तमुक्तवन्तं वैदेहं विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। उवाच वचनं वीरं वसिष्ठसहितो नृपम्॥
When Vaideha had spoken thus, the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra is company with Vasiștha addressed that heroic king, saying.
अचिन्त्यान्यप्रमेयाणि कुलानि नरपुङ्गव। इक्ष्वाकूणां विदेहानां नैषां तुल्योऽस्ति कश्चन॥
O puissant one, the lines of the Ikşvākus and the Vaidehas are exceedingly noble and incomparable. No other race can by any means compare with them.
सदृशो धर्मसम्बन्धः सदृशो रूपसम्पदा। रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् सीता चोर्मिलया सह॥
O monarch, this youthful union of Rāma and Lakşmaņa with Sītā and Urmilā is fit by all means; and it is worthy of their wealth of grace.
वक्तव्यं च नरश्रेष्ठ श्रूयतां वचनं मम। भ्राता यवीयान् धर्मज्ञ एष राजा कुशध्वजः॥ अस्य धर्मात्मनो राजन् रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि। सुताद्वयं नरश्रेष्ठ पत्न्यर्थं वरयामहे ॥ भरतस्य कुमारस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य च धीमतः। वरये ते सुते राजंस्तयोरर्थे महात्मनोः॥
Now do you, O foremost of men, listen to my words. This youthful brother of yours, king Kusadhvaja, O you versed in morality, this pious-souled one, O king, has, O prime of men, a couple of daughters, unparalleled on earth in beauty, whom we would ask for, to become wives to the prince Bharata and the intelligent Satrughna; as we, O king, ask for your own daughters in the interests of those high-souled ones (Rama and Laksmana).4-6
पुत्रा दशरथस्येमे रूपयौवनशालिनः। लोकपालसमाः सर्वे देवतुल्यपराक्रमाः।७।।
And these sons of Daśaratha are endued with youth and beauty, resembling the Lokapalas, and possessed of the prowess of celestials.
उभयोरपि राजेन्द्र सम्बन्धेनानुबध्यताम्। इक्ष्वाकुकुलमव्यग्रं भवतः पुण्यकर्मणः॥
Therefore do you, O foremost of sovereigns, by this alliance with both the brothers, bind the Ikşvāku race. And in this may your mind never waver!
विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठस्य मते तदा। जनकः प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यमुवाच मुनिपुङ्गवौ॥
Hearing Viśvāmitra's words embodying the sentiments of Vasiştha, Janaka with clasped hands addressed both the potent ascetics, saying,
कुलं धन्यमिदं मन्ये येषां तौ मुनिपुङ्गवौ। सदृशं कुलसम्बन्धं यदाज्ञापयतः स्वयम्॥
I consider my line as blessed; since such puissant ascetics wish for such a desirable alliance.
एवं भवतु भद्रं वः कुशध्वजसुते इमे। पत्न्यौ भजेतां सहितौ शत्रुघ्नभरताबुभौ॥
Whatever you wish, even that shall be done, good betide you. Let these daughters of Kusadhvaja together become the wives of Śatrughna and Bharata.
एकाह्वा राजपुत्रीणां चतसृणां महामुने। पाणीन् गृह्णन्तु चत्वारो राजपुत्रा महाबलाः॥
On the same day, O mighty Muni, let the four highly powerful princes espouse the hands of the four princesses.
उत्तरे दिवसे ब्रह्मन् फल्गुनीभ्यां मनीषिणः। वैवाहिकं प्रशंसन्ति भगो यत्र प्रजापतिः॥
The learned consider bridal celebrated on the day succeeding those on which the Phalgunis are on the ascendant, and having for its presiding deity Bhagas-the most auspicious.
एवमुक्त्वा वचः सौम्यं प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलिः। उभौ मुनिवरौ राजा जनको वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
Having said these amiable words, king' Janaka arose, and with clasped hands addressed both the foremost of ascetics, saying.
परो धर्मः कृतो मह्यं शिष्योऽस्मि भवतोस्तथा। इमान्यासनमुख्यानि आस्यतां मुनिपुङ्गवौ॥
I have reaped high religious merit (by these nuptials), and I also am your disciple. And do you, you anchorets, occupy these best of thrones, (belonging to us).15
यथा दशरथस्येयं तथायोध्या पुरी मम। प्रभुत्वे नास्ति संदेहो यथार्ह कर्तुमर्हथ ॥
And even as this kingdom is to Dasaratha is Ayodhyā to myself. Do you not therefore entertain any doubts as to your lordship. Do you therefore do as it behove you.
तथा ब्रुवति वैदेहे जनके रघुनन्दनः। राजा दशरथो हृष्टः प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्॥
And as Vaideha Janaka was speaking thus, Raghu's son, king Dasaratha, well pleased answered that monarch, saying,
युवामसंख्येयगुणौ भ्रातरौ मिथिलेश्वरौ। ऋषयो राजसङ्घाश्च भवद्भयामभिपूजिताः॥
Countless are the excellences that pertain to you brothers, lords of Mithilā; and saints and sovereigns are honoured by you,* auspiciousness be yours. *The commentator here seems to be in fault. He ever explains-By you have your royal ancestors been honoured. Evidently an error. I differ from him. The particle ca (and) makes the point clear.
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते गमिष्यामः स्वमालयम्। श्राद्धकर्माणि विधिवद्विधास्य इति चाब्रवीत्॥
Good betide you, I will repair to my own quarters, there to duly perform the Śrāddha ceremonies.
तमापृष्ट्वा नरपतिं राजा दशरथस्तदा। मुनीन्द्रौ तौ पुरस्कृत्य जगामाशु महायशाः॥
Then having greeted that king of men, the illustrious Dasaratha, placing those foremost of ascetics in his front, went away.
स गत्वा निलयं राजा श्राद्धं कृत्वा विधानतः। प्रभाते काल्यमुत्थाय चक्रे गोदानमुत्तमम्॥
And reaching his quarters, the king performed the Srāddha according to the ordinance, arose the next morning, and made excellent gifts of kine.
गवां शतसहस्रं च ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नराधिपः। एकैकशो ददौ राजा पुत्रानुद्दिश्य धर्मतः॥
And to Brāhmaṇas the monarch severally gavę away kine by hundreds and by thousands, for the welfare of his sons.
सुवर्णशृङ्ग्यः सम्पन्नाः सवत्साः कांस्यदोहनाः। गवां शतसहस्राणि चत्वारि पुरुषर्षभः॥ वित्तमन्यच्च सुबहु द्विजेभ्यो रघुनन्दनः। ददौ गोदानमुद्दिश्य पुत्राणां पुत्रवत्सलः॥
And that puissant one gave away to the regenerate ones four hundred thousands of kine furnished with horns plaited with gold, and each having her calf, together with bell-Mattel vessels for milking them.
स सुतैः कृतगोदानैर्वृतः सन्नृपतिस्तदा। लोकपालैरिवाभाति वृतः सौम्यः प्रजापतिः॥
And that descendant of Raghu addicted to his sons made presents of various other valuables and the Brāhmaṇas, on behalf of his sons. And having given away kine, the surrounded by his sons looked like to the amiable Prajāpati surrounded by the Lokapālas.