The Feast That Makes the Gods Linger
Bala Kanda, Chhand 13
Doha 99 · Movement 2 of 3
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Beautiful women sing in sweet voices, offering clever insults shaped entirely from affection. The gods listen while they eat, and delight stretches the feast far beyond its ordinary hour.
The joy rising among the rows could not be spoken through millions of mouths. Food, laughter, music, and the intimate licence of the bride's family dissolve the distance between heaven and household.
At last the guests rinse, receive betel leaf, and return reluctantly to their assigned lodgings. The taste of the songs travels with them. Heaven has been welcomed as kin.
The feast ends, but divine guests carry the laughter of the mountain women into the night.
Read the passage from the Manas
गारीं मधुर स्वर देहिं सुंदरि बिंग्य बचन सुनावहीं। भोजनु करहिं सुर अति बिलंबु बिनोदु सुनि सचु पावहीं।। जेवँत जो बढ्यो अनंदु सो मुख कोटिहूँ न परै कह्यो। अचवाँइ दीन्हे पान गवने बास जहँ जाको रह्यो।।
Beautiful women sing teasing wedding songs in sweet voices, delivering witty and playful words. The gods partake of the wedding feast. There is great delay, for time itself slips away in delightful celebration.