# Bāla Kāṇḍa 72 — Vivāha: Taking hands and circling the fire *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* Portion: The marriages at Mithilā · Verses: 27 · Ref format: 1.72. ## Sequence - On the day of godāna, Yudhājit, the Kekaya King's son and Bharata's maternal uncle, arrives (72.1–2) - he explains that he went to Ayodhyā to see Bharata, learned of the journey, and hurried to Mithilā → Daśaratha warmly receives him (72.3–7) - 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 (72.8–9) - Vasiṣṭha announces that the groom's party is ready and awaits the giver of the brides (72.10–11) - 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 (72.12–16). Janaka presents Sītā to Rāma as his partner in dharma and asks him to take her hand (72.17) - he offers Ūrmilā to Lakṣmaṇa, Māṇḍavī to Bharata, and Śrutakīrti to Śatrughna (72.18–20) - following Vasiṣṭha's directions, the four princes take the four brides' hands (72.21–22) - the couples perform pradakṣiṇā (rightward circumambulation) of Agni, the vedī, the King and the ṛṣis, completing the prescribed vivāha (marriage) rites (72.23) - puṣpavṛṣṭi falls from the sky, divya-dundubhis and instruments sound, apsarases dance and gandharvas sing (72.24–25) - after three circuits of the fire, the princes lead their brides to the guest quarters → Daśaratha follows with the ṛṣis and relatives (72.26–27). ## Verses **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. **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: **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. **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. **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, **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, **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, **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, **1.72.9** vasiṣṭhaṃ purataḥ kṛtvā maharṣīn aparān api maharṣīn aparān api placing Vasiṣṭha and the other great seers in front (came forth). **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.” **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. **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: **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. **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. **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?” **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). **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.” **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.” **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.” **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.” **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.” **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. **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. **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. **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. **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. **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.