Doha - 291
"Listen, O crest jewel of kings: there is no one so blessed as you who have for your sons Rama and Laksmana, the two ornaments of the universe."
"No equiry is needed in respect of your sons, who are lions among men and the light of the universe, and before whose renown and glory the moon looks dim and the sun appears cool. About them, my lord you ask how they came to be recognized! Does one take a lamp in ones hand to see the sun? On the occasion of Sita's self-election of her husband had assembled numerous princes, each one of whom was a greater champion than the rest: but not one of them could stir Sambhu's bow and all the mighty heroes failed. The might of all those who were pround of their valour in the three worlds was crushed by it. Even the demon Bana, who could lift Mount Meru lost heart and retired after pacing round the bow; and even he (Ravana) who had lifted up Mount Kailasa (the abode of Siva) in mere sport was worsted in that assembly."
Doha - 292
"On that occasion, we submit, O great king, Sri Rama's the jewel of Raghu's race, snapped the bow without the least exertion even as an elephant would break the stalk of a lotus."
Chaupala -
"Hearing the news the chief of Bhrgus came in a fury and indulged in much brow-beating. But seeing Sri Rama's strength he handed his bow to the latter and after much supplication wthdrew to the woods. Even as Rama, O king, is unequalled in strength, Laksmana too is a mine of glory, at whose very sight the kings trembled as elephants at the gaze of a young lion. Now that we have seen your two sons, my lord, no one catches our eye any longer." The messengers' eloquent speech, which was full of love, glorifying and expressive of the heroc sentiment attracted all. The king and his whole court were overwhelmed with emotion and began to offer lavish gifts to the messengers. They however, closed their ears in protest crying, "This is unfair!" Everyone was delighted to note their sense of propriety.
Doha - 293
The king then rose going up to Vasistha gave the letter to him, and sending for the messengers with due courtesy related the whole story to his preceptor.
Chaupala -
The Guru was highly pleased to hear the news and said," To a virtuous man the world abounds in happiness. As rivers run into the sea, although the latter has no craving for them, so joy and prosperity come unasked and of their own accord to a pious soul. Just as you are given to the service of your preceptor, the Brahmanas and cows as well as of gods. Queen Kausalya is no less devout than you. A pious soul like you there has never been nor is, nor shall be in this world. Who can be more blessed than you, O king, who have a son like Rama, and whose four worthy children are all valiant, submissive true to their vow of piety and oceans of goodness. You are blessed indeed for all time; therefore, prepare the marriage procession to the sound of kettledrums.
Doha - 294
"And proceed quickly." On hearing these words of the preceptor the king bowed his head said, "Very well my lord!" and after assigning lodgings to the messengers returned to his palace."
Chaupala -
The king then called all the ladies of the gynaeceum and read aloun Janaka's letter to them. All rejoiced to hear the message and the king himself related the other tidings which he had heard from the lips of the messengers). Bursting with emotion the queens shone like pea-hens rejoicing at the rumbling of clouds. The preceptor's wife and the wives of other elders in their joy invoked the blessings of heaven and the mothers of the four brothers were overwhelmed with ecstasy. They took the most beloved letter from each other and pressing it to their bosom cooled their burning heart. The great king recounted again and again the glory and exploits of both Rama and Laksmana, Saying that it was all duw to the sage's grace he went out of doors. The queens then sent for the Brahmanas and joyfully bestowed gifts on them. And the Brahmanas returned to their home uttering blessings.
Doha - 295
Next they called the beggars and lavished innumerable kinds of gifts on them. "Long live the four sons of Emperor Dasartha!"
Chaupala -
Thus they shouted as they left, atired in raiment of various kinds; there was a jubilant and tempestuous clash of kettledrums. When the news spread among all the people, festivities were started in every house. All the fourteen spheres were filled with joy at the news of the forthfcoming wedding of Janaka's daughter with the hero of Raghu's race. The citizens were enraptured to hear the glad tidings and began to decorate the streets, houses and lanes. Although the city of Ayodhya is ever charming being the blessed and safred abode of Sri Rama, it was adorned with beautiful festal decorations because of the love the people bore towards the very embodiment of love. Flags and banners, curtains and graceful chowries canopied the hazars in a most marvellous fashion. With vases of gold, festal arches, festoons of netted gems, turmeric, blades of Durva grass, curds, unbroken rice and wreaths of flowers---
Doha - 296
The people decorated their respective houses, which were already full of blessings; the lanes were sprinkled over with water, mixed with the fourfold pastes of sandal, saffron, musk and camphor and the squares in front of their houses were filled in with tasteful designs.
Chaupala -
Collected here and there troops of ladies, all brilliant as the lightning, with moon-like face and eyes resembling those of a fawn and beauty enough to rob Love's consort (Rati) of her pride, and who had practised all the sixteen kinds of female adornment sang auspicious strains with voice so melodious that the female cuckoo was put to shame on hearing the sweet sound ! How is the king's palace to be descibed; the pavilion set up there would dazzle the whole universe. Various articles of good omen and charming in appearance were displayed and number of ketledrums were sounded. Here were panegyrists singing the family glory and here were Brahmanas chanting the Vedas; While pretty women carolled festive songs, many times repeating the names of Rama and Sita. There was an excess of joy all round, while the palace was too small to contain it; it seemed, therefore, as if it overflowed on all sides.
Doha - 297
What poet can descibe the splendour of Dasaratha's palace in which Rama, the crest-jewel of all divinities, had taken birth?
Chaupala -
The king next called Bharata and said, " Go and prepare the horses, elephants and chariots and start at once in porcession for Rama's marriage. " The two brothers were thrilled to hear this command. Bharata sent for the officers in charge of the stables and issued necessary instructions; the latter rose in joy and hastened to execute the orders. They equipped the horses with gorgeous saddles; gallang steeds of different colours stood there in their majesty. They were all beautiful and supassingly swift-footed; they trod the ground as lightly as though it were red-hot iron. They belonged to different breeds, which were more than one could tell; they would of the same age as Bharata, mounted them. The princes were all handsome and adorned with jewels and had a bow and arrow in their hands and a well-equipped quiver fastened at their side.
Doha - 298
They were elegant blithsome youths, chosen and skilled warriors all; and with each knight were two footmen, clever at sword-play.
Chaupala -
The champions, who were all staunch in fight and had taken a vow of chivalry, sallied forth and halted outside the city. The clever fellows put their steeds through various paces and rejoiced to hear the clash of tabor and drum. The charioteers had made their cars equally gorgeous with flags and banners, gems and ornaments. They were also provided with elegant chowries and tinkling bells, and outdid in spendour the chariot of the sun-god. The king owned numberless horses with dark ears, which the charioteers yoked to their chariots. They were all beautiful and looked so charming with their ornaments that even sages would be enraptured at the sight They skimmed the surface of water even as dry land and would not sink even hoof-deep; so marvellous was their speed. Having provided the chariots with missiles and weapons and every other euipment the chariorteers called their masters.
Doha - 299
Mounting the chariots the processionists began to collect outside the city. On whatever errand on went, each was greeted by auspicious omens.
Chaupala -
On magnificent elephants were mounted splendid seats with canpies wrought in a manner beyond all description. Elephants in rut, adorned with clanging bells, headed like beautiful (rumbling) clouds in the rainy month of Sravana (roughly corresponding to August). There were various kinds of tother vehicles, such as charming palanquins, sedans etc., on which rode companies of noble Brahmanas, incarnations, as it were, of all the hymns of the Vedas. Genealogists, bards, panegyrists and rhapsodists too rode on vehicles appropriate to their respective rank; while mules, camels and oxen of various breeds carried on their backs commodities of innumerable kinds .Millions of porters marched with burdens slung across their shoulders; who could enumerate the varieties of goods they carried? Crowds of servants also proceeded on the journey equipping themselves in their own way and forming batches of their own.
Doha - 300
Each had boundless joy in his heart and a thrill ran through the bodies of all. They whispered to one another, " When shall we feast our eyes on the two heroes, Rama and Laksmana?"
Chaupala -
The elephants trumpeted and their bells clanged with a terrific din; on all sides there was a creaking of wheels and a neighing of horses. The clash of kettledrums would drown the peal of thunder; no one could hear one's own words. much less of other. At the entrance of the king's palace, there was such an enormous crowd that a stone thrown there would be trodden into dust. Women viewed the sight from house-tops, carrying festal lights in salvers used on aupicious occasions, and carolled melodious strains of various kinds in an ecstasy of joy beyond description. Then Sumantra (King Dasaratha's own charioteer and trusted counsellor) got ready a pair of chariots and yoked them with steeds that would outrun even the horses of the sun-god and brought them in all their splendur before the king; their beauty was more than goddess Sarada could describe. One of them was equipped with the royal paraphernalia while the other was a mass of splendour and shone brightly.