RAMACHARITMANAS

The Wedding of Sita & SriRama

Sitarama Kalyanam Part 2

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The Wedding of Sita & SriRama
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इयं सीता मम सुता सहधर्मचरी तव
प्रतीच्छ चैनां भद्रंते पाणीं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना ॥

Here Janaka is saying, this is Sita and she is my Daughter, Oh! Rama please accept her as your धर्म पत्नि, she will follow you in all walks of life and cooperate with you in following your धर्म, hold her hand carefully during पाणिग्रहनम्.
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सम‌उ बिलोकि बसिष्ठ बोला‌ए। सादर सतानंदु सुनि
आ‌ए॥
Perceiving that the time of wedding had arrived, Vasistha sent for Satananda with all the honour due to him, and on hearing the call the latter came with all reverence.

बेगि कु‌अँरि अब आनहु जा‌ई। चले मुदित मुनि आयसु पा‌ई॥
"Kindly go and bring the bride quickly now." Receiving the sage's order he gladly left.

रानी सुनि उपरोहित बानी। प्रमुदित सखिन्ह समेत सयानी॥
बिप्र बधू कुलबृद्ध बोला‌ईं। करि कुल रीति सुमंगल गा‌ईं॥
The wise queen with her associates was highly pleased to hear the priest's message; she sent for a few Brahmana ladies and the elder ladies of the family, who performed the family rites and sang charming festal songs.

नारि बेष जे सुर बर बामा। सकल सुभायँ सुंदरी स्यामा॥
The consorts of the principal gods, who were disguised as mortal women, were all naturally lovely and in the prime of their youth.

तिन्हहि देखि सुखु पावहिं नारीं। बिनु पहिचानि प्रानहु ते प्यारीं॥
The ladies of Janaka's household were delighted to see them and, even though none recognized them, the ladies held them dearer than their life.

बार बार सनमानहिं रानी। उमा रमा सारद सम जानी॥
The queen honoured them again and again treating them on a par with Uma, Ramaa and Sarada.

सीय सँवारि समाजु बना‌ई।
मुदित मंडपहिं चलीं लवा‌ई॥
After adorning Sita and forming a circle about Her they joyously conducted Her to the pavilion.

छं0-चलि ल्या‌इ सीतहि सखीं सादर सजि सुमंगल भामिनीं।
नवसप्त साजें सुंदरी सब मत्त कुंजर गामिनीं॥
Equipping themselves with auspicious materials Sita's companions and other ladies conducted Her to the pavilion with due honour; each of them was lovely of form and had all the sixteen forms of adornment and moved with the grace of an elephant in rut.

कल गान सुनि मुनि ध्यान त्यागहिं काम कोकिल लाजहीं।
At the sound of their melodious strains the sages felt obliged to give up their meditation, and love's own cuckoos were abashed.

मंजीर नूपुर कलित कंकन ताल गती बर बाजहीं॥
Their ornaments for the toes and ankles and the charming bangles on their wrists produced a delightful sound keeping tune with their songs.

दो0-सोहति बनिता बृंद महुँ सहज सुहावनि सीय।
छबि ललना गन मध्य जनु सुषमा तिय कमनीय॥322॥
Sita in Her native loveliness shone forth among the bevy of ladies as a charming personification of Beauty in the midst of the Graces.

सिय सुंदरता बरनि न जा‌ई। लघु मति बहुत मनोहरता‌ई॥
Sita's elegant form baffles all description: so poor is my wit and so surpassing Her charm.

आवत दीखि बरातिन्ह सीता॥रूप रासि सब भाँति पुनीता॥
When the members of the bridegroom's party saw Sita approach, a veritable storehouse of beauty and spotless in everyway, all greeted Her from the core of their heart.
सबहि मनहिं मन कि‌ए प्रनामा। देखि राम भ‌ए पूरनकामा॥
हरषे दसरथ सुतन्ह समेता। कहि न जा‌इ उर आनँदु जेता॥
All greeted Her in their heart of hearts. At the sight of Sri Rama all were satiated and felt their life fulfilled.
King Dasaratha with all his other sons was filled with delight; the joy of their heart could not be expressed.

सुर प्रनामु करि बरसहिं
फूला। मुनि असीस धुनि मंगल मूला॥
The gods made obeisance and rained down flowers; while the sages uttered their benedictions, which were the source of all blessings.

गान निसान कोलाहलु भारी। प्रेम प्रमोद मगन नर नारी॥
The songs that the ladies sang, combined with the sound of kettledrums, produced a loud symphony; men and women both were lost in love and rejoicing.

एहि बिधि सीय मंडपहिं आ‌ई। प्रमुदित सांति पढ़हिं मुनिरा‌ई॥
In this manner Sita entered the pavilion, while great sages recited propitiatory texts in great joy.

तेहि अवसर कर बिधि ब्यवहारू। दुहुँ कुलगुर सब कीन्ह अचारू॥
The two family preceptors (Vasistha and Satananda) performed all the religious rites and ceremonies and observed the family customs.

छं0-आचारु करि गुर गौरि गनपति मुदित बिप्र पुजावहीं।
सुर प्रगटि पूजा लेहिं देहिं असीस अति सुखु पावहीं॥
Having observed the family customs the Gurus (Vasistha and Satananda) in great joy directed the Brahmanas to worship Goddess Gauri, and Ganesha; the gods accepted the homage in visible form and gave their blessing with great delight.

मधुपर्क मंगल द्रब्य जो जेहि समय मुनि मन महुँ चहैं।
भरे कनक कोपर कलस सो सब लि‌एहिं परिचारक रहैं॥1
Whatever auspicious article such as a mixture of honey etc., the sages mentally sought at any particular moment, attendants stood ever ready with gold trays and pitchers full of that substance.
Note:
The mixture referred to above, which is known by the name of 'Madhuparka', is usually composed of curds, clarified butter, water, honey and sugar.
It is a respectful offering made to a guest or to the bridegroom on his arrival at the door of the bride's father.
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कुल रीति प्रीति समेत रबि कहि देत सबु सादर कियो।
The sun-god himself lovingly pointed out the family customs, which were all scrupulously observed.

एहि भाँति देव पुजा‌इ सीतहि सुभग सिंघासनु दियो॥
Having thus caused Sita to worship the gods, the sages assigned Her a beautiful throne.

सिय राम अवलोकनि परसपर प्रेम काहुन लखि परै॥
The mutual love with which Sita and Rama regarded each other could not be perceived by anyone.

मन बुद्धि बर बानी अगोचर प्रगट कबि
कैसें करै॥2॥
It was beyond the reach of the best mind, intellect and speech; how then, could the poet express it?

दो0-होम समय तनु धरि अनलु अति सुख आहुति लेहिं।
बिप्र बेष धरि बेद सब कहि बिबाह बिधि देहिं॥323॥
While oblations were offered to the sacred fire, the fire-god in person accepted the offerings with great delight; and the Vedas in the guise of Brahmanas directed the procedure of the nuptial ceremony.

जनक पाटमहिषी जग जानी। सीय मातु किमि जा‌इ बखानी॥
What words can describe the world-renowned queen-consort of Janaka and Sita's mother?

सुजसु सुकृत सुख सुदंरता‌ई। सब समेटि बिधि रची बना‌ई॥
The Creator had exhausted in fashioning her all the bright glory, virtue, joy and beauty.

सम‌उ जानि मुनिबरन्ह बोला‌ई। सुनत सु‌आसिनि सादर ल्या‌ई॥
Perceiving the appropriate time, the great sages sent for her; and in response to their call married women whose husbands were alive brought her with due honour.

जनक बाम दिसि सोह सुनयना। हिमगिरि संग बनि जनु मयना॥
Queen Sunayana shone forth to Janaka's left even as Maina beside Himavan (the mountain- king).

कनक कलस मनि कोपर रूरे। सुचि सुंगध मंगल जल पूरे॥
निज कर मुदित रायँ अरु रानी। धरे राम केआगें आनी॥
The king and queen joyfully brought and placed with their own hands gold vases and beautiful trays of jewels filled with holy, scented and auspicious water before Sri Rama.

पढ़हिं बेद मुनि मंगल बानी। गगन सुमन झरि अवसरु जानी॥
The sages recited the Veda in joyous tones and at the proper time flowers rained down from the heavens.

बरु बिलोकि दंपति अनुरागे। पाय पुनीत पखारन लागे॥
The royal couple were enraptured to behold the Bridegroom and began to wash His holy feet.

छं0-लागे पखारन पाय पंकज प्रेम तन पुलकावली।
They began to lave Sri Rama's lotus-feet; their whole frame was thrilled with emotion.

नभ नगर गान निसान जय धुनि उमगि जनु चहुँ दिसि चली॥
The sounds of singing and kettledrums and shouts of victory in the heavens as well as in the city overflowed as it were in all direction .

जे पद सरोज मनोज अरि उर सर सदैव बिराजहीं।
जे सकृत सुमिरत बिमलता मन सकल कलि मल भाजहीं॥1॥
जे परसि मुनिबनिता लही गति रही जो पातकम‌ई।
मकरंदु जिन्ह को संभु सिर सुचिता अवधि सुर बरन‌ई॥
करि मधुप मन मुनि जोगिजन जे से‌इ अभिमत गति लहैं।
ते पद पखारत भाग्यभाजनु जनकु जय जय सब कहै॥2॥

The lotus-feet that ever sparkle in the lake of Siva's bosom, by thinking of which even for once the mind gets purified and all the impurities of the Kali age are driven away, by whose touch the sage Gautama's wife, who was full of sin, attained salvation, whose nectar in the form of the river Ganga adorns Sambhu's head and is declared by the gods as the holiest of the holy, and by resorting to which with their bee-like minds sages and mystics attain the goal of their liking, it is those very feet that the most lucky Janaka washed amidst shouts of victory from all corners.

बर् कुअरि करतल जोरि साखोचारु दो‌उ कुलगुर करैं।
भयो पानिगहनु बिलोकि बिधि सुर मनुज मुनि आँनद भरैं॥

Joining the palms of the Bride and the Bridegroom, both the family priests recited the genealogy of the two families; and perceiving that the Bridegroom had accepted the Bride's hand, Brahma and the other divinities as well as men and sages were filled with delight.

सुखमूल दूलहु देखि दंपति पुलक तन हुलस्यो हियो।
करि लोक बेद बिधानु कन्यादानु नृपभूषन कियो॥3॥
And having gone through all the rites sanctioned either by the Vedas or by family custom, the glorious King Janaka gave his Daughter to the Bridegroom.

हिमवंत जिमि गिरिजा महेसहि हरिहि श्री सागर द‌ई।
तिमि जनक रामहि सिय समरपी बिस्वकल कीरति न‌ई॥
As Himavan gave away Girija to the great Lord Siva, and the deity presiding over seas bestowed Sri on Hari, so did Janaka give Sita to Rama and thereby earned fair renown of an unprecedented character.

क्यों करै बिनय बिदेहु कियो बिदेहु मूरति सावँरी।
King Videha (Janaka) was unable to make any supplication, since that Prince (Sri Rama) of swarthy complexion had justified his name (Videha) by making him forget everything about his body.

करि होम बिधिवत गाँठि जोरी होन लागी भावँरी॥4॥
When oblations had been offered to the sacred fire with due rite, the ends of garments of the Bride and the Bridegroom were tied together (as a token of their indissoluble union) and the couple began to circumambulate the fire (in order to show that the two had been united in the presence of the fire-god as a witness).

दो0-जय धुनि बंदी बेद धुनि मंगल गान निसान।
सुनि हरषहिं बरषहिं बिबुध सुरतरु सुमन सुजान॥324॥
At the delightful sound of accomplishment, the praises sung by the bards, the recitation of the Vedic texts, the din of the festal songs and the beating of kettledrums the wise immortals rejoiced and rained down flowers from the trees of paradise.

कु‌अँरु कु‌अँरि कल भावँरि देहीं॥नयन लाभु सब सादर लेहीं॥
जा‌इ न बरनि मनोहर जोरी। जो उपमा कछु कहौं सो थोरी॥The Bride and Bridegroom performed the circumambulation with charming paces; while all present feasted their admiring gaze on the spectacle. The lovely couple was beyond description; whatever comparison might be suggested would fall short of the reality.

राम सीय सुंदर प्रतिछाहीं। जगमगात मनि खंभन माहीं ।
मनहुँ मदन रति धरि बहु रूपा। देखत राम बि‌आहु अनूपा॥Lovely images of Rama and Sita were reflected on the pillars of jewels and shone as if Love and his consort, Rati, witnessed Sri Rama's matchless wedding appearing in numerous forms.

दरस लालसा सकुच न थोरी। प्रगटत दुरत बहोरि बहोरी॥
भ‌ए मगन सब देखनिहारे। जनक समान अपान बिसारे॥
Their curiosity and bashfulness were equally great; that is why they revealed themselves and went out of sight again and again. All the spectators were enraptured; like Janaka they forgot all about themselves.

प्रमुदित मुनिन्ह भावँरी फेरी। नेगसहित सब रीति निबेरीं॥
राम सीय सिर सेंदुर देहीं। सोभा कहि न जाति बिधि केहीं॥
Joyously the sages bade the Bride and Bridegroom pace round the fire and accomplished all the rites including the ceremonial gifts, Sri Rama applied the vermilion to Sita's forehead, a sight the charm of which was altogether beyond description.

अरुन पराग जलजु भरि नीकें। ससिहि भूष अहि लोभ अमी कें॥
बहुरि बसिष्ठ दीन्ह अनुसासन। बरु दुलहिनि बैठे एक आसन॥
It seemed as if with a lotus surcharged with reddish pollen a serpent thirsting for nectar decorated the moon. Then Vasistha gave the direction and the Bride and Bridegroom sat together on the same seat.

छं0-बैठे बरासन रामु जानकि मुदित मन दसरथु भ‌ए।
Sri Rama and Princess Janaki sat together on a costly seat and King Dasaratha was glad of heart to see them.
तनु पुलक पुनि पुनि देखि अपनें सुकृत सुरतरु फल न‌ए॥
Joy thrilled along his veins again and again as he perceived the wish-yielding tree of his meritorious deeds bear new fruits.

भरि भुवन रहा उछाहु राम बिबाहु भा सबहीं कहा।
There was rejoicing all over the universe; everyone proclaimed that Sri Rama's wedding had been accomplished .

केहि भाँति बरनि सिरात रसना एक यहु मंगलु महा॥
With one tongue how could anyone describe in full the joy which knew no bounds?

तब जनक पा‌इ बसिष्ठ आयसु ब्याह साज सँवारि कै।
माँडवी श्रुतिकीरति उरमिला कु‌अँरि ल‌ईं हँकारि के॥
कुसकेतु कन्या प्रथम जो गुन सील सुख सोभाम‌ई।
सब रीति प्रीति समेत करि सो ब्याहि नृप भरतहि द‌ई॥
Then, receiving Vasistha's order, Janaka sent for the other three princesses, Mandavi, Srutakirti and Urmila, each clad in a bride's attire. The eldest daughter of his younger brother Kusaketu, who was an embodiment of goodness, virtue, joy and beauty, he gave in marriage to Bharata after performing every rite with love.

जानकी लघु भगिनी सकल सुंदरि सिरोमनि जानि कै।
सो तनय दीन्ही ब्याहि लखनहि सकल बिधि सनमानि कै॥
जेहि नामु श्रुतकीरति सुलोचनि सुमुखि सब गुन आगरी।
सो द‌ई रिपुसूदनहि भूपति रूप सील उजागरी॥
Janaki's younger sister (Urmila), whom he knew to be the crest-jewel of charming girls, Janaka gave in marriage to Lakshmana with all honour. Finally the bright-eyed and fair-faced princess Srutakirti, who was a mine of all virtues and was well-known for her beauty and amiability, the king gave to Shatrughna.

अनुरुप बर दुलहिनि परस्पर लखि सकुच हियँ हरषहीं।
सब मुदित सुंदरता सराहहिं सुमन सुर गन बरषहीं॥

When each pair of bride and bridegroom saw that they were well- matched with each others, they felt shy, but rejoiced in their heart of hearts; everyone joyfully applauded the beauty of each pair, while the gods rained down flowers.

सुंदरी सुंदर बरन्ह सह सब एक मंडप राजहीं।
जनु जीव उर चारि‌उ अवस्था बिमुन सहित बिराजहीं॥4॥

All the lovely brides with their handsome bridegrooms shone forth in the same pavilion as the four states (viz. waking, dream, deep sleep and absorption into Brahman) with their respective four lords (Visva, Taijas, Prajnya and Brahma), gleamed all at once in the heart of a 'Jiva' (and individual).
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Note:
Rama and Bharata, who had a swarthy complexion were united with Sita and Mandavi respectively (who were both fair in complexion); while Lakshmana and Satrughna (who were fair of hue) were married with Urmila and Srutakirti (both of whom were swarthy of complexion).
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दो0-मुदित अवधपति सकल सुत बधुन्ह समेत निहारि।
जनु पार महिपाल मनि क्रियन्ह सहित फल चारि॥325॥

The king of Ayodhya was delighted to see his four sons with their brides, as though that jewel of monarchs had realized the four ends of life, (viz., worldly riches, religious merit, sensuous enjoyment and Liberation) along with the four processes of their realization (viz., sacrificial performances, piety, practice of Yoga and spiritual exercise).

जसि रघुबीर ब्याह बिधि बरनी। सकल कु‌अँर ब्याहे तेहिं करनी॥
कहि न जा‌इ कछु दा‌इज भूरी। रहा कनक मनि मंडपु पूरी॥
All the other princes were married according to the same rites as have been described in the case of Sri Rama's marriage. The richness of the dowry was beyond description; the whole pavilion was packed with gold and jewels.

कंबल बसन बिचित्र पटोरे। भाँति भाँति बहु मोल न थोरे॥
गज रथ तुरग दास अरु दासी। धेनु अलंकृत कामदुहा सी॥
There were a number of shawls, linen and silk of various colours and designs and of immense value, elephants, chariots, horses, men-servants and maid-servants and cows adorned with ornaments and vying with the cow of plenty

बस्तु अनेक करि‌अ किमि लेखा। कहि न जा‌इ जानहिं जिन्ह देखा॥
लोकपाल अवलोकि सिहाने। लीन्ह अवधपति सबु सुखु माने॥
and many other things which were more than one could count and defied description. They alone who saw the dowry could have some idea of it; even the guardians of the different realms regarded it with envy. The king of Ayodhya gladly accepted it all with a feeling of esteem.

दीन्ह जाचकन्हि जो जेहि भावा। उबरा सो जनवासेहिं आवा॥
तब कर जोरि जनकु मृदु बानी। बोले सब बरात सनमानी॥
and gave to the beggars whatever they liked; only that which was left was taken to the lodgings of the bridegroom's party. Then with joined palms Janaka honoured the whole bridegroom's party and spoke in gentle tones.

छं0-सनमानि सकल बरात आदर दान बिनय बड़ा‌इ कै।
प्रमुदित महा मुनि बृंद बंदे पूजि प्रेम लड़ा‌इ कै॥
सिरु ना‌इ देव मना‌इ सब सन कहत कर संपुट कि‌एँ।
सुर साधु चाहत भा‌उ सिंधु कि तोष जल अंजलि दि‌एँ॥Having honoured the whole bridegroom's party with courtesy, gifts, supplication and compliments, King Janaka joyfully paid his homage to and greeted the great sages after bestowing his loving attention on them. Bowing his head and invoking the gods he addressed them all with joined palms, "Gods and holy men seek one's love alone; can the ocean be propitiated by offering as much water as can be held within one's palms?"

कर जोरि जनकु बहोरि बंधु समेत कोसलराय सों।
बोले मनोहर बयन सानि सनेह सील सुभाय सों॥
संबंध राजन रावरें हम बड़े अब सब बिधि भ‌ए।
एहि राज साज समेत सेवक जानिबे बिनु गथ ल‌ए॥
Again, with joined palms Janaka and his younger brother (Kusaketu) submitted to the King of Kosala in winning words full of affection, courtesy and sincerity, "By our connection with you, O king, we have now been exalted in every respect; alongwith this kingdom and all that we possess, pray, look upon us both as your slaves purchased without any consideration.

ए दारिका परिचारिका करि पालिबीं करुना न‌ई।
अपराधु छमिबो बोलि पठ‌ए बहुत हौं ढीट्यो क‌ई॥
पुनि भानुकुलभूषन सकल सनमान निधि समधी कि‌ए।
कहि जाति नहिं बिनती परस्पर प्रेम परिपूरन हि‌ए॥
Taking these girls as your hand-maidens foster them with your unremitting kindness. Pardon me my offence; it was too presumptuous on my part to have called you here." The ornament of the solar race, King Dasaratha, in his turn flooded the bride's father with all kinds of honour. The courtesy they showed to each other was past all telling; for their hearts overflowed with love.

बृंदारका गन सुमन बरिसहिं रा‌उ जनवासेहि चले।
दुंदुभी जय धुनि बेद धुनि नभ नगर कौतूहल भले॥
तब सखीं मंगल गान करत मुनीस आयसु पा‌इ कै।
दूलह दुलहिनिन्ह सहित सुंदरि चलीं कोहबर ल्या‌इ कै॥

Hosts of gods rained down flowers and King Dasaratha proceeded to the palace where he and his party had been lodged amidst the crash of kettledrums, voces of victory and the chanting of Vedic texts. There was much rejoicing both in the heavens and in the city. Then, receiving orders from the chief of sages, Vasistha, the lovely companions of the brides conducted them alongwith the bridegrooms to the apartment where the guardian deities of the family, had been installed for worship during the wedding days.

दो0-पुनि पुनि रामहि चितव सिय सकुचति मनु सकुचै न।
हरत मनोहर मीन छबि प्रेम पि‌आसे नैन॥
Again and again did Sita gaze on Sri Rama and shrink out of modesty; her heart however, refused to shrink. Her charming eyes, athirst with love, outshone the fish. (326)
=======================
Reference:
Sri Ramacaritamanasa
With Hindi Text and English Translation
(A Romanized Edition)
Gita Press,
Gorakhpur, India.

------------------------------------------------------------
Reference:
Sri Ramacaritamanasa
With Hindi Text and English Translation
(A Romanized Edition)
Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India.

https://archive.org/stream/RamcharitmanasGitapressEnglish/

Ramcharitmanas%20Gitapress%20English_djvu.txt