Sarga 73: Marriage Celebration
Vivaha Utsav
The grand celebration of the four marriages in Mithila.
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प्रतीच्छ पाणिं गृह्णीष्व मा भूत्कालस्य पर्यय:। तमेवमुक्त्वा जनको भरतं चाभ्यभाषत।
Meaning
accept her, take her hand in your own -- let there be no lapse of time.' Having said this to Lakshmana, Janaka then addressed Bharata:
पाणिं गृह्णीष्व माण्डव्या: पाणिना रघुनन्दन। शत्रुघ्नं चापि धर्मात्मा अब्रवीज्जनकेश्वर:।
Meaning
'Take the hand of Mandavi in your own hand, O delight of the Raghus.' And to the righteous Shatrughna, the lord of Janaka's line said:
श्रुतकीर्त्या महाबाहो पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना। सर्वे भवन्त: सौम्याश्च सर्वे सुचरितव्रता:।
Meaning
'O mighty-armed one, take the hand of Shrutakirti in your own. May all of you be gentle-hearted and ever of virtuous conduct,'
पत्नीभि: सन्तु काकुत्स्था मा भूत्कालस्य पर्यय:। जनकस्य वच: श्रुत्वा पाणीन्पाणिभिरस्पृशन्।
Meaning
'and may you, descendants of Kakutstha, live with your wives without any lapse of time.' On hearing Janaka's words, the princes joined their palms with the palms of the brides,
चत्वारस्ते चतसॄणां वसिष्ठस्य मते स्थिता:। अग्निं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा वेदिं राजानमेव च।
Meaning
all four of them, with the four princesses, abiding by Vasishta's direction, having circled the fire and the altar and the king himself,
ऋषींश्चैव महात्मान: सभार्या रघुसत्तमा:। यथोक्तेन तदा चक्रुर्विवाहं विधिपूर्वकम्।
Meaning
and the great-souled sages as well, those best of the Raghu line, together with their wives, performed the marriage rite according to scriptural injunction.
काकुत्स्थैश्च गृहीतेषु ललितेषु च पाणिषु। पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीदन्तरिक्षात्सुभास्वरा।
Meaning
And as the sons of Kakutstha took the delicate hands of their brides, a great and radiant shower of flowers fell from the sky,
दिव्यदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषैर्गीतवादित्रनि:स्वनै:। ननृतुश्चाप्सर:सङ्घा गन्धर्वाश्च जगु: कलम्।
Meaning
resounding with celestial kettledrums, songs, and instrumental music; hosts of apsaras danced and gandharvas sang sweetly.
विवाहे रघुमुख्यानां तदद्भुतमदृश्यत। ईदृशे वर्तमाने तु तूर्योद्घुष्टनिनादिते।
Meaning
At the marriage of these foremost princes of Raghu's line, a wondrous sight was witnessed. While this was taking place, resounding with trumpet calls,
त्रिरग्निं ते परिक्रम्य ऊहुर्भार्या महौजस:। अथोपकार्यां जग्मुस्ते सदारा रघुनन्दना:। राजाप्यनुययौ पश्यन्सर्षिसङ्घ: सबान्धव:।
Meaning
the mighty princes circled the triple fire and led their wives around it; then, with their wives, the delights of Raghu's line went to the guest-house, the king himself following behind, watched over by the assembled sages and his kinsmen.