The Welcoming Party Arrives Bearing Nectar-Like Gifts
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 302
Doha 305 · Movement 1 of 2
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Golden vessels, fragrant camphor, elegant plates, and countless utensils lead Mithila's gifts. Delicacies sweet as nectar, fine fruits, ornaments, garments, gems, birds, deer, horses, and elephants follow in abundance.
Auspicious objects and perfumes travel among bearers carrying immense offerings of curd and flattened rice. Hospitality becomes a moving treasury of taste, fragrance, colour, life, and ritual blessing.
When Janaka's advance party sees the procession, joy floods their hearts and thrills their bodies. The wedding guests answer the splendid welcome with drums and trumpets. Before words are exchanged, the two houses recognize one another through gifts displayed, music returned, and the visible care prepared on both sides.
Mithila offers abundance, Ayodhya answers with music, and recognition crosses the road before speech.
Read the passage from the Manas
कनक कलस भरि कोपर थारा। भाजन ललित अनेक प्रकारा।। भरे सुधासम सब पकवाने। नाना भाँति न जाहिं बखाने।। फल अनेक बर बस्तु सुहाईं। हरषि भेंट हित भूप पठाईं।। भूषन बसन महामनि नाना। खग मृग हय गय बहुबिधि जाना।। मंगल सगुन सुगंध सुहाए। बहुत भाँति महिपाल पठाए।। दधि चिउरा उपहार अपारा। भरि भरि काँवरि चले कहारा।। अगवानन्ह जब दीखि बराता।उर आनंदु पुलक भर गाता।। देखि बनाव सहित अगवाना। मुदित बरातिन्ह हने निसाना।।
Golden vessels brimming with fragrant camphor and plates, and beautiful utensils of countless varieties. All filled with delicacies sweet as amrit, of so many kinds they cannot be described. Many fine fruits and lovely gifts the king joyfully sent as offerings for the welcome. Ornaments, garments, and precious gems of every kind; birds, deer, horses, and elephants of many noble breeds. Auspicious tokens, good omens, and beautiful fragrances the king sent in great abundance. Endless offerings of dahi and chiwra; the kahaars set forth carrying full baskets on their shoulders. When the advance party beheld the wedding procession, their hearts overflowed with bliss and their bodies thrilled with joy. Seeing the splendidly adorned advance party, the delighted wedding guests sounded their drums and trumpets.