On that same day that saw the king

His gift of kine distributing,

The lord of Kekaya's son, by name

YudhÁjit, Bharat's uncle, came,

Asked of the monarch's health, and then

Addressed the reverend king of men:

Sends greeting, noble King, to thee:

Asks if the friends thy prayers would bless

Uninterrupted health possess.

Right anxious, mighty King, is he

My sister's princely boy to see.

For this I sought AyodhyÁ fair

The message of my sire to bear.

There learning, O my liege, that thou

With sons and noble kinsmen now

Wast resting here, I sought the place

The king with kind observance cheered

His friend by tender ties endeared,

And every choicest honour pressed

Upon his honourable guest.

That night with all his children spent,

At morn King Da?aratha went,

Behind Va?ish?ha and the rest,

To the fair ground for rites addressed.

Then when the lucky hour was nigh

Called Victory, of omen high,

Came RÁma, after vow and prayer

For nuptial bliss and fortune fair,

With the three youths in bright attire,

And stood beside his royal sire.

To Janak then Va?ish?ha sped,

And to Videha's monarch said:

Has breathed the prayer and vowed the vow,

And with his sons expecting stands

The giver of the maidens' hands.

The giver and the taker both

Must ratify a mutual oath.

Perform the part for which we wait,

Skilled in the laws which Scriptures teach,

He answered thus Va?ish?ha's speech:

Whose bidding can the king await?

In one's own house what doubt is shown?

This kingdom, Sage, is all thine own.

E'en now the maidens may be found

Within the sacrificial ground:

Each vow is vowed and prayed each prayer,

And they, like fire, are shining there.

Here by the shrine my place I took

Expecting thee with eager look,

No bar the nuptial rites should stay:

When Janak's speech the monarch heard,

To sons and saints he gave the word,

And set them in the holy ring,

Then to Va?ish?ha spoke the king

Of MithilÁ: “O mighty Sage,

Now let this task thy care engage,

And lend thine aid and counsel wise

The saint Va?ish?ha gave assent,

And quickly to the task he went,

With Vi?vÁmitra, nothing loth,

And ?atÁnanda aiding both.

Then, as the rules prescribe, they made

An altar in the midst, and laid

Fresh wreaths of fragrant flowers thereon.

The golden ladles round it shone;

And many a vase, which branches hid

Fixed in the perforated lid,

And sprays, and cups, and censers there

Stood filled with incense rich and rare;

Shell-bowls, and spoons, and salvers dressed

With gifts that greet the honoured guest;

Piles of parched rice some dishes bore,

Others with corn prepared ran o'er;

And holy grass was duly spread

In equal lengths, while prayers were said.

Next chief of saints, Va?ish?ha came

And laid the offering in the flame.

Then by the hand King Janak drew

His SÍtÁ, beautiful to view,

And placed her, bright in rich attire,

RÁma to face, before the fire,

Thus speaking to the royal boy

Who filled Kau?alyÁ's heart with joy: