Janaka Places Vishwamitra's Foot Dust upon His Eyes
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 340
Doha 343 · Movement 1 of 2
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Ram departs with his brothers after repeated words of praise. Janaka then clasps Vishwamitra's feet and presses their dust to his head and eyes, honouring the sage through whose arrival the impossible entered Mithila.
The king declares that after this darshan nothing can seem unbelievable. Joy and noble fame desired even by the guardians of worlds have become easy to him, for every siddhi follows behind the sight of the sage.
Blessed, Janaka finally turns back. Drums and festive music carry the wedding procession onward, while men and women in every village come out to behold Ram. The king's private wonder spreads along the public road, and countless eyes receive their own moment of fulfilment as the procession passes.
Janaka turns homeward, while Vishwamitra's grace and Ram's beauty continue from village to village.
Read the passage from the Manas
बार बार करि बिनय बड़ाई। रघुपति चले संग सब भाई।। जनक गहे कौसिक पद जाई। चरन रेनु सिर नयनन्ह लाई।। सुनु मुनीस बर दरसन तोरें। अगमु न कछु प्रतीति मन मोरें।। जो सुखु सुजसु लोकपति चहहीं। करत मनोरथ सकुचत अहहीं।। सो सुखु सुजसु सुलभ मोहि स्वामी। सब सिधि तव दरसन अनुगामी।। कीन्हि बिनय पुनि पुनि सिरु नाई। फिरे महीसु आसिषा पाई।। चली बरात निसान बजाई। मुदित छोट बड़ सब समुदाई।। रामहि निरखि ग्राम नर नारी। पाइ नयन फलु होहिं सुखारी।।
Again and again offering humble praise, Lord Raghupati set forth with all His brothers. Janaka went and clasped the feet of Kaushika (Vishvamitra), pressing the dust of those sacred feet to his head and eyes. 'Hear me, O greatest of sages. By the blessing of your darshana, nothing in this world remains beyond belief for my heart. The joy and noble fame that the lords of the worlds long for, yet hesitate even to wish for in their hearts, that very joy and fame have become easily attainable to me, O master. All siddhis follow in the wake of your darshana.' Having made his supplication, bowing his head again and again, the king departed after receiving the sage's blessings. The wedding procession moved on with drums and festive music, every soul in the company rejoicing, young and old alike. Gazing upon Shri Rama, the men and women of each village along the way found the fruit of their eyes and were filled with happiness.