Radiant with beauty, too, was his yellow sacred thread, and his signet ring ravished the soul. Lustrous were all his many marriage adornments and on his broad breast the bright breast-ornaments.

He had a yellow shawl slung partly under his right armpit and partly across his left shoulder, its two hems sewn with pearls and other gems. He had a pair of lotus-like eyes and beautiful earrings dangling from his earlobes; his countenance was a storehouse of all comeliness.

He had lovely eyebrows and a charming nose and on his forehead the caste-mark, which was an abode of loveliness. Charming was the wedding crown upon his head, sewn with auspicious pearls and gems.

Precious gems had been strung together and woven into the lovely nuptial crown and every limb ravished the heart. At the sight of the bridegroom (Rama) the women of the city and fair celestial ladies all tore a blade of grass (in order to avert the evil eye). After scattering about his gems, raiment and ornaments they waved the festal lamps about his head and sang auspicious songs. The gods rained down flowers, and bards, panegyrists and rhapsodists his high repute.

Married women, whose husbands were alive, happily brought the brides and bridegrooms to the apartment reserved for the tutelary deities, and with festal songs they very lovingly began to perform the customary rites. Parvati herself taught Rama how to offer a morsel of food to Sita, and Sarasvati explained it to Sita. The whole gynaeceum was so absorbed in the delight of merry-making that everyone felt life was well worth living.

When Janaki saw the image of Rama, the repository of beauty, reflected in the jewels on her hand, she dared not move her eyes or supple arm for fear of losing his presence. The sport and jests and loving mirth surpassed all telling; Sita’s companions alone knew them. All the fair damsels then escorted the charming couples to the guest-chambers.

Then might be heard on all sides blessings and great exultation in heaven and in the city and a universal shout of joy; ‘Long live the four lovely couples!’ Great ascetics, adepts, eminent sages and divinities sounded their kettledrums on beholding the Lord and, raining down flowers and shouting ‘Victory! Victory! Victory!’, they gladly returned, each to his own sphere.