Ram Places Sindoor in Sita's Parting
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 322
Doha 325 · Movement 1 of 3
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Sita and Ram circle the sacred fire while the assembly receives the sight as a blessing for the eyes. Their reflections multiply through jewelled pillars, as though Love and Rati have assumed countless forms to witness the incomparable wedding.
Spectators appear and hide repeatedly, caught between longing to see and modesty. Like Janaka, they forget themselves. Sages complete the rounds and every customary offering.
Then Ram places crimson sindoor in Sita's parting. Her beauty becomes a lotus filled with red pollen, a moon adorned by a nectar-seeking serpent. Vasishtha blesses them, and bride and groom take one seat together. The two reflections, two paths, and two hands now rest within one ceremonial place.
Crimson enters Sita's parting, and the newly joined pair sits upon one throne.
Read the passage from the Manas
कुअँरु कुअँरि कल भावँरि देहीं।।नयन लाभु सब सादर लेहीं।। जाइ न बरनि मनोहर जोरी। जो उपमा कछु कहौं सो थोरी।। राम सीय सुंदर प्रतिछाहीं। जगमगात मनि खंभन माहीं । मनहुँ मदन रति धरि बहु रूपा। देखत राम बिआहु अनूपा।। दरस लालसा सकुच न थोरी। प्रगटत दुरत बहोरि बहोरी।। भए मगन सब देखनिहारे। जनक समान अपान बिसारे।। प्रमुदित मुनिन्ह भावँरी फेरी। नेगसहित सब रीति निबेरीं।। राम सीय सिर सेंदुर देहीं। सोभा कहि न जाति बिधि केहीं।। अरुन पराग जलजु भरि नीकें। ससिहि भूष अहि लोभ अमी कें।। बहुरि बसिष्ठ दीन्ह अनुसासन। बरु दुलहिनि बैठे एक आसन।।
The prince and princess gracefully circle the sacred fire, while all the onlookers gratefully drink in the blessed sight with their eyes. This enchanting couple cannot be captured in words; whatever comparison one might offer would fall short of their beauty. The lovely reflections of Rama and Sita shimmer and sparkle within the jewelled pillars of the wedding pavilion. It is as though Kamadeva and Rati have taken countless forms to behold Rama's incomparable wedding. The longing to gaze and the shyness of modesty wage a tender war; the onlookers keep appearing and hiding, again and again. Every spectator became so absorbed in the sight that, just like King Janaka himself, they forgot their very selves. The delighted sages completed the sacred circumambulations and fulfilled every wedding rite along with the customary gifts. Rama applies sindoor to Sita's parting, and the beauty of that moment defies all description. Like a lotus brimming with crimson pollen, or the moon graced by a serpent longing for nectar. Then Sage Vasishtha gave his blessing, and the groom and bride took their seat together on one throne.