Every Joy Takes Form within Dasharatha's Palace
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 342
Doha 345 · Movement 1 of 2
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Dasharatha's palace shines so beautifully that even Kamadeva would lose his heart there. Auspicious signs, loveliness, prosperity, accomplishment, happiness, and radiant wealth seem to take bodily form and fill every chamber.
Married women gather in groups, carrying the articles of arati and singing as though Saraswati has appeared in many voices. Their beauty outshines Rati, yet all attention turns toward the hoped for sight of Ram and Sita together.
Celebration rises through the royal house beyond the reach of description. Kausalya and the other mothers become so absorbed in love that awareness of their own bodies disappears. Palace splendour reaches its purpose not in display, but in preparing one threshold across which sons and daughters will enter home.
Within Dasharatha's palace, every form of happiness waits for Ram and Sita to cross the threshold together.
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भूप भवन तेहि अवसर सोहा। रचना देखि मदन मनु मोहा।। मंगल सगुन मनोहरताई। रिधि सिधि सुख संपदा सुहाई।। जनु उछाह सब सहज सुहाए। तनु धरि धरि दसरथ दसरथ गृहँ छाए।। देखन हेतु राम बैदेही। कहहु लालसा होहि न केही।। जुथ जूथ मिलि चलीं सुआसिनि। निज छबि निदरहिं मदन बिलासनि।। सकल सुमंगल सजें आरती। गावहिं जनु बहु बेष भारती।। भूपति भवन कोलाहलु होई। जाइ न बरनि समउ सुखु सोई।। कौसल्यादि राम महतारीं। प्रेम बिबस तन दसा बिसारीं।।
At that moment the king's palace shone with such splendor that even Kamadeva's heart was enchanted by its beauty. Auspicious omens, captivating loveliness, ridhis and sidhis, happiness and radiant wealth graced every corner. It was as though all the joys of the world had taken bodily form and filled Dasharatha's beloved home. Tell me, who would not long to behold Shri Rama and Vaidehi together? Groups upon groups of married women came forth, their beauty putting even Rati, the beloved of Kamadeva, to shame. They arranged every auspicious item for the arati ceremony, singing as though Goddess Bharati herself had appeared in many forms. A joyous celebration arose in the king's palace. That blessed time and its happiness cannot be described in words. Kausalya and all the other mothers of Shri Rama, overcome with love, forgot all awareness of their own bodies.