The guru was very pleased when he heard the news and said, ‘To a virtuous man the world abounds in happiness. Just as rivers flow into the sea, although the sea has no craving for them,

-so do joy and prosperity come unasked and of their own accord to a pious soul. Just as you are given to the service of your preceptor and to the Brahmans and cows and gods, so also is the lady Kausalya devout.

A pious soul like you there has never been, nor is, nor shall be in this world. Who can be more blessed than you, O king, who have a son like Rama-

and whose four noble children are all valiant, submissive, true to their vow of piety and oceans of all perfection? Blessed indeed are you at all times. So prepare the marriage procession to the sound of kettledrums-

-and set out at once!’ On hearing these words of the guru, the king bowed his head and said, ‘so be it, my lord!’ and after assigning lodgings to the heralds, returned to the palace.

The king called all the ladies of the court and read aloud Janaka’s letter. All rejoiced greatly at the news, and the king himself related all the other events (which he had heard from the lips of the messengers).

The queens were as enraptured with affectionate delight as peahens when they hear the rumble of thunder-clouds. The preceptor’s wife and the wives of other elders in their joy involved the blessings of heaven, and the mothers were in ecstasies.