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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 72: Vivāha: Taking hands and circling the fire

Summary. The four princes take their brides’ hands under Vasiṣṭha’s direction, circle the fire and depart together for the guest quarters as puṣpavṛṣṭi falls, divya-dundubhis sound, apsarases dance and gandharvas sing

Sequence

  1. On the day of godāna, Yudhājit, the Kekaya King's son and Bharata's maternal uncle, arrives (1.72.1–2)
  2. he explains that he went to Ayodhyā to see Bharata, learned of the journey, and hurried to Mithilā → Daśaratha warmly receives him (1.72.3–7)
  3. after that night, Daśaratha proceeds to the sacrificial enclosure (yajñavāṭa), with the ṛṣis in front → at the auspicious hour called Vijaya, Rāma approaches with his adorned brothers, Vasiṣṭha and the other maharṣis leading; his auspicious wedding preliminaries (kautukamaṅgala) have already been performed (1.72.8–9)
  4. Vasiṣṭha announces that the groom's party is ready and awaits the giver of the brides (1.72.10–11)
  5. Janaka asks whose permission they are waiting for: they should have no hesitation in their own house, for this Kingdom is as their own → his daughters, their kautuka wedding preliminaries fully completed, stand at the altar (vedī), radiant like flames, and he himself is ready there, awaiting them → he urges the King to proceed without delay → Daśaratha brings his sons and the ṛṣis inside. Janaka presents Sītā to Rāma as his partner in dharma and asks him to take her hand (1.72.12–17)
  6. he offers Ūrmilā to Lakṣmaṇa, Māṇḍavī to Bharata, and Śrutakīrti to Śatrughna (1.72.18–20)
  7. following Vasiṣṭha's directions, the four princes take the four brides' hands (1.72.21–22)
  8. the couples perform pradakṣiṇā (rightward circumambulation) of Agni, the vedī, the King and the ṛṣis, completing the prescribed vivāha (marriage) rites (1.72.23)
  9. puṣpavṛṣṭi falls from the sky, divya-dundubhis and instruments sound, apsarases dance and gandharvas sing (1.72.24–25)
  10. after three circuits of the fire, the princes lead their brides to the guest quarters → Daśaratha follows with the ṛṣis and relatives. (1.72.26–27)

Verses 1.72.1–27

1.72.1

yasmiṃs tu divase rājā cakre godānam uttamam
tasmiṃs tu divase śūro yudhājit samupeyivān

On the very day that the king performed the excellent cow-gift rite, on that day the hero Yudhājit arrived.

Words: yasmiṃs — on which; tu — indeed; divase — day; rājā — the king; cakre — performed; godānam — the cow-gift (tonsure) rite; uttamam — excellent, foremost; tasmiṃs — on that; tu — indeed; divase — day; śūro — the hero; yudhājit — Yudhājit; samupeyivān — arrived, came

1.72.2

putraḥ kekayarājasya sākṣād bharatamātulaḥ
dṛṣṭvā pṛṣṭvā ca kuśalaṃ rājānam idam abravīt

The son of the Kekaya king, being in person Bharata's maternal uncle, having seen the king and asked after his welfare, said this:

Words: putraḥ — the son; kekayarājasya — of the Kekaya king; sākṣād — in person, directly; bharatamātulaḥ — Bharata's maternal uncle; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; pṛṣṭvā — having asked; ca — and; kuśalaṃ — welfare, well-being; rājānam — the king; idam — this; abravīt — said

1.72.3

kekayādhipatī rājā snehāt kuśalam abravīt
yeṣāṃ kuśalakāmo 'si teṣāṃ saṃpraty anāmayam

“The king, lord of the Kekayas, has out of affection inquired after your welfare; and of those whose welfare you desire, all are now in good health.

Words: kekayādhipatī — the lord of the Kekayas; rājā — the king; snehāt — out of affection; kuśalam — welfare, well-being; abravīt — asked, spoke of; yeṣāṃ — of whom; kuśalakāmo — desirous of welfare; 'si — you are; teṣāṃ — of them; saṃpraty — now, at present; anāmayam — good health, freedom from illness

1.72.4

svasrīyaṃ mama rājendra draṣṭukāmo mahīpate
tadartham upayāto 'ham ayodhyāṃ raghunandana

Desiring to see my sister's son, O lord of kings, O ruler of the earth, for that purpose I have come to Ayodhyā, O delight of the Raghus.

Words: svasrīyaṃ — sister's son; mama — my; rājendra — O lord of kings; draṣṭukāmo — desirous of seeing; mahīpate — O ruler of the earth; tadartham — for that purpose; upayāto — have come, arrived; 'ham — I; ayodhyāṃ — to Ayodhyā; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus

1.72.5

śrutvā tv ahaym ayodhyāyāṃ vivāhārthaṃ tāv ātmajān
mithilām upayātās tu tvayā saha mahīpate

But having heard at Ayodhyā that those two sons of yours, for the sake of the wedding, had gone to Mithilā together with you, O ruler of the earth,

Words: śrutvā — having heard; tv — but; aham — I; ayodhyāyāṃ — at Ayodhyā; vivāhārthaṃ — for the sake of the wedding; tāv — those two; ātmajān — sons; mithilām — to Mithilā; upayātās — gone, come; tu — and, indeed; tvayā saha — together with you; mahīpate — O ruler of the earth

1.72.6

tvarayābhupayāto 'haṃ draṣṭukāmaḥ svasuḥ sutam
atha rājā daśarathaḥ priyātithim upasthima

I came in haste, eager to see my sister's son.” Then King Daśaratha, (beholding) his dear guest present before him,

Words: tvarayābhupayāto — approached in haste; 'haṃ — I; draṣṭukāmaḥ — desirous of seeing; svasuḥ — of (my) sister; sutam — son; atha — then; rājā — the king; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; priyātithim — the dear guest; upasthima — present, who had arrived

1.72.7

dṛṣṭvā paramasatkāraiḥ pūjārhaṃ samapūjayat
tatas tām uṣito rātriṃ saha putrair mahātmabhiḥ

seeing him worthy of honour, paid him homage with the highest courtesies. Then, having spent that night together with his great-souled sons,

Words: dṛṣṭvā — having seen; paramasatkāraiḥ — with the highest courtesies; pūjārhaṃ — (him) worthy of honour; samapūjayat — paid homage, honoured; tatas — then; tām — that; uṣito — having spent, stayed through; rātriṃ — night; saha — together with; putrair — his sons; mahātmabhiḥ — great-souled

1.72.8

ṛṣīṃs tadā puraskṛtya yajñavāṭam upāgamat
yukte muhūrte vijaye sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaiḥ
bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito rāmaḥ kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ

placing the seers before him, he went to the sacrificial enclosure. At the auspicious hour called Vijaya, Rāma, on whom the auspicious wedding-cord had been bound, together with his brothers adorned with every ornament,

Words: ṛṣīṃs — the seers; tadā — then; puraskṛtya — placing in front, at the head; yajñavāṭam — the sacrificial enclosure; upāgamat — approached, went to; yukte — at the proper (joined); muhūrte — hour, moment; vijaye — (called) Vijaya (‘Victory’); sarvābharaṇabhūṣitaiḥ — adorned with every ornament; bhrātṛbhiḥ — with (his) brothers; sahito — together with; rāmaḥ — Rāma; kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ — on whom the auspicious wedding-cord had been bound

1.72.9

vasiṣṭhaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā maharṣīn aparān api
maharṣīn aparān api

placing Vasiṣṭha and the other great seers in front (came forth).

Words: vasiṣṭhaṃ — Vasiṣṭha; purataḥ — in front; kṛtvā — having placed, made; maharṣīn — the great seers; aparān — other; api — also

1.72.10

rājā raśaratho rājan kṛtakautukamaṅgalaiḥ
putrair naravaraśreṣṭha dātāram abhikāṅkṣate

“King Daśaratha, O king, together with his sons, on whom the auspicious wedding-cords have been bound, awaits the giver of the brides, O best of the foremost of men.”

Words: rājā — king; raśaratho — Daśaratha; rājan — O king; kṛtakautukamaṅgalaiḥ — on whom the auspicious wedding-cords had been bound; putrair — with his sons; naravaraśreṣṭha — O best of the foremost of men; dātāram — the giver (of the brides); abhikāṅkṣate — awaits, longs for

1.72.11

dātṛpratigrahītṛbhyāṃ sarvārthāḥ prabhavanti hi
svadharmaṃ pratipadyasva kṛtvā vaivāhyam uttamam

For between the giver and the receiver all aims prosper; fulfil your own duty by performing the excellent marriage.

Words: dātṛpratigrahītṛbhyāṃ — between the giver and the receiver; sarvārthāḥ — all aims, purposes; prabhavanti — arise, prosper; hi — for, indeed; svadharmaṃ — your own duty; pratipadyasva — undertake, fulfil; kṛtvā — having done, performed; vaivāhyam — the marriage; uttamam — excellent

1.72.12

ity uktaḥ paramodāro vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā
pratyuvāca mahātejā vākyaṃ paramadharmavit

Thus addressed by the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, that exceedingly noble one (Janaka), of great splendour and knower of the highest dharma, replied with these words:

Words: ity — thus; uktaḥ — addressed, spoken to; paramodāro — the exceedingly noble one; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; mahātmanā — the great-souled; pratyuvāca — replied; mahātejā — of great splendour; vākyaṃ — words; paramadharmavit — knower of the highest dharma

1.72.13

kaḥ sthitaḥ pratihāro me kasyājñā saṃpratīkṣyate
svagṛhe ko vicāro 'sti yathā rājyam idaṃ tava

“What doorkeeper stands (barring the way) for me? Whose command is being awaited? In one's own house what hesitation is there? This kingdom is as your own.

Words: kaḥ — what, who; sthitaḥ — stands; pratihāro — doorkeeper; me — for me, my; kasyājñā — whose command; saṃpratīkṣyate — is being awaited; svagṛhe — in one's own house; ko — what; vicāro — hesitation, deliberation; 'sti — is there; yathā — as, since; rājyam — kingdom; idaṃ — this; tava — your

1.72.14

kṛtakautukasarvasvā vedimūlam upāgatāḥ
mama kanyā muniśreṣṭha dīptā vahner ivārciṣaḥ

My daughters, O best of sages, arrayed in the full bridal adornment with the auspicious cords bound on, have come to the foot of the altar, blazing like the flames of fire.

Words: kṛtakautukasarvasvā — having had the whole of the bridal cord-rite and adornment performed; vedimūlam — the foot of the altar; upāgatāḥ — have come, arrived; mama — my; kanyā — daughters; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; dīptā — blazing; vahner — of fire; ivārciṣaḥ — like the flames

1.72.15

sajjo 'haṃ tvatpratīkṣo 'smi vedyām asyāṃ pratiṣhitaḥ
avighnaṃ kurutāṃ rājā kimarthaṃ hi vilambyate

I am ready, awaiting you, stationed at this altar; let the king proceed without hindrance — why indeed is there delay?”

Words: sajjo — ready; 'haṃ — I; tvatpratīkṣo — awaiting you; 'smi — am; vedyām — at the altar; asyāṃ — this; pratiṣhitaḥ — stationed, established; avighnaṃ — without hindrance; kurutāṃ — let (him) proceed, do; rājā — the king; kimarthaṃ — why, for what purpose; hi — indeed; vilambyate — is delayed

1.72.16

tadvākyaṃ janakenoktaṃ śrutvā daśarathas tadā
praveśayām āsa sutān sarvān ṛṣigaṇān api

Hearing those words spoken by Janaka, Daśaratha then had all his sons, and the hosts of seers too, enter (the enclosure).

Words: tadvākyaṃ — those words; janakenoktaṃ — spoken by Janaka; śrutvā — having heard; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tadā — then; praveśayām āsa — had (them) enter, ushered in; sutān — the sons; sarvān — all; ṛṣigaṇān — the hosts of seers; api — also

1.72.17

abravīj janako rājā kausalyānandavardhanam
iyaṃ sītā mama sutā sahadharmacarī tava
pratīccha caināṃ bhadraṃ te pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva pāṇinā

King Janaka spoke to (Rāma) the augmenter of Kausalyā's joy: “This is Sītā, my daughter, to be your partner in dharma; accept her — blessings on you — take her hand with your hand.”

Words: abravīj — spoke; janako — Janaka; rājā — king; kausalyānandavardhanam — the augmenter of Kausalyā's joy (Rāma); iyaṃ — this; sītā — Sītā; mama — my; sutā — daughter; sahadharmacarī — partner in dharma; tava — your; pratīccha — accept, receive; caināṃ — and her; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; pāṇiṃ — the hand; gṛhṇīṣva — take, grasp; pāṇinā — with (your) hand

1.72.18

lakṣmaṇāgaccha bhadraṃ te ūrmilām udyatāṃ mayā
pratīccha pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ

“Lakṣmaṇa, come — blessings on you — accept Ūrmilā, offered by me; take her hand, let there be no passing of the (auspicious) time.”

Words: lakṣmaṇāgaccha — Lakṣmaṇa, come; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; ūrmilām — Ūrmilā; udyatāṃ — offered, held forth; mayā — by me; pratīccha — accept, receive; pāṇiṃ — the hand; gṛhṇīṣva — take, grasp; mā bhūt — let there not be; kālasya — of the (auspicious) time; paryayaḥ — passing, lapse

1.72.19

tam evam uktvā janako bharataṃ cābhyabhāṣata
gṛhāṇa pāṇiṃ māṇḍavyāḥ pāṇinā raghunandana

Having spoken thus to him, Janaka then addressed Bharata: “Take the hand of Māṇḍavī with your hand, O delight of the Raghus.”

Words: tam — him; evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; janako — Janaka; bharataṃ — Bharata; cābhyabhāṣata — and addressed; gṛhāṇa — take, grasp; pāṇiṃ — the hand; māṇḍavyāḥ — of Māṇḍavī; pāṇinā — with (your) hand; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus

1.72.20

śatrughnaṃ cāpi dharmātmā abravīj janakeśvaraḥ
śrutakīrtyā mahābāho pāṇiṃ gṛhṇīṣva pāṇinā

And to Śatrughna too the righteous lord Janaka spoke: “O mighty-armed one, take the hand of Śrutakīrti with your hand.”

Words: śatrughnaṃ — Śatrughna; cāpi — and also; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; abravīj — spoke; janakeśvaraḥ — the lord Janaka; śrutakīrtyā — (the hand) of Śrutakīrti; mahābāho — O mighty-armed; pāṇiṃ — the hand; gṛhṇīṣva — take, grasp; pāṇinā — with (your) hand

1.72.21

sarve bhavantaḥ saṃyāś ca sarve sucaritavratāḥ
patnībhiḥ santu kākutsthā mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ

“May you all, gentle and all of virtuous vows, be united with your wives, O Kākutsthas; let there be no passing of the (auspicious) time.”

Words: sarve — all; bhavantaḥ — you (honorific); saṃyāś — gentle, self-controlled; ca — and; sarve — all; sucaritavratāḥ — of good conduct and vows; patnībhiḥ — with (your) wives; santu — let (them) be; kākutsthā — O Kākutsthas (scions of Kakutstha); mā bhūt — let there not be; kālasya — of the (auspicious) time; paryayaḥ — passing, lapse

1.72.22

janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā pāṇīn pāṇibhir aspṛśan
catvāras te catasṛṇāṃ vasiṣṭhasya mate sthitāḥ

Hearing Janaka's words, the four (princes) touched with their hands the hands of the four (brides), abiding by Vasiṣṭha's directions.

Words: janakasya — of Janaka; vacaḥ — words; śrutvā — having heard; pāṇīn — the hands; pāṇibhir — with (their) hands; aspṛśan — touched; catvāras — the four; te — they; catasṛṇāṃ — of the four (brides); vasiṣṭhasya — of Vasiṣṭha; mate — according to the direction, counsel; sthitāḥ — abiding, standing

1.72.23

agniṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā vediṃ rājānam eva ca
ṛṣīṃś caiva mahātmānaḥ saha bhāryā raghūttamāḥ
yathoktena tathā cakrur vivāhaṃ vidhipūrvakam

Circling the fire, the altar, the king, and the seers, keeping them to their right, those great-souled best of the Raghus, together with their brides, performed the marriage duly, exactly as prescribed.

Words: agniṃ — the fire; pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation (keeping to the right); kṛtvā — having made; vediṃ — the altar; rājānam — the king; eva ca — and; ṛṣīṃś — the seers; caiva — and; mahātmānaḥ — the great-souled; saha bhāryā — together with their brides; raghūttamāḥ — the best of the Raghus; yathoktena — as was prescribed; tathā — so; cakrur — performed; vivāhaṃ — the marriage; vidhipūrvakam — according to rule

1.72.24

puṣpavṛṣṭir mahaty āsīd antarikṣāt subhāsvarā
divyadundubhinirghoṣair gītavāditranisvanaiḥ

A great and radiant shower of flowers fell from the sky, amid the sounds of divine kettledrums and the strains of song and instruments.

Words: puṣpavṛṣṭir — a shower of flowers; mahaty — great; āsīd — there was; antarikṣāt — from the sky; subhāsvarā — very radiant; divyadundubhinirghoṣair — with the sounds of divine kettledrums; gītavāditranisvanaiḥ — with the strains of song and instruments

1.72.25

nanṛtuś cāpsaraḥsaṃghā gandharvāś ca jaguḥ kalam
vivāhe raghumukhyānāṃ tad adbhutam ivābhavat

The hosts of apsarases danced and the gandharvas sang sweetly at the wedding of the foremost Raghus; it was as if a marvel had come to pass.

Words: nanṛtuś — danced; cāpsaraḥsaṃghā — and the hosts of apsarases; gandharvāś — the gandharvas; ca — and; jaguḥ — sang; kalam — sweetly, melodiously; vivāhe — at the wedding; raghumukhyānāṃ — of the foremost Raghus; tad — that; adbhutam — a marvel, wonder; ivābhavat — was as it were, seemed to be

1.72.26

īdṛśe vartamāne tu tūryodghuṣṭaninādite
trir agniṃ te parikramya ūhur bhāryā mahaujasaḥ

While such (celebration) was going on, resounding with the blare of trumpets, those mighty ones, circling the fire thrice, led away their brides.

Words: īdṛśe — such (loc.); vartamāne — (while it was) going on (loc. abs.); tu — and; tūryodghuṣṭaninādite — resounding with the blare of trumpets; trir — thrice; agniṃ — the fire; te — they; parikramya — having circled; ūhur — led (them) away (as wives); bhāryā — the brides; mahaujasaḥ — the mighty ones

1.72.27

athopakāryāṃ jagmus te sadārā raghunandanaḥ
rājāpy anuyayau paśyan sarṣisaṃghaḥ sabāndhavaḥ

Then those delights of the Raghus went to the guest-lodging with their wives; and the king too, looking on, followed after, together with the hosts of seers and his kinsmen.

Words: athopakāryāṃ — then to the guest-lodging; jagmus — went; te — they; sadārā — with their wives; raghunandanaḥ — the delights of the Raghus; rājāpy — the king too; anuyayau — followed after; paśyan — looking on; sarṣisaṃghaḥ — with the hosts of seers; sabāndhavaḥ — with his kinsmen

← 1.71 Vivāha: Four matches, śrāddha and godāna · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.73 Paraśurāma: Omens and the encounter on the road home →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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