The Wedding Blessing Flows into Cows, Gold, and Chariots
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 328
Doha 331 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Dasharatha bows before the sages, worships them, and offers high seats. Four hundred thousand gentle cows, adorned like Kamadhenu, are brought and given to the Brahmins.
The king declares that he has received the true reward of life. Then supplicants are called and asked what they desire. Gold, garments, gems, horses, elephants, and chariots pass into their hands.
Recipients leave chanting scripture and singing victory to the lord of the solar line. Wedding joy becomes too vast for Shesha's thousand mouths because it keeps multiplying through gift and blessing. Nothing remains enclosed within the royal family; fulfilment moves outward until the road itself carries praise away.
Cows, jewels, and chariots leave in grateful hands, carrying Ram's wedding joy far beyond the mandap.
Read the passage from the Manas
दंड प्रनाम सबहि नृप कीन्हे। पूजि सप्रेम बरासन दीन्हे।। चारि लच्छ बर धेनु मगाई। कामसुरभि सम सील सुहाई।। सब बिधि सकल अलंकृत कीन्हीं। मुदित महिप महिदेवन्ह दीन्हीं।। करत बिनय बहु बिधि नरनाहू। लहेउँ आजु जग जीवन लाहू।। पाइ असीस महीसु अनंदा। लिए बोलि पुनि जाचक बृंदा।। कनक बसन मनि हय गय स्यंदन। दिए बूझि रुचि रबिकुलनंदन।। चले पढ़त गावत गुन गाथा। जय जय जय दिनकर कुल नाथा।। एहि बिधि राम बिआह उछाहू। सकइ न बरनि सहस मुख जाहू।।
All the visiting kings bowed low in reverence before them. He worshipped them with heartfelt love and offered them high seats of honor. Four hundred thousand fine cows were summoned, each as gentle and beautiful as Kamadhenu, the divine wish-fulfilling cow. Adorned in every possible way with ornaments, the joyful king bestowed them upon the Brahmins. Pleading humbly in many ways, the king declared: 'Today I have gained the true reward of life in this world.' Receiving their blessings, the king overflowed with bliss. He then called forth the assembled bands of supplicants. Gold, garments, jewels, horses, elephants, and chariots he gave, first asking each one's preference. Such is the glory of Rabikulanandan, the joy of the solar dynasty. They departed chanting scriptures and singing songs of his virtues: 'Jaya! Jaya! Jaya to the lord of the Sun's lineage!' Such was the jubilation of Shri Rama's wedding that even Shesha, the thousand-mouthed serpent, could not describe it.