# Bāla Kāṇḍa 68 — Vivāha: Daśaratha arrives in Mithilā *Daśaratha arrives with wealth, ṛṣis and the army, Janaka welcomes the alliance and completes preparations while Daśaratha reunites with his sons* Portion: The marriages at Mithilā · Verses: 18 · Ref format: 1.68. ## Sequence - At dawn Daśaratha orders the treasurers to travel ahead with wealth and jewels and the fourfold army to prepare → Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, Jābāli, Kāśyapa, Mārkaṇḍeya, and Kātyāyana are to lead the company of brāhmaṇas (68.1–5) - he sets out with the ṛṣis and army → after four days they reach the Videhas, and Janaka comes to welcome them (68.6–8) - Janaka rejoices in the family alliance and proposes the marriage after the sacrifice's conclusion (68.9–12) - Daśaratha replies that the giver determines the occasion and that he will follow Janaka's arrangements (68.13–15) - the munis enjoy their reunion → Daśaratha spends the night delighted to see Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa again → Janaka completes the necessary sacrificial and family preparations (68.16–18). ## Verses **1.68.1** tato rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ sopādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ rājā daśaratho hṛṣṭaḥ sumantram idam abravīt Then, when the night had passed, King Daśaratha, together with his teachers and kinsmen, delighted, said this to Sumantra: **1.68.2** adya sarve dhanādhyakṣā dhanam ādāya puṣkalam vrajantv agre suvihitā nānāratnasamanvitāḥ “Today let all the treasurers, taking abundant wealth, well-arranged and provided with various jewels, go in front. **1.68.3** caturaṅgabalaṃ cāpi śīghraṃ niryātu sarvaśaḥ mamājñāsamakālaṃ ca yānayugyam anuttamam And let the four-membered army set out quickly in full; and at the very moment of my command (let) unsurpassed conveyances and vehicles (be ready). **1.68.4** vasiṣṭho vāmadevaś ca jābālir atha kāśyapaḥ mārkaṇḍeyaś ca dīrghāyur ṛṣiḥ kātyāyanas tathā Vasiṣṭha and Vāmadeva, Jābāli and Kāśyapa, and the long-lived Mārkaṇḍeya, and likewise the sage Kātyāyana — **1.68.5** ete dvijāḥ prayāntv agre syandanaṃ yojayasva me yathā kālātyayo na syād dūtā hi tvarayanti mām let these brahmins go in front; yoke my chariot, so that there be no delay, for the messengers are urging me on.” **1.68.6** vacanāc ca narendrasya sā senā caturaṅgiṇī rājānam ṛṣibhiḥ sārdhaṃ vrajantaṃ pṛṣṭhato 'nvagāt And at the king's word, that four-membered army followed behind the king as he journeyed with the sages. **1.68.7** gatvā caturahaṃ mārgaṃ videhān abhyupeyivān rājā tu janakaḥ śrīmāñ śrutvā pūjām akalpayat Having traveled a four-day journey, he reached the Videhas; and the illustrious king Janaka, hearing of it, arranged a reception. **1.68.8** tato rājānam āsādya vṛddhaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam janako mudito rājā harṣaṃ ca paramaṃ yayau uvāca na naraśreṣṭho naraśreṣṭhaṃ mudānvitam Then, approaching the aged king Daśaratha, King Janaka, delighted, attained supreme joy; and the best of men (Janaka) spoke to the best of men (Daśaratha), who was filled with joy: **1.68.9** svāgataṃ te mahārāja diṣṭyā prāpto 'si rāghava putrayor ubhayoḥ prītiṃ lapsyase vīryanirjitām “Welcome to you, O great king; by good fortune you have arrived, O Rāghava; you will gain the joy of both your sons, won by their valor. **1.68.10** diṣṭyā prāpto mahātejā vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ saha sarvair dvijaśreṣṭhair devair iva śatakratuḥ By good fortune the greatly resplendent venerable sage Vasiṣṭha has come, together with all the best of brahmins, like Śatakratu (Indra) with the gods. **1.68.11** diṣṭyā me nirjitā vighnā diṣṭyā me pūjitaṃ kulam rāghavaiḥ saha saṃbandhād vīryaśreṣṭhair mahātmabhiḥ By good fortune my obstacles are overcome; by good fortune my line is honored through alliance with the Rāghavas, the most valorous, great-souled ones. **1.68.12** śvaḥ prabhāte narendrendra nirvartayitum arhasi yajñasyānte naraśreṣṭha vivāham ṛṣisaṃmatam Tomorrow at dawn, O supreme lord of kings, you should carry out, at the conclusion of the sacrifice, the marriage approved by the sages, O best of men.” **1.68.13** tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā ṛṣimadhye narādhipaḥ vākyaṃ vākyavidāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pratyuvāca mahīpatim Hearing those words of his amid the sages, the king (Daśaratha), best of those skilled in speech, replied to the king (Janaka): **1.68.14** pratigraho dātṛvaśaḥ śrutam etan mayā purā yathā vakṣyasi dharmajña tat kariṣyāmahe vayam “The receiving of a gift depends on the giver — this I have heard of old; as you shall direct, O knower of dharma, that we shall do.” **1.68.15** tad dharmiṣṭhaṃ yaśasyaṃ ca vacanaṃ satyavādinaḥ śrutvā videhādhipatiḥ paraṃ vismayam āgataḥ Hearing that most righteous and glorious speech of the truthful one, the lord of Videha was struck with the greatest wonder. **1.68.16** tataḥ sarve munigaṇāḥ parasparasamāgame harṣeṇa mahatā yuktās tāṃ niśām avasan sukham Then all the throngs of sages, filled with great joy at their mutual meeting, passed that night happily. **1.68.17** rājā ca rāghavau putrau niśāmya pariharṣitaḥ uvāsa paramaprīto janakena supūjitaḥ And the king (Daśaratha), gazing upon his two Rāghava sons, greatly delighted, dwelt there supremely pleased, well honored by Janaka. **1.68.18** janako 'pi mahātejāḥ kriyā dharmeṇa tattvavit yajñasya ca sutābhyāṃ ca kṛtvā rātrim uvāsa ha And Janaka too, of great splendor, the knower of truth, having performed according to dharma the rites of the sacrifice and (the rites) for his two daughters, passed the night.