Janaka Worships Gods Hidden among the Brahmins
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 318
Doha 321 · Movement 1 of 3
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Janaka worships Dasharatha with a devotion equal to his reverence for Shiva, hands joined as he speaks of his immeasurable fortune. Every wedding guest is honoured like kin and given a fitting seat, gift, gracious word, and entreaty.
Among the Brahmins sit Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, the guardians of the directions, and the sun, all disguised so they may witness Raghuvira's wedding from within the rite.
Janaka does not recognize their identities, yet senses something godlike and worships them accordingly. His hospitality does not depend upon knowing greatness by name. Reverence offered sincerely to the visible guest reaches the hidden deity without error, and the gods receive seats from a king whose instinct sees deeper than recognition.
Janaka cannot name the gods before him, but his hospitality finds them beneath their disguises.
Read the passage from the Manas
बहुरि कीन्ह कोसलपति पूजा। जानि ईस सम भाउ न दूजा।। कीन्ह जोरि कर बिनय बड़ाई। कहि निज भाग्य बिभव बहुताई।। पूजे भूपति सकल बराती। समधि सम सादर सब भाँती।। आसन उचित दिए सब काहू। कहौं काह मूख एक उछाहू।। सकल बरात जनक सनमानी। दान मान बिनती बर बानी।। बिधि हरि हरु दिसिपति दिनराऊ। जे जानहिं रघुबीर प्रभाऊ।। कपट बिप्र बर बेष बनाएँ। कौतुक देखहिं अति सचु पाएँ।। पूजे जनक देव सम जानें। दिए सुआसन बिनु पहिचानें।।
Then Janaka performed the worship of Dasharatha, the lord of Kosala, with devotion unsurpassed, knowing no reverence to be higher than that offered to Lord Shiva. With folded hands he spoke words of humility and praise, declaring how greatly blessed he felt by this abundant good fortune. The king honored every member of the wedding party with deep respect, treating them all as his own kinsmen in every way. He gave fitting seats to each and every guest. How can a single voice describe such boundless joy? Janaka welcomed the entire procession with gifts, with honor, with gentle entreaties, and with the most gracious words. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, the guardians of the directions, and Surya, all those who know the glory of Raghuvira, had taken on the guise of distinguished brahmins and were watching this spectacle with the deepest delight. Janaka worshipped them, sensing they were godlike, and offered them fine seats, though he did not recognize their true forms.