Bala Kanda, Sarga 72

Meaning

To the celebrated and heroic King Janaka (belonging to the Videha dynasty), who had finished his say, the great sage Viśwāmitra, accompanied by Vasiṣṭha, addressed the following words : (1)

Meaning

“The royal houses of Ikṣwāku and Videha are inconceivably great and immeasurably glorious, O jewel among men ! There is none equal to those belonging to these two races. (2)

Meaning

The sacred matrimonial alliance, going to be contracted between the two houses, is well-matched; it is well-matched in point of physical charm as well as of riches; for Sītā alongwith Ūrmilā is quite becoming of Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. (3)

Meaning

There is more to be said on this subject, O jewel among men ! Let my counsel be heard. Here is your younger brother, King Kuśadhwaja, who knows what is right. (4)

Meaning

We sue, O jewel among men, as a wife to prince Bharata as also to the shrewd Śatrughna, the two others sons of Emperor Daśaratha, the two daughters, of this pious-minded prince, who are peerless on earth in point of comeliness. O king, whereas I ask your two daughters, Sītā and Ūrmilā, for these two high-souled princes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, O Janaka ! (5-6)

Meaning

“All these four sons of Daśaratha are full of charm as well as of youth, nay equal in prowess to gods, and the very compeers of the guardians of the spheres. (7)

Meaning

“Through the marriage of both these pairs let the house of Ikṣwāku be bound with ties of love, O ruler of rulers; and let your mind remain unperturbed by a feeling of diffidence in contracting a fourfold relation with the great King Daśaratha all at once, a man of virtuous deeds as you are.” (8)

Meaning

Hearing the proposal of Viśwāmitra, agreeing with the view of Vasiṣṭha, Janaka forthwith submitted to both the jewels among sages with folded hands as follows : (9)

Meaning

“I consider my pedigree blessed in that you two shining jewels among sages personally enjoin us to contract a matrimonial alliance worthy of us. (10)

Meaning

“Let it be so ! May good fortune attend on you all ! Let Śatrughna and Bharata both, who ever remain together, take to wife the said two daughters of Kuśadhwaja. (11)

Meaning

“Let all the four very mighty princes marry the four princesses the same day, O eminent sage ! (12)

Meaning

“The wise commend a wedding on the second of the following two days marked by the ascenedency of the two lunar mansions bearing the name of Phālgunī, viz., the Pūrvā Phālgunī and the Uttarā Phālgunī, presided over by Prajāpati, the god presiding over the genitals.” (13)

Meaning

Having made the aforesaid gentle request and rising from his seat as a mark of respect, King Janaka submitted with folded hands to both the great sages as follows : (14)

Meaning

“A supreme merit has been conferred upon me by you in the form of virtue resulting from the contemplated gift of my daughters to worthy recipients. I am servant to you both in the same way as is Daśaratha; let you both be seated on exalted seats, O jewels among sages ! (15)

Meaning

“Just as this city of Mithilā belongs to Daśaratha, so is Ayodhyā my own city. There can be no doubt about your authority here. Be pleased, therefore, to do what is in the fitness of things.” (16)

Meaning

While Janaka, who belonged to the line of the Videhas, was speaking thus, King Daśaratha, a scion of Raghu, joyously replied to the aforesaid king as follows : (17)

Meaning

“You two brothers, the rulers of Mithilā, possess innumerable qualities. Sages and hosts of princes have been entertained by you both on many occasions.” (18)

Meaning

“Attain happiness. May God bless you ! We shall now retire to our own lodging and shall duly perform the Śrāddha rites,” he added. (19)

Meaning

Taking leave of the celebrated Janaka, a ruler of men, at that moment, the highly illustrious King Daśaratha soon departed, placing the aforesaid two great sages, Vasiṣṭha and Viśwāmitra, ahead. (20)

Meaning

Reaching his lodging and performing the Śrāddha with due ceremony, the king rose in the morning and performed the grand Samāvartana ceremony (with respect to his four sons, consisting in the shaving of their hair on the head and the armspits and the gifting of cows), appropriate to that time.(21)

Meaning

King Daśaratha, who loved his sons very much, gave away in accordance with the principles of righteousness a hundred thousand cows to the Brāhmaṇas for the sake of each of his four sons. (22)

Meaning

In the name of the Samāvartana ceremony with respect to his four sons, Emperor Daśaratha, a scion of Raghu, the foremost of men, who was so fond of his sons, bestowed (on that occasion) on the Brāhmaṇas four lakhs of recently calved cows that had their horns plated with gold and yielded ample milk, each with a milking vessel of bell-metal, as well as abundant riches of other description. (23-24)

Meaning

Surrounded on that occasion by his sons, who had their heads shaved and had gifted so many cows, the king shone brightly like the delightful Brahmā, the lord of created beings, surrounded by the guardians of the spheres. (25)