Sita's Bridal Company Moves in Musical Rhythm
Bala Kanda, Chhand 32
Doha 322 · Movement 2 of 3
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Companions bring Sita with reverent love, every woman adorned in fresh garlands, wedding finery, and auspicious ornaments. Their stately movement has the grace of royal elephants.
Melodious singing travels ahead of them so powerfully that sages release meditation and love-intoxicated cuckoos fall silent. Human song becomes another form of contemplation.
Anklets, toe bells, and delicate bangles answer each step in perfect rhythm. The bridal company is heard before it is fully seen, a woven approach of voice, metal, fabric, and measured gait. Sita advances at the centre while every surrounding sound protects and announces the sacredness of her passage.
Song leads, anklets answer, and Sita approaches within a moving circle of auspicious sound.
Read the passage from the Manas
चलि ल्याइ सीतहि सखीं सादर सजि सुमंगल भामिनीं। नवसप्त साजें सुंदरी सब मत्त कुंजर गामिनीं।। कल गान सुनि मुनि ध्यान त्यागहिं काम कोकिल लाजहीं। मंजीर नूपुर कलित कंकन ताल गती बर बाजहीं।।
The dear companions lovingly brought Sita forth, those beautiful maidens adorned with every auspicious ornament. Decked in fresh garlands and wedding finery, each one moved with the graceful, stately gait of a lordly elephant. Hearing their melodious singing, even sages abandoned their meditation, and the love-intoxicated cuckoos fell silent in shame. Anklet bells, toe-rings, and delicate bangles chimed together in perfect rhythm with their graceful steps.