Sita Enters the Mandap beneath Peace Mantras
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 320
Doha 323 · Movement 1 of 3
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The wedding guests behold Sita approaching, a pure treasury of beauty beyond the poet's limited mind. Everyone bows inwardly. Seeing her beside Ram, their unspoken longings reach fulfilment.
Dasharatha rejoices with his sons. Gods salute and shower flowers, sages chant blessings, and songs and drums carry men and women into love and delight.
Sita enters the mandap while great rishis recite peace mantras. The family gurus of both houses begin every proper rite. Her journey from inner palace to ceremonial throne closes beneath words designed to quiet and harmonize the worlds, as though peace itself must be established before Sita and Ram look upon one another as bride and bridegroom.
Sita crosses into the pavilion, and the sages lay peace beneath every step of the union.
Read the passage from the Manas
सिय सुंदरता बरनि न जाई। लघु मति बहुत मनोहरताई।। आवत दीखि बरातिन्ह सीता।।रूप रासि सब भाँति पुनीता।। सबहि मनहिं मन किए प्रनामा। देखि राम भए पूरनकामा।। हरषे दसरथ सुतन्ह समेता। कहि न जाइ उर आनँदु जेता।। सुर प्रनामु करि बरसहिं फूला। मुनि असीस धुनि मंगल मूला।। गान निसान कोलाहलु भारी। प्रेम प्रमोद मगन नर नारी।। एहि बिधि सीय मंडपहिं आई। प्रमुदित सांति पढ़हिं मुनिराई।। तेहि अवसर कर बिधि ब्यवहारू। दुहुँ कुलगुर सब कीन्ह अचारू।।
Siya's beauty cannot be described. My small mind cannot contain such boundless charm. The wedding party beheld Sita approaching, a treasure of beauty, pure in every way. All bowed to her silently in their hearts. Seeing Rama, they felt their every longing fulfilled. Dasharatha rejoiced together with his sons. The bliss that filled his heart is beyond all telling. The gods offered salutations and rained down flowers. The sages chanted blessings, the very root of auspiciousness. Songs and drums resounded in great celebration. Men and women were lost in love and delight. In this way Siya came to the wedding pavilion. The great sages joyfully recited the shanti mantras. At that sacred moment, the kulagurus of both families performed every proper rite and ceremony.