All Mithila Moves toward the Swayamvara
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 237
Doha 240 · Movement 1 of 2
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Vishwamitra invites the company to witness Sita's swayamvara and wonders aloud upon whom the Lord will bestow the great honour. Lakshmana answers that grace will fall upon the vessel of virtue.
Sages delight in the words and bless them. Ram and Lakshmana walk with the ascetic company toward the bow hall, and news of their arrival spreads through Janakpur.
Children, youths, elders, women, and men abandon household work and converge upon the arena. Seeing the immense crowd, Janaka commands pure servants to provide everyone a fitting place. The city gathers around one act still hidden in the future.
From every house, Mithila flows toward the hall where Ram will stand before the bow.
Read the passage from the Manas
सीय स्वयंबरु देखिअ जाई। ईसु काहि धौं देइ बड़ाई।। लखन कहा जस भाजनु सोई। नाथ कृपा तव जापर होई।। हरषे मुनि सब सुनि बर बानी। दीन्हि असीस सबहिं सुखु मानी।। पुनि मुनिबृंद समेत कृपाला। देखन चले धनुषमख साला।। रंगभूमि आए दोउ भाई। असि सुधि सब पुरबासिन्ह पाई।। चले सकल गृह काज बिसारी। बाल जुबान जरठ नर नारी।। देखी जनक भीर भै भारी। सुचि सेवक सब लिए हँकारी।। तुरत सकल लोगन्ह पहिं जाहू। आसन उचित देहू सब काहू।।
"Let us go and see Sita's swayamvar. To whom will Ishvara grant this great honor?" Lakshman replied: "He alone is the true vessel of glory on whom rests the complete kripa of the Lord."