Dasharatha Tells the Queens the Story of the Wedding
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 351
Doha 354 · Movement 1 of 2
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After honouring everyone, Dasharatha enters the inner palace and finds the princes with their brides. He gathers them into his lap, while the daughters in law seat him lovingly and caress him with overflowing affection.
Bliss settles into every heart. Surrounded by the beautiful family, the king begins recounting how the wedding unfolded, and the queens listen as though each remembered moment is occurring before them.
Dasharatha praises Janaka's virtues, noble character, loving customs, greatness, and prosperity with the enthusiasm of a court bard. The king becomes storyteller within his own household, turning witnessed splendour into shared memory. Through his words, those who remained in Ayodhya enter Mithila's mandap at last.
In the inner palace, Dasharatha rebuilds Mithila's wedding from memory for every listening heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
सब बिधि सबहि समदि नरनाहू। रहा हृदयँ भरि पूरि उछाहू।। जहँ रनिवासु तहाँ पगु धारे। सहित बहूटिन्ह कुअँर निहारे।। लिए गोद करि मोद समेता। को कहि सकइ भयउ सुखु जेता।। बधू सप्रेम गोद बैठारीं। बार बार हियँ हरषि दुलारीं।। देखि समाजु मुदित रनिवासू। सब कें उर अनंद कियो बासू।। कहेउ भूप जिमि भयउ बिबाहू। सुनि हरषु होत सब काहू।। जनक राज गुन सीलु बड़ाई। प्रीति रीति संपदा सुहाई।। बहुबिधि भूप भाट जिमि बरनी। रानीं सब प्रमुदित सुनि करनी।।
Having honored everyone equally in every way, the king's heart remained brimming with joy. When he entered the inner palace, he beheld the princes together with their brides. He took them in his lap with great delight; who can describe the happiness that arose? The daughters-in-law lovingly seated him and caressed him again and again, their hearts overflowing with affection. Seeing this beautiful gathering, the inner palace was filled with gladness, and bliss took up its dwelling in every heart. The king narrated how the wedding had unfolded, and all who listened were overcome with happiness. He praised King Janaka's royal virtues, his noble character, his greatness, his customs of love, and his splendid prosperity. Like a court bard, the king described it all in many ways, and the queens were greatly delighted to hear every detail.