||om tat sat ||

इयं सीता ममसुता सहधर्मचरी तव ।
प्रतीच्छ चैनां भद्रं ते पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणीना ॥

"This is my daughter Sita . Accept her as your life long partner. May all be good to you. Take her hand in your hand".

Balakanda
Seventy Third Sarga

The day the king Dasaratha made precious donation of cows, the same day valiant Yudhajit came there.

He is the son of the king of Kekeya and the maternal uncle of Bharata. Having enquired about the welfare he spoke as follows."O King ! the King of Kekeya enquired about your welfare. All those whose welfare you are interested , they are all fine. Oh King of kings! I wanted to see my nephew and hence I was sent to Ayodhya. Oh King ! Hearing that you have come to Mithila from Ayodhya for performing your sons wedding and with a desire to see my nephew I too came here quickly." Then Dasaratha seeing the guest who has thus arrived ,welcomed him with due respect. Then he spent the night with his sons , and the great souls with delight.

In the morning having completed the rites that are to be completed came to the sacrificial hall along with all Rishis. At a suitable time a Rama fully decked with jewels along with brothers performed all due rites. Then he came and stood next to his the father along with Vasishta and other Rishis.

Then Bhagavan Vasishta spoke to King Janaka. "O Rajan! King Dasaratha along with his sons the best of bridegrooms having completed all due rites is waiting for you who is the giver !It well know that only when the giver and receiver are in place all events happen. Please conduct the best of marriages and perform your duty."

Having been thus told by the most charitable Vasishta, the supremely radiant and all knowing Janaka replied as follows." Oh Please consider this as your Kingdom. Who is going to stop you,whose orders you are waiting for. Why have uncertainty in your own Hosea Best of sages ! my daughters having completed all necessary rites are waiting at the pandal. Oh King let things proceed with out obstructions. Let there be no delay".

Then Dasaratha having heard the words of Janaka then entered along with all his sons and the legions of Rishis. Then the King of Videha spoke to venerable sage Vasishta as follows. " Oh Vibho! Perform all rites of the darling of the world. Oh Great one! perform the marriage rites of Rama".

Saying "so be it " , venerable Vasishta along with Viswamitra and Satananda made a marriage pandal in the center and decorated the pandal with flowers and sandal wood. The pandal was having with Golden vessels , perforated pots with sprouts, earthen bowls with sprouts, vessels for burning lamps along with lamps , bowls in the shape of shells, the implements called Srukku and Sruva used for fire rituals, decorated pots filled with waters , vessels full of puffed grains, and filled with cleansed and sanctified yellow rice. The venerable sage laid out sanctified Darbha grass strands, cut to equal size on the pandal , and brought the sanctified fire. The highly radiant seer then kindled the fire in the pandal.

Then having made Sita fully decked with jewels sit in front of the fire and in front of Rama , the king Janaka spoke to Rama , the darling of Kausalya. "This is my daughter Sita . Accept her as your life long partner. May all be good to you. Take her hand in your hand. This blessed one who is faithful, devoted and loyal wife. She will always follow you like a shadow". Having said so he sprinkled sanctified water on them.

Then the Devas and Rishis said "well done" "well done". Then the celestial kettle drums were sounded and a flowers were showered from the skies.

Then having given away Sita with sanctified water the highly elated king Janaka spoke as follows. " Lakshmana please come. May you be blessed .I will give Urmila. Hold her her hand . Let the moment not pass."

Having said so Janaka then spoke to Bharata. "O Raghunandana Please hold the hand of Mandavi". Then Janaka spoke to Satrughna. "Oh great one ! Hold the hand of Srutakirti "

" O Kakutsthas ! All of you are gentle with excellent character. May you live happily with your wives. Let there be no delay."Having heard the words of Janaka which was also as per wishes of sage Vasishta the four princes took the hand of the four princesses.

Then the best of Raghu's lineage along with their wives went around the celestial fire , the pandal , the king and all Rishis. Then they performed the marriage as sanctified in Vedas. From the skies the celestial drums were sounded, while the instruments were playing a great bright showers of flowers rained from the skies. the celestial danced . Gandharvas sang. The wedding of the prominent sons of Raghu dynasty was wonderful. Then as the instruments of music were playing the highly radiant couple went around the celestial fire three times.

Then the scions of Raghu dynasty along with their wives went (to their residence). The delighted King along with all Rishis followed with all his eyes on them

Thus ends the seventy third chapter of Balakanda.

॥ओम् तत् सत् ॥

अथोपकार्यां जग्मुस्ते स भार्या रघुनंदनाः ।
राजाप्यनुययौ पश्यन् सर्षिसंघस्सबांधवः ॥

Then the scions of Raghu dynasty along with their wives went (to their residence). The delighted King along with all Rishis followed with all his eyes on them

||om tat sat ||