Janaki’s younger sister (Urmila), whom he knew to be the crest-jewel of charming girls, Janaka gave in marriage to Lakshmana with all due honour. Finally, the bright-eyed and fair-faced princess Shrutakirti, who was a mine of all virtues and was well-known for her beauty and amiability, the king bestowed on Ripusudana (Shatrughna).

When each pair of bride and bridegroom saw that they were well-matched with each other, they felt shy, but were glad of heart and joyfully applauded the beauty of each pair, and the gods rained down flowers. All the lovely brides with their handsome bridegrooms shone resplendent in the same pavilion, as though the four states of consciousness (viz., the waking state, sleep with dreams, dreamless sleep, and absorption into Brahma) together with their presiding conditions united in the heart of a living soul. (The four conditions, or vibhu, of these states of consciousness are called vishva, taijasa, prajna, and brahma.)

The lord of Avadh was delighted to see his four sons with their brides, as though that jewel of monarchs had realized the four ends of life (viz., worldly riches, religious merit, sensuous enjoyment and liberation) together with the four processes of their realization. (The four fruits or ends of life - dharma, artha, kama, and moksha - are here compared to Dasharath’s four sons. The four brides are likened to the char kriya, or four processes of their realization, which are variously enumerated, e.g., seva, shraddha, tapasya, and bhakti that is, obedience, piety, penance and faith; or anushthana, religious ceremonial; udyoga, diligence; rati love; and virati, detachment from the world.)

All the three princes were married according to the same rites as those I have described in the case of Rama’s wedding. The richness of the dowry defies description; the whole pavilion was packed with gold jewels;

- blankets and garments and silk of various colours and designs, all priceless, elephants, chariots, horses, men-servants and maid-servants, and cows adorned with ornaments like the cow of plenty -

- and many other things in such profusion that none could either count them or describe them; they must be seen to be believed! The guardians of the spheres regarded it with envy, the king of Avadh accepted it all with pleasure,- and many other things in such profusion that none could either count them or describe them; they must be seen to be believed! The guardians of the spheres regarded it with envy, the king of Avadh accepted it all with pleasure,

- and bestowed on the beggars whatever they liked; only that which remained over was taken to the guests’ quarters. Then with folded hands Janaka honoured all the guests and addressed them in gentle tones.- and bestowed on the beggars whatever they liked; only that which remained over was taken to the guests’ quarters. Then with folded hands Janaka honoured all the guests and addressed them in gentle tones.