The Wedding Procession Becomes a Moving Kingdom
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 297
Doha 300 · Movement 1 of 2
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Magnificent howdahs rise upon elephants whose bells ring as they move like a line of monsoon clouds. Palanquins, comfortable carriages, and many other conveyances gather behind them.
Brahmins ride as though the metres of the Veda have taken bodies. Genealogists, bards, heralds, and singers take vehicles suited to their roles. Mules, camels, and bulls carry goods of countless kinds, while hosts of porters bear provisions upon shoulder poles.
Servants and attendants advance in ordered groups with their own equipment. A whole kingdom has loosened from its fixed streets and become mobile: sacred learning, royal memory, music, wealth, food, labour, animals, and households all travelling together toward the bride's city.
Ayodhya leaves its walls and takes the road in the form of elephants, hymns, provisions, and song.
Read the passage from the Manas
कलित करिबरन्हि परीं अँबारीं। कहि न जाहिं जेहि भाँति सँवारीं।। चले मत्तगज घंट बिराजी। मनहुँ सुभग सावन घन राजी।। बाहन अपर अनेक बिधाना। सिबिका सुभग सुखासन जाना।। तिन्ह चढ़ि चले बिप्रबर बृन्दा। जनु तनु धरें सकल श्रुति छंदा।। मागध सूत बंदि गुनगायक। चले जान चढ़ि जो जेहि लायक।। बेसर ऊँट बृषभ बहु जाती। चले बस्तु भरि अगनित भाँती।। कोटिन्ह काँवरि चले कहारा। बिबिध बस्तु को बरनै पारा।। चले सकल सेवक समुदाई। निज निज साजु समाजु बनाई।।
Upon the finest elephants (karibar) sat beautiful howdahs (ambari), adorned beyond all telling. The majestic elephants moved forward with bells ringing, looking like a row of lovely monsoon (saavan) clouds. There were many other conveyances besides: graceful palanquins (sibika), comfortable seats, and royal carriages (jaana). Groups of the noblest Brahmins rode upon them, as though every hymn (chhanda) of the Vedas (shruti) had taken bodily form. Genealogists (maagadh), bards (soot), heralds (bandi), and singers of virtue (gunagaayak) rode forth, each upon whatever vehicle befitted them. Mules (besar), camels (oont), bulls (brishabh) of many kinds went laden with goods of countless varieties. Millions of porters (kahaara) walked bearing shoulder-poles (kaanvar) of provisions. Who could describe all that they carried? All the servants and attendants set out together, each group having readied its own equipment and arrangements.