Having gathered the offerings scattered about Rama, the barbers and makers of leaf-plates, family bards and acrobats bowed their heads and happily involved blessings on him with hearts overflowing with joy.

Having performed every rite that derived its authority from the Vedas or from popular tradition, the two kings, Janaka and Dasharath, embraced each other with great love. The two monarchs while embracing each other presented so glorious a spectacle that poets, despite their repeated efforts to find a suitable simile, felt abashed at their failure.

Nowhere finding a simile, they felt baffled and concluded that the pair could be likened to themselves. The gods were enraptured to see the tie of love between the two kings united by marriage alliance and showered down flowers and began to sing the glories of both.Nowhere finding a simile, they felt baffled and concluded that the pair could be likened to themselves. The gods were enraptured to see the tie of love between the two kings united by marriage alliance and showered down flowers and began to sing the glories of both.

‘Ever since Brahma first created the world many have been the weddings that we have seen or heard of, but it is only today that we have seen or heard of, but it is only today that we have seen such pomp and grandeur on both sides and fathers so well-matched!’

At the sound of these divine words, so charming and so true, there was a flood of transcendent love on both sides. Unrolling beautiful carpets on the way and offering libations. Janaka himself escorted Dasharath to the pavilion with all honour.At the sound of these divine words, so charming and so true, there was a flood of transcendent love on both sides. Unrolling beautiful carpets on the way and offering libations. Janaka himself escorted Dasharath to the pavilion with all honour.

The marvellous art of the pavilion and its charm captivated the hearts of the sages; yet wise Janaka brought and placed with his own hands seats for all the honoured guests. He worshipped the sage Vasishtha as though he were his own patron deity and supplicating before him, received his blessings; and the supreme devotion with which he offered divine honours to Vishvamitra was something too great for words.The marvellous art of the pavilion and its charm captivated the hearts of the sages; yet wise Janaka brought and placed with his own hands seats for all the honoured guests. He worshipped the sage Vasishtha as though he were his own patron deity and supplicating before him, received his blessings; and the supreme devotion with which he offered divine honours to Vishvamitra was something too great for words.

King Janaka gladly paid reverence of Vamadeva (another family preceptor of Dasharath) and the other seers as well; he gave them all exalted seats and received blessings from them all in return.King Janaka gladly paid reverence of Vamadeva (another family preceptor of Dasharath) and the other seers as well; he gave them all exalted seats and received blessings from them all in return.