The Four Aims of Life Stand beside Dasharatha
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 306
Doha 309 · Movement 1 of 2
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The procession cools and settles at the sight of Ram. Beside Dasharatha stand his four sons, shining as though dharma, prosperity, desire rightly ordered, and liberation have accepted youthful bodies.
Mithila's citizens rejoice at father and sons together. Gods shower flowers, celestial drums sound, and heavenly dancers perform. Shatananda, Brahmins, ministers, bards, scholars, and heralds complete the honoured assembly.
Janaka receives the wedding party, and the advance escorts return after permission. Because the procession has arrived before the appointed hour, the city gains more time for joy. People taste something of Brahmananda and petition the Creator to lengthen day and night, unwilling for any part of the interval to pass.
Around Dasharatha, the four brothers make the fullness of life visible, and Mithila asks time to slow.
Read the passage from the Manas
रामहि देखि बरात जुड़ानी। प्रीति कि रीति न जाति बखानी।। नृप समीप सोहहिं सुत चारी। जनु धन धरमादिक तनुधारी।। सुतन्ह समेत दसरथहि देखी। मुदित नगर नर नारि बिसेषी।। सुमन बरिसि सुर हनहिं निसाना। नाकनटीं नाचहिं करि गाना।। सतानंद अरु बिप्र सचिव गन। मागध सूत बिदुष बंदीजन।। सहित बरात राउ सनमाना। आयसु मागि फिरे अगवाना।। प्रथम बरात लगन तें आई। तातें पुर प्रमोदु अधिकाई।। ब्रह्मानंदु लोग सब लहहीं। बढ़हुँ दिवस निसि बिधि सन कहहीं।।
Seeing Shri Rama, the hearts of all in the wedding procession were so steeped in love that its depth and manner simply cannot be described. Near the king his four sons shone gloriously, as though Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha themselves had taken bodily form. Beholding Dasharatha together with his sons, the men and women of the city were filled with special delight. The gods showered blossoms and sounded their celestial drums, while the heavenly dancers (naakanateen) performed, singing songs of celebration. Sage Shatananda, the learned Brahmins, the minister assembly, the bards (maagadh), genealogists (soot), scholars (bidush), and panegyrists (bandeejan) were all present. The king honored the entire wedding party with full ceremony, and then the advance escorts, having taken leave, returned. This was the first wedding procession to arrive before the auspicious time, and therefore the joy throughout the city overflowed all the more. All the people tasted the bliss of Brahman itself, and they called out to Vidhi the Creator: let these days and nights stretch on and on!