contined from vol 8 issue 28
contined from vol 8 issue 28 Kasyapa and good Jabali sprung from holy saints of yore,
Markandeya in his glory,
Katyayana in his pride,
Let each priest and proud preceptor with Kosala’s monarch ride,
Harness to my royal chariot strong and stately steeds of war,
For the envoys speed my journey and the way is long and far.”
With each priest and proud retainer Dasaratha led the way,
Glittering ranks of forces followed in their four-fold dread array,
Four days on the way they journeyed till they reached Videha’s land,
Janak with a courteous welcome came to greet the royal band,
Joyously Videha’s monarch greeted every priest and peer,
Greeted ancient Dasa-ratha in his accents soft and clear: “Hast thou come, my royal brother,
on my house to yield thy grace, Hast thou made a peaceful journey,
pride of Raghu’s royal race? Welcome! for Mithila’s people seek my royal guest to greet,
Welcome! for thy sons of valour long their loving sire to meet,
Welcome to the priest Vasishtha versed in Veda’s ancient lore,
Welcome every righteous rishi sprung from holy saints of yore! And my evil fates are vanquished and my race is sanctified,
With the warlike race of Raghu thus in loving bonds allied, Sacrifice and rites auspicious we ordain with rising sun, Ere the evening’s darkness closes,
happy nuptials shall be done!” Thus in kind and courteous accents Janak spake his purpose high,
And his royal love responding,
Dasa-ratha made reply: “Gift betokens giver’s bounty, so our ancient sages sing,
And thy righteous fame and virtue grace thy gift, Videha’s king! World-renowmed is Janak’s bounty,
Heaven-inspired his holy grace,
And we take his boon and blessina as an honour to our race!” Royal grace and kingly greeting,
marked the ancient monarch’s word, Janak with a grateful pleasure Dasaratha’s answer heard,
And the Brahmans and preceptors joyously the midnight spent,
And in converse pure and pleasant and in sacred sweet content.
Rigliteous Rama, gallant Lakshman piously their father greet,
Duly make their deep obeisance,
humbly touch his royal feet,
And the night is filled with gladness for the king revered and old,
Honoured by the saintly Janak,
greeted by his children bold, On Mithila’s tower and turret stars their silent vigils keep,
When each sacred rite completed, Janak seeks his nightly sleep.
THE PREPARATION All
his four heroic princes now with Dasaratha stayed In Mithila’s ancient city, and their father’s will obeyed,
Thither came the bold Yudhajit prince of proud Kaikeya’s line,
On the day that Dasa-ratha made his gifts of gold and kine,
And he met the ancient monarch, for his health and safety prayed,
Made his bow and due obeisance and in gentle accents said: “List, O king! my royal father,
monarch of Kaikeya’s race,
Sends his kindly love and greetings with his blessings and his grace,
And he asks if Dasa-ratha prospers in his wonted health,
If his friends and fond relations live in happiness and wealth.
Queen Kaikeyi is my sister,
and to see her son I came,
Bharat prince of peerless virtue,
worthy of his father’s fame, Aye,
to see that youth of valour,
by my royal father sent, To Ayodhya’s ancient city with an anxious heart I went,
In the city of Mithila,–thus did all thy subjects say,
With his sons and with his kinsmen Dasaratha makes his stay,
Hence in haste I journeyed hither,
travelling late and early dawn,
For to do thee due obeisance and to greet my sister’s son!” Spake the young and proud Kaikeya, dear and duly-greeted guest, Dasa-ratha on his brother choicest gifts and honours pressed.
Brightly dawned the happy morning, and Kosala’s king of fame With his sons and wise Vasishtha to the sacred yajna came,
Rama and his gallant brothers decked in gem and jewel bright,
In th’ auspicious hour of morning did the blest Kautuka rite,
And beside their royal father piously the princes stood,
And to fair Videlia’s monarch spake Vasishtha wise and good: “Daa-ratha waits expectant with each proud and princely son, Waits upon the bounteous giver,
for each holy rite is done, ‘Twixt the giver and the taker sacred word is sacred deed,
Seal with gift thy plighted promise,
let the nuptial rites proceed Thus the righteous-souled Vasishtha to Videha’s monarch prayed,
Janak versed in holy Vedas thus in courteous accents said: “Wherefore waits the king expectant? Free to him this royal dome, Since my kingdom is his empire and my palace is his home,
And the maidens,
flame -resplendent, done each fond Kautuka rite,
Beaming in their bridal beauty tread the sacrificial site I beside the lighted altar wait upon thy sacred hest,
And auspicious is the moment,
sage Vasishtha knows the rest Let the peerless Dasa-ratha, proud Kosala’s king of might,
With his sons and honoured sages enter on the holy site,
Let the righteous sage Vasishtha,
sprung from Vedic saints of old, Celebrate the happy wedding; be the sacred mantras told!”
THE WEDDING
Sage Vasishtha skilled in duty placed Videha’s honoured king, Viswa-mitra,
Sata-nanda, all within the sacred ring, And he raised the holy altar as the ancient writs ordain,
Decked and graced with scented garlands grateful unto gods and men,
And he set the golden ladles,
vases pierced by artists skilled,
Holy censers fresh and fragrant, cups with sacred honey filled,
Sanka bowls and shining salvers,
arghya plates for honoured guest,
Parchéd rice arranged in dishes,
corn unhusked that filled the rest,
And with careful hand Vasishtha grass around the altar flung, Offered gift to lighted AGNI and the sacred mantra sung! Softly came the sweet-eyed Sita,–bridal blush upon her brow,
TO BE CONTINUED