could be likened to themselves alone. The gods were enraptured to see the tie of love between the two kings united by marriage alliance; raining down flowers they began to sing the glories of both. "Ever since Brahma created the world, we have witnessed and heard of many a marriage; but it is only today that we have seen the pomp and grandeur on both sides so well-balancd in every respect and the fathers of the bride and the bridegroom so well-matched." Hearing the above voice from heaven, which was so chraming yet so true, there was a flood of transcendent love on both sides. Unrolling beautiful carpets on the way and offering water to wash his hands with, Janaka himself conducted Dasaratha to the pavilion with all honour.
Ch
The marvellous art of the pavilion and its charm captivated the heart even of sages; yet wise Janaka fetched and placed with his own hands thrones for all the jonoured guets. He worshipped the sage Vasistha as if he were his own family deity and supplication before him received his blessings; while the supreme devotion with which he paid his homage to Kausika was something too great for words.
Doha - 320
King Janaka gladly adored Vamadeva(another family preceptor of King Dasarath) and the other Rsis as well; he gave them all gorgeous seats and received blessings from all of them in return.
Chaupala -
Again he paid divine honours to the King of Ayodhya, taking him to be the peer of Siva and none other; and mentioning how his fortune and rank had been enhanced through relation with King Dasaratha, he made humble supplication to the latter and extolled him with joined palms. King Janaka worshipped all the members of the bridegroom's party with the same honour in every respect as he had paid to the bridegroom's father, and assigned appropriate seats to them all. How am I to describe with one tongue the warmth of his feeling? Janaka honoured the whole bridegroom's party with gifts, polite behaviour, supplication and sweet words. Brahma, Hari, Hara the guardians of the eight quarters of the world and the sun-god, all of whom had knowledge of Sri Rama's glory, disguised themselves as noble Brahmanas and witnessed the spectacle with great delight. Janaka worshipped them as on a par with gods and, though he recognized them not, assigned them exalted seats.
Ch
Who should recognize and whom should one know, when everyone had forgotten one's own self? As they gazed on the bridegroom, who was Bliss personified, joy was diffused on both sides (in the bridegroom's party as well as in the court of Janaka). The all-wise Rama recognized the gods, worshipped them mentally and assigned them seats of His own fancy. And the immortals were delighted at heart to perceive the congenial manners and gentle disposition of the Lord.