Four Couples Sit upon Four Jeweled Thrones
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 347
Sortha 350 · Movement 1 of 2
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Four naturally beautiful thrones appear as though Kamadeva fashioned them. Princes and brides are seated, their feet washed, while incense, lamps, food offerings, fans, and white chamaras surround them with Vedic worship.
The mothers circle arati and offer countless gifts, radiant with delight. Their happiness resembles yogis attaining the supreme Reality, the sick receiving nectar, the poor finding the philosopher's stone, and the blind receiving sight.
It is like Saraswati entering the mute tongue or victory arriving for a warrior. Every comparison names a life transformed at its deepest lack, yet even together they only approach the mothers' joy. Before four thrones, long separation has become immediate presence.
Upon four jeweled thrones, the couples appear as fulfilment taking visible form.
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चारि सिंघासन सहज सुहाए। जनु मनोज निज हाथ बनाए।। तिन्ह पर कुअँरि कुअँर बैठारे। सादर पाय पुनित पखारे।। धूप दीप नैबेद बेद बिधि। पूजे बर दुलहिनि मंगलनिधि।। बारहिं बार आरती करहीं। ब्यजन चारु चामर सिर ढरहीं।। बस्तु अनेक निछावर होहीं। भरीं प्रमोद मातु सब सोहीं।। पावा परम तत्व जनु जोगीं। अमृत लहेउ जनु संतत रोगीं।। जनम रंक जनु पारस पावा। अंधहि लोचन लाभु सुहावा।। मूक बदन जनु सारद छाई। मानहुँ समर सूर जय पाई।।
Four thrones appeared, naturally beautiful, as though Kamadeva himself had fashioned them with his own hands. Upon these thrones the princes and princesses were seated, and their sacred feet were reverently washed. With dhoop, deepa, and naivedya, following the rites prescribed by the Vedas, they worshipped the blessed bridegrooms and brides, who are treasuries of auspiciousness. Again and again they performed the aarati, while graceful fans and chaamara whisks waved gently above their heads. Countless gifts were offered as nichchhaavar, and all the mothers shone radiantly, brimming with delight. It was as if yogis had attained the supreme tattva, or as if the chronically ill had at last received amrit. It was as if one born in poverty had found the paaras stone, or as if a blind soul had received the lovely gift of sight. It was as if Sharada herself had graced the tongue of the mute, or as if a brave warrior had won victory on the battlefield.