The Wedding of the Four Princes

Shloka 1 (bala.73.1)

यस्मिंस्तु दिवसे राजा चक्रे गोदानमुत्तमम्। तस्मिंस्तु दिवसे शूरो युधाजित् समुपेयिवान् ॥ १-७३-१ ॥

yasmiṃstu divase rājā cakre godānamuttamam| tasmiṃstu divase śūro yudhājit samupeyivān || 1-73-1 ||

On the very day King Dasharatha performed the excellent go-dana rite, on that same day the valiant Yudhajit arrived there.

Shloka 2 (bala.73.2)

पुत्रः केकयराजस्य साक्षाद्भरतमातुलः। दृष्ट्वा पृष्ट्वा च कुशलं राजानमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १-७३-२ ॥

putraḥ kekayarājasya sākṣādbharatamātulaḥ| dṛṣṭvā pṛṣṭvā ca kuśalaṃ rājānamidamabravīt || 1-73-2 ||

The son of the King of Kekaya, own maternal uncle of Bharata, having seen the king and asked after his welfare, said this to him.

Shloka 3 (bala.73.3)

केकयाधिपती राजा स्नेहात् कुशलमब्रवीत्। येषां कुशलकामोऽसि तेषां संप्रत्यनामयम् ॥ १-७३-३ ॥

kekayādhipatī rājā snehāt kuśalamabravīt| yeṣāṃ kuśalakāmo'si teṣāṃ saṃpratyanāmayam || 1-73-3 ||

"The King of Kekaya has affectionately asked after your welfare; those whose welfare you wish for are, at present, all free from illness."

Shloka 4 (bala.73.4)

स्वस्रीयं मम राजेन्द्र द्रष्टुकामो महीपतिः। तदर्थमुपयातोऽहमयोध्यां रघुनंदन ॥ १-७३-४ ॥

svasrīyaṃ mama rājendra draṣṭukāmo mahīpatiḥ| tadarthamupayāto'hamayodhyāṃ raghunaṃdana || 1-73-4 ||

"O lord of kings, that king, my father, wishes to see his sister's son; for that reason, O scion of Raghu, I came to Ayodhya."

Shloka 5 (bala.73.5)

श्रुत्वा त्वहमयोध्यायां विवाहार्थं तवात्मजान्। मिथिलामुपयातांस्तु त्वया सह महीपते ॥ १-७३-५ ॥

śrutvā tvahamayodhyāyāṃ vivāhārthaṃ tavātmajān| mithilāmupayātāṃstu tvayā saha mahīpate || 1-73-5 ||

"But hearing in Ayodhya, O lord of the earth, that your sons had gone with you to Mithila for their weddings—"

Shloka 6 (bala.73.6)

त्वरयाभ्युपयातोऽहं द्रष्टुकामः स्वसुः सुतम्। अथ राजा दशरथः प्रियातिथिमुपस्थितम् ॥ १-७३-६ ॥

tvarayābhyupayāto'haṃ draṣṭukāmaḥ svasuḥ sutam| atha rājā daśarathaḥ priyātithimupasthitam || 1-73-6 ||

"—I hastened here, wishing to see my sister's son." Then King Dasharatha, seeing this dear guest arrived before him—

Shloka 7 (bala.73.7)

दृष्ट्वा परमसत्कारैः पूजार्हं समपूजयत्। ततस्तामुषितो रात्रिं सह पुत्रैर्महात्मभिः ॥ १-७३-७ ॥

dṛṣṭvā paramasatkāraiḥ pūjārhaṃ samapūjayat| tatastāmuṣito rātriṃ saha putrairmahātmabhiḥ || 1-73-7 ||

—honoured that worthy guest with the highest hospitality. Then, having spent that night there with his noble-souled sons—

Shloka 8 (bala.73.8)

प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय कृत्वा कर्माणि तत्त्ववित्। ऋषींस्तदा पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञवाटमुपागमत् ॥ १-७३-८ ॥

prabhāte punarutthāya kṛtvā karmāṇi tattvavit| ṛṣīṃstadā puraskṛtya yajñavāṭamupāgamat || 1-73-8 ||

—that knower of truth, rising again at dawn and performing his morning duties, then, placing the sages before him, arrived at the sacrificial enclosure.

Shloka 9 (bala.73.9)

युक्ते मुहूर्ते विजये सर्वाभरणभूषितैः। भ्रातृभिः सहितो रामः कृतकौतुकमंगलः ॥ १-७३-९ ॥

yukte muhūrte vijaye sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaiḥ| bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito rāmaḥ kṛtakautukamaṃgalaḥ || 1-73-9 ||

At the auspicious moment called Vijaya, Rama, together with his brothers, all adorned with every ornament and having performed the auspicious kautuka rite—

Shloka 10 (bala.73.10)

वसिष्ठं पुरतः कृत्वा महर्षीनपरानपि। वशिष्ठो भगवानेत्य वैदेहमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १-७३-१० ॥

vasiṣṭhaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā maharṣīnaparānapi| vaśiṣṭho bhagavānetya vaidehamidamabravīt || 1-73-10 ||

—came forth, placing Vashishtha and the other great sages before him. The venerable Vashishtha, arriving there, said this to the king of Videha.

Shloka 11 (bala.73.11)

राजा दशरथो राजन् कृतकौतुकमङ्गलैः। पुत्रैर्नरवरश्रेष्ठ दातारमभिकांक्षते ॥ १-७३-११ ॥

rājā daśaratho rājan kṛtakautukamaṅgalaiḥ| putrairnaravaraśreṣṭha dātāramabhikāṃkṣate || 1-73-11 ||

"O king, best among men, King Dasharatha, together with his sons who have performed the kautuka-mangala rite, now awaits the giver of the brides."

Shloka 12 (bala.73.12)

दातृप्रतिग्रहीतृभ्यां सर्वार्थाः संभवन्ति हि। स्वधर्मं प्रतिपद्यस्व कृत्वा वैवाह्यमुत्तमम् ॥ १-७३-१२ ॥

dātṛpratigrahītṛbhyāṃ sarvārthāḥ saṃbhavanti hi| svadharmaṃ pratipadyasva kṛtvā vaivāhyamuttamam || 1-73-12 ||

"For it is through the giver and the receiver together that every end is accomplished; so take up your own duty, and let this excellent marriage be performed."

Shloka 13 (bala.73.13)

इत्युक्तः परमोदारो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा वाक्यं परमधर्मवित् ॥ १-७३-१३ ॥

ityuktaḥ paramodāro vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā| pratyuvāca mahātejā vākyaṃ paramadharmavit || 1-73-13 ||

Thus addressed by the noble-souled and most generous Vashishtha, that greatly resplendent king, supreme knower of Dharma, replied with these words.

Shloka 14 (bala.73.14)

कः स्थितः प्रतिहारो मे कस्याज्ञा संप्रतीक्ष्यते। स्वगृहे को विचारोऽस्ति यथा राज्यमिदं तव ॥ १-७३-१४ ॥

kaḥ sthitaḥ pratihāro me kasyājñā saṃpratīkṣyate| svagṛhe ko vicāro'sti yathā rājyamidaṃ tava || 1-73-14 ||

"What gatekeeper of mine stands in the way? Whose command is being awaited? What hesitation can there be in one's own house? This kingdom is as much yours as mine."

Shloka 15 (bala.73.15)

कृतकौतुकसर्वस्वा वेदिमूलमुपागताः। मम कन्या मुनिश्रेष्ठ दीप्ता वह्नेरिवार्चिषः ॥ १-७३-१५ ॥

kṛtakautukasarvasvā vedimūlamupāgatāḥ| mama kanyā muniśreṣṭha dīptā vahnerivārciṣaḥ || 1-73-15 ||

"O best of sages, my daughters, having completed all their kautuka rites, have already come to the foot of the altar, radiant as the flames of fire."

Shloka 16 (bala.73.16)

सद्योऽहं त्वत्प्रतीक्षोऽस्मि वेद्यामस्यां प्रतिष्ठितः। अविघ्नं कुरुतां राजा किमर्थं हि विलम्ब्यते ॥ १-७३-१६ ॥

sadyo'haṃ tvatpratīkṣo'smi vedyāmasyāṃ pratiṣṭhitaḥ| avighnaṃ kurutāṃ rājā kimarthaṃ hi vilambyate || 1-73-16 ||

"I stand here at this altar, awaiting only you. Let the king proceed without hindrance — why indeed is there this delay?"

Shloka 17 (bala.73.17)

तद्वाक्यं जनकेनोक्तं श्रुत्वा दशरथस्तदा। प्रवेशयामास सुतान् सर्वानृषिगणानपि ॥ १-७३-१७ ॥

tadvākyaṃ janakenoktaṃ śrutvā daśarathastadā| praveśayāmāsa sutān sarvānṛṣigaṇānapi || 1-73-17 ||

Having heard those words spoken by Janaka, Dasharatha then had all his sons, together with the whole company of sages, brought in.

Shloka 18 (bala.73.18)

ततो राजा विदेहानां वशिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्। कारयस्व ऋषे सर्वानृषिभिः सह धार्मिक ॥ १-७३-१८ ॥

tato rājā videhānāṃ vaśiṣṭhamidamabravīt| kārayasva ṛṣe sarvānṛṣibhiḥ saha dhārmika || 1-73-18 ||

Then the king of the Videhas said this to Vashishtha: "O righteous sage, together with all the sages, perform—"

Shloka 19 (bala.73.19)

रामस्य लोकरामस्य क्रियां वैवाहिकीं प्रभो। तथेत्युक्त्वा तु जनकं वशिष्ठो भगवानृषिः ॥ १-७३-१९ ॥

rāmasya lokarāmasya kriyāṃ vaivāhikīṃ prabho| tathetyuktvā tu janakaṃ vaśiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ || 1-73-19 ||

"—O lord, the marriage rite of Rama, who is the delight of the world." Saying "so be it" to Janaka, the venerable sage Vashishtha—

Shloka 20 (bala.73.20)

विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य शतानंदं च धार्मिकम्। प्रपामध्ये तु विधिवद्वेदीं कृत्वा महातपाः ॥ १-७३-२० ॥

viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya śatānaṃdaṃ ca dhārmikam| prapāmadhye tu vidhivadvedīṃ kṛtvā mahātapāḥ || 1-73-20 ||

—placing Vishvamitra and the righteous Shatananda before him, that sage of great austerity duly built the altar in the midst of the wedding pavilion.

Shloka 21 (bala.73.21)

अलञ्चकार तां वेदीं गन्धपुष्पैः समंततः। सुवर्णपालिकाभिश्च चित्रकुम्भैश्च साङ्कुरैः ॥ १-७३-२१ ॥

alañcakāra tāṃ vedīṃ gandhapuṣpaiḥ samaṃtataḥ| suvarṇapālikābhiśca citrakumbhaiśca sāṅkuraiḥ || 1-73-21 ||

He adorned that altar all around with fragrant flowers, with golden ladles, and with beautifully painted jars filled with sprouted grain.

Shloka 22 (bala.73.22)

अंकुराढ्यैः शरावैश्च धूपपात्रैः सधूपकैः। शंखपात्रैः श्रुवैः स्रुग्भिः पात्रैरर्घ्यादिपूजितैः ॥ १-७३-२२ ॥

aṃkurāḍhyaiḥ śarāvaiśca dhūpapātraiḥ sadhūpakaiḥ| śaṃkhapātraiḥ śruvaiḥ srugbhiḥ pātrairarghyādipūjitaiḥ || 1-73-22 ||

With saucers full of sprouted grain, with censers of incense-smoke, with conch-shaped vessels, with sruva and sruk ladles, and with vessels honoured by offerings of arghya.

Shloka 23 (bala.73.23)

लाजपूर्णैश्च पात्रीभिरक्षितैरपि संस्कृतैः। दर्भैः समैः समास्तीर्य विधिवन्मंत्रपूर्वकम् ॥ १-७३-२३ ॥

lājapūrṇaiśca pātrībhirakṣitairapi saṃskṛtaiḥ| darbhaiḥ samaiḥ samāstīrya vidhivanmaṃtrapūrvakam || 1-73-23 ||

With vessels filled with parched grain and consecrated unbroken rice, and spreading even sacred kusha grass evenly, all according to rule and with mantras—

Shloka 24 (bala.73.24)

अग्निमाधाय तं वेद्यां विधिमंत्रपुरस्कृतम्। जुहावाग्नौ महातेजा वशिष्ठो मुनिपुंगव ॥ १-७३-२४ ॥

agnimādhāya taṃ vedyāṃ vidhimaṃtrapuraskṛtam| juhāvāgnau mahātejā vaśiṣṭho munipuṃgava || 1-73-24 ||

—having established the fire on that altar with due ritual and mantras, that greatly resplendent foremost of sages, Vashishtha, offered oblations into the fire.

Shloka 25 (bala.73.25)

ततः सीतां समानीय सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्। समक्षमग्नेः संस्थाप्य राघवाभिमुखे तदा ॥ १-७३-२५ ॥

tataḥ sītāṃ samānīya sarvābharaṇabhūṣitām| samakṣamagneḥ saṃsthāpya rāghavābhimukhe tadā || 1-73-25 ||

Then, having brought Sita, adorned with every ornament, and set her before the fire, facing Raghava—

Shloka 26 (bala.73.26)

अब्रवीज्जनको राजा कौसल्यानंदवर्धनम्। इयं सीता मम सुता सहधर्मचरी तव ॥ १-७३-२६ ॥

abravījjanako rājā kausalyānaṃdavardhanam| iyaṃ sītā mama sutā sahadharmacarī tava || 1-73-26 ||

—King Janaka said to him who increases Kausalya's joy, "This is Sita, my daughter; she shall be your partner in Dharma."

Shloka 27 (bala.73.27)

प्रतीच्छ चैनां भद्रं ते पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना। पतिव्रता महभागा छायेवानुगता सदा ॥ १-७३-२७ ॥

pratīccha caināṃ bhadraṃ te pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva pāṇinā| pativratā mahabhāgā chāyevānugatā sadā || 1-73-27 ||

"Accept her — may you be blessed; take her hand in your hand. Devoted to her husband and most fortunate, she will ever follow you like your own shadow."

Shloka 28 (bala.73.28)

इत्युक्त्वा प्राक्षिपद्राजा मंत्रपूतं जलं तदा। साधु साध्विति देवानामृषीणां वदतां तदा ॥ १-७३-२८ ॥

ityuktvā prākṣipadrājā maṃtrapūtaṃ jalaṃ tadā| sādhu sādhviti devānāmṛṣīṇāṃ vadatāṃ tadā || 1-73-28 ||

Having said this, the king then sprinkled mantra-consecrated water; and at that moment the gods and sages exclaimed, "Well done, well done!"

Shloka 29 (bala.73.29)

देवदुंदुभिनिर्घोषः पुष्पवर्षो महानभूत्। एवं दत्त्वा सुतां सीतां मंत्रोदकपुरस्कृताम् ॥ १-७३-२९ ॥

devaduṃdubhinirghoṣaḥ puṣpavarṣo mahānabhūt| evaṃ dattvā sutāṃ sītāṃ maṃtrodakapuraskṛtām || 1-73-29 ||

There was a great sound of divine drums and a mighty shower of flowers. Having thus given his daughter Sita, preceded by the mantra-consecrated water—

Shloka 30 (bala.73.30)

अब्रवीज्जनको राजा हर्षेणाभिपरिप्लुतः। लक्ष्मणागच्छ भद्रं ते ऊर्मिलामुद्यतां मया ॥ १-७३-३० ॥

abravījjanako rājā harṣeṇābhipariplutaḥ| lakṣmaṇāgaccha bhadraṃ te ūrmilāmudyatāṃ mayā || 1-73-30 ||

—King Janaka, overflowing with joy, said, "Lakshmana, come — may you be blessed; here is Urmila, offered by me."

Shloka 31 (bala.73.31)

प्रतीच्छ पाणिं गृह्णीष्व मा भूत् कालस्य पर्ययः। तमेवमुक्त्वा जनको भरतं चाभ्यभाषत ॥ १-७३-३१ ॥

pratīccha pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ| tamevamuktvā janako bharataṃ cābhyabhāṣata || 1-73-31 ||

"Accept her, take her hand — let not the auspicious moment pass." Having spoken thus to him, Janaka then addressed Bharata.

Shloka 32 (bala.73.32)

गृहाण पाणिं माण्डव्याः पाणिना रघुनंदन। शत्रुघ्नं चापि धर्मात्मा अब्रवीन्मिथिलेश्वरः ॥ १-७३-३२ ॥

gṛhāṇa pāṇiṃ māṇḍavyāḥ pāṇinā raghunaṃdana| śatrughnaṃ cāpi dharmātmā abravīnmithileśvaraḥ || 1-73-32 ||

"O scion of Raghu, take Mandavi's hand in your hand." And to Shatrughna too, that righteous lord of Mithila said—

Shloka 33 (bala.73.33)

श्रुतकीर्तेर्महाबाहो पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना। सर्वे भवन्तः सौम्याश्च सर्वे सुचरितव्रताः ॥ १-७३-३३ ॥

śrutakīrtermahābāho pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva pāṇinā| sarve bhavantaḥ saumyāśca sarve sucaritavratāḥ || 1-73-33 ||

"O mighty-armed one, take Shrutakirti's hand in your hand. All of you are gentle of nature and firm in righteous observance."

Shloka 34 (bala.73.34)

पत्नीभिः सन्तु काकुत्स्था मा भूत्कालस्य पर्ययः। जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पाणीन् पाणिभिरस्पृशन् ॥ १-७३-३४ ॥

patnībhiḥ santu kākutsthā mā bhūtkālasya paryayaḥ| janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā pāṇīn pāṇibhiraspṛśan || 1-73-34 ||

"O scions of Kakutstha, be united with your wives — let not the auspicious moment pass." Hearing Janaka's words, they took the hands of their brides in their own.

Shloka 35 (bala.73.35)

चत्वारस्ते चतसॄणां वसिष्ठस्य मते स्थिताः। अग्निं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा वेदिं राजानमेव च ॥ १-७३-३५ ॥

catvāraste catasṝṇāṃ vasiṣṭhasya mate sthitāḥ| agniṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā vediṃ rājānameva ca || 1-73-35 ||

Those four, abiding by Vashishtha's direction, together with the four brides circumambulated the fire, the altar, and King Janaka himself—

Shloka 36 (bala.73.36)

ऋषींश्चैव महात्मानः सहभार्या रघूद्वहाः। यथोक्तेन तथा चक्रुर्विवाहं विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ १-७३-३६ ॥

ṛṣīṃścaiva mahātmānaḥ sahabhāryā raghūdvahāḥ| yathoktena tathā cakrurvivāhaṃ vidhipūrvakam || 1-73-36 ||

—and the great sages too, they who were foremost of Raghu's line, together with their wives; exactly as instructed, they thus performed the wedding according to rule.

Shloka 37 (bala.73.37)

पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीदन्तरिक्षात्सुभास्वरा। दिव्यदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषैर्गीतवादित्रनिःस्वनैः ॥ १-७३-३७ ॥

puṣpavṛṣṭirmahatyāsīdantarikṣātsubhāsvarā| divyadundubhinirghoṣairgītavāditraniḥsvanaiḥ || 1-73-37 ||

A great and brilliant shower of flowers fell from the sky, amid the sound of divine drums and the strains of song and instrumental music.

Shloka 38 (bala.73.38)

ननृतुश्चाप्सरःसंघा गन्धर्वाश्च जगुः कलम्। विवाहे रघुमुख्यानां तदद्भुतमदृश्यत ॥ १-७३-३८ ॥

nanṛtuścāpsaraḥsaṃghā gandharvāśca jaguḥ kalam| vivāhe raghumukhyānāṃ tadadbhutamadṛśyata || 1-73-38 ||

Bands of Apsaras danced, and Gandharvas sang sweetly; at the wedding of these foremost of Raghu's line, a wondrous sight was witnessed.

Shloka 39 (bala.73.39)

ईदृशे वर्तमाने तु तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिते। त्रिरग्निं ते परिक्रम्य ऊहुर्भार्या महौजसः ॥ १-७३-३९ ॥

īdṛśe vartamāne tu tūryodghuṣṭaninādite| triragniṃ te parikramya ūhurbhāryā mahaujasaḥ || 1-73-39 ||

While such celebrations resounded with the blare of trumpets, those men of great might, having circled the fire three times, took their wives.

Shloka 40 (bala.73.40)

अथोपकार्यां जग्मुस्ते स दारा रघुनंदनाः। राजाप्यनुययौ पश्यन् सर्षिसंघः सबान्धवः ॥ १-७३-४० ॥

athopakāryāṃ jagmuste sa dārā raghunaṃdanāḥ| rājāpyanuyayau paśyan sarṣisaṃghaḥ sabāndhavaḥ || 1-73-40 ||

Then those scions of Raghu, with their wives, went to their guest-lodging; and the king too followed, watching them, together with the company of sages and kinsmen.