Ram Appears in the Full Splendour of a Bridegroom
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 324
Doha 327 · Movement 1 of 3
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Ram's naturally beautiful dark body shames ten million Kamadevas. Javaka brightens his lotus feet, around which the minds of sages hover like bees. Yellow silk outshines young sun and lightning.
Anklets, waist cord, sacred thread, rings, armlets, chest ornaments, and a pearl-edged upper cloth make every gesture radiant. Lotus eyes, earrings, graceful brows, nose, and tilaka gather in a face that is beauty's treasury.
Upon his head rises the wedding maura strung with auspicious pearls and gems. Ornament reaches its purpose by resting upon him, yet none becomes the source of the splendour it serves. The newly married Ram stands as the form through which every jewel receives its own loveliness.
Gold, pearl, silk, and gem approach perfection only by finding their place upon Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
स्याम सरीरु सुभायँ सुहावन। सोभा कोटि मनोज लजावन।। जावक जुत पद कमल सुहाए। मुनि मन मधुप रहत जिन्ह छाए।। पीत पुनीत मनोहर धोती। हरति बाल रबि दामिनि जोती।। कल किंकिनि कटि सूत्र मनोहर। बाहु बिसाल बिभूषन सुंदर।। पीत जनेउ महाछबि देई। कर मुद्रिका चोरि चितु लेई।। सोहत ब्याह साज सब साजे। उर आयत उरभूषन राजे।। पिअर उपरना काखासोती। दुहुँ आँचरन्हि लगे मनि मोती।। नयन कमल कल कुंडल काना। बदनु सकल सौंदर्ज निधाना।। सुंदर भृकुटि मनोहर नासा। भाल तिलकु रुचिरता निवासा।। सोहत मौरु मनोहर माथे। मंगलमय मुकुता मनि गाथे।।
His dark form is naturally captivating; its splendor puts ten million Kamadevas to shame. His lotus feet, adorned with javaka-dye, are so beautiful that the minds of munis hover around them like bees. He wears a pure yellow dhoti of enchanting beauty, eclipsing the radiance of the young sun and the flash of lightning. Melodious anklets and a lovely waist-cord grace his form, and splendid ornaments adorn his mighty arms. His yellow sacred thread lends magnificent beauty, and the ring upon his finger quietly steals every heart. All the bridal ornaments look resplendent on him; broad jeweled pieces shine upon his expansive chest. A yellow upper cloth, tucked at the shoulder, gleams with pearls and gems strung along both its edges. His lotus eyes and delicate earrings grace his ears; his face is the very treasure-house of all beauty. His lovely eyebrows and charming nose are captivating; the tilaka on his forehead is the dwelling-place of all loveliness. A beautiful maura crowns his head magnificently, strung with auspicious pearls and gems.