Vasishtha Commands the Wedding Drums to Sound
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 291
Doha 294 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Vasishtha hears the account with immense joy. Happiness and prosperity flow toward the righteous without invitation, he says, just as rivers seek the ocean though the ocean asks nothing from them.
Dasharatha serves guru, Brahmin, cow, and god; Kausalya is equally pure. No king of such merit has been or will be, for who could possess greater virtue than the father of Ram?
Four sons surround him, brave, humble, vowed to dharma, each an ocean of qualities. The guru blesses every time and circumstance, then gives the awaited command: prepare the wedding procession and let the great drums sound. Ayodhya's inward joy receives permission to become movement.
The guru's blessing becomes a command, and the road to Mithila begins in the sound of drums.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनि बोले गुर अति सुखु पाई। पुन्य पुरुष कहुँ महि सुख छाई।। जिमि सरिता सागर महुँ जाहीं। जद्यपि ताहि कामना नाहीं।। तिमि सुख संपति बिनहिं बोलाएँ। धरमसील पहिं जाहिं सुभाएँ।। तुम्ह गुर बिप्र धेनु सुर सेबी। तसि पुनीत कौसल्या देबी।। सुकृती तुम्ह समान जग माहीं। भयउ न है कोउ होनेउ नाहीं।। तुम्ह ते अधिक पुन्य बड़ काकें। राजन राम सरिस सुत जाकें।। बीर बिनीत धरम ब्रत धारी। गुन सागर बर बालक चारी।। तुम्ह कहुँ सर्ब काल कल्याना। सजहु बरात बजाइ निसाना।।
Hearing everything, the guru spoke with overflowing joy. For the virtuous, happiness fills the whole earth. Just as rivers flow toward the ocean, though the ocean harbors no desire for them, so too do joy and prosperity come of their own accord to the righteous, without being summoned. You serve gurus, learned ones, the sacred cow, and the gods. And Queen Kausalya is equally pure in her devotion. In all the world, none as virtuous as you has ever been born, nor ever shall be. Who could possess greater merit than you, O King, whose son is Rama Himself? Brave, humble, devoted to dharma and sacred vows: four splendid sons, each an ocean of virtue. May all times bring you blessedness. Now prepare the wedding procession and let the kettledrums sound!