Janaka and Dasharatha Meet as Equals
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 317
Doha 320 · Movement 1 of 3
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Janaka and Dasharatha meet with overflowing affection, completing both Vedic and worldly customs. Their splendour stands so evenly matched that poets search for comparison and finally accept defeat.
The only adequate likeness is each king to the other. Gods delight in the harmony and shower flowers, declaring that since Brahma created the world they have seen many weddings, but never two families equal in preparation, assembly, kinship, and merit.
Extraordinary love rises on both sides as the heavenly words are heard. Janaka offers water and gifts of welcome, then respectfully leads Ayodhya's company into the mandap. Equality does not produce rivalry here. It makes reverence mutual and relationship complete.
Two royal houses enter the mandap without higher or lower, each finding its only equal in the other.
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मिले जनकु दसरथु अति प्रीतीं। करि बैदिक लौकिक सब रीतीं।। मिलत महा दोउ राज बिराजे। उपमा खोजि खोजि कबि लाजे।। लही न कतहुँ हारि हियँ मानी। इन्ह सम एइ उपमा उर आनी।। सामध देखि देव अनुरागे। सुमन बरषि जसु गावन लागे।। जगु बिरंचि उपजावा जब तें। देखे सुने ब्याह बहु तब तें।। सकल भाँति सम साजु समाजू। सम समधी देखे हम आजू।। देव गिरा सुनि सुंदर साँची। प्रीति अलौकिक दुहु दिसि माची।। देत पाँवड़े अरघु सुहाए। सादर जनकु मंडपहिं ल्याए।।
King Janaka and Dasharatha met with overflowing affection, observing every Vedic and worldly custom with care. When the two great kings came together in their splendor, poets searched everywhere for a fitting comparison and felt ashamed at finding none. Unable to discover any match, they accepted defeat in their hearts and settled on this single thought: these two alone are each other's equal. Beholding this harmony between the families, the gods were filled with delight. They rained down flowers and began singing praises. "Since Brahma first brought this world into being, we have seen and heard of many weddings. In every respect, the preparations, the assembly, the kinship, today we behold two families truly equal in all things." Hearing these beautiful and truthful words from the heavens, an extraordinary love spread through both sides. Offering ceremonial water for washing the feet and lovely gifts of welcome, Janaka respectfully escorted the guests into the wedding pavilion.