The Call Goes Forth to Bring Sita
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 319
Doha 322 · Movement 1 of 3
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Vasishtha sees that the hour has arrived and summons Shatananda. Bring the princess without delay. The priest receives the command joyfully and carries it into the inner palace.
Sunayana and Sita's companions rejoice. Brahmin women and respected elders gather to sing the customs of the lineage. The goddesses in mortal form remain among them, beautiful and dearer than life though no one knows why.
The queen honours these hidden guests as though they were Uma, Lakshmi, and Saraswati themselves. Then Sita is adorned, her bridal company ordered, and the women begin the walk toward the mandap. The awaited movement starts not with spectacle but with a guru's recognition of time.
Vasishtha names the moment, and the inner palace begins to carry Sita toward Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
समउ बिलोकि बसिष्ठ बोलाए। सादर सतानंदु सुनि आए।। बेगि कुअँरि अब आनहु जाई। चले मुदित मुनि आयसु पाई।। रानी सुनि उपरोहित बानी। प्रमुदित सखिन्ह समेत सयानी।। बिप्र बधू कुलबृद्ध बोलाईं। करि कुल रीति सुमंगल गाईं।। नारि बेष जे सुर बर बामा। सकल सुभायँ सुंदरी स्यामा।। तिन्हहि देखि सुखु पावहिं नारीं। बिनु पहिचानि प्रानहु ते प्यारीं।। बार बार सनमानहिं रानी। उमा रमा सारद सम जानी।। सीय सँवारि समाजु बनाई। मुदित मंडपहिं चलीं लवाई।।
Seeing the auspicious hour had arrived, Vasishtha called out, and Satananda came respectfully upon hearing the summons. 'Go now,' he said, 'and bring the princess without delay.' Receiving this command, the sage departed with a joyful heart. The queen heard the priest's words and was overjoyed, as were her wise and loving companions. They called the Brahmin women and the respected elders of noble families, who sang auspicious songs in keeping with cherished family tradition. The celestial goddesses who had come disguised as mortal women were all naturally radiant, with the dark loveliness of Shyama. Seeing them, the women of the household felt such sweet delight, finding them dearer than life itself, though they could not recognize who they truly were. The queen honored these guests again and again, regarding them as equal to Uma, Rama (Lakshmi), and Sharada (Saraswati). Having adorned Sita and arranged the bridal assembly in all its splendor, they set forth joyfully toward the wedding pavilion.