There was a confused din of horses neighing, elephants trumpeting and music playing both in the sky and in the procession. Women, mortal and celestial alike, sang festal melodies and clarionets played in sweet accordThere was a confused din of horses neighing, elephants trumpeting and music playing both in the sky and in the procession. Women, mortal and celestial alike, sang festal melodies and clarionets played in sweet accord

There was an indescribable clamour of bells, large and small. The footmen leapt high into the air and danced, displaying exercises of various kinds. Jesters, proficient in pleasantry and expert in singing merry songs, practised all kinds of buffoonery.

Gallant princes made their steeds prance to the measured beat of tabors and kettledrums, and accomplished dancers were astonished to see that they never made a pace out of time.

The splendour of the marriage procession was more than one could describe. Fair and auspicious omens were seen; the blue-necked jay was picking up food on the left, as if to announce all that was auspicious.

In a fair field on the right appeared a crow, and everybody saw a mongoose. A soft, cool and fragrant breeze was blowing in a favourable direction, and blessed (unwidowed) women appeared, each with a pitcher and a child in her arms.

A fox kept constantly appearing, and a cow suckled its calf in front of the procession; a herd of deer came round to the right, as if all good omens appeared in visible form.A fox kept constantly appearing, and a cow suckled its calf in front of the procession; a herd of deer came round to the right, as if all good omens appeared in visible form.

A white-headed kite promised great good luck and a shyama bird was observed on a fair tree to the left. A man bearing curds and fish and two learned Brahmans each with a book in his hand came from the opposite direction.