Shloka 1.73.20

त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha—Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites

Devanagari script

तथेत्युक्त्वा तु जनकं वसिष्ठो भगवानृषि:।विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य शतानन्दं च धार्मिकम्।।।।प्रपामध्ये तु विधिवत्वेदिं कृत्वा महातपा: ।अलञ्चकार तां वेदिं गन्धपुष्पै स्समन्तत: ।।।।सुवर्णपालिकाभिश्च छिद्रकुम्भैश्च साङ्कुरै:।अङ्कुराढ्यैश्शरावैश्च धूपपात्रै स्सधूपकै:।।।।शङ्खपात्रै स्स्रुवै स्स्रुग्भि: पात्रैरर्घ्याभिपूरितै:।लाजपूर्णैश्च पात्रीभिरक्षतैरभिसंस्कृतै:।।।।

Transliteration

tathety uktvā tu janakaṃ vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ | viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya śatānandaṃ ca dhārmikam || prapāmadhye tu vidhivad vediṃ kṛtvā mahātapāḥ | alañcakāra tāṃ vediṃ gandhapuṣpaiḥ samantataḥ || suvarṇapālikābhiś ca chidrakumbhaiś ca sāṅkuraiḥ | aṅkurāḍhyaiḥ śarāvaiś ca dhūpapātraiḥ sadhūpakaiḥ || śaṅkhapātraiḥ srucaiḥ srugbhiḥ pātrair arghyābhipūritaiḥ | lājapūrṇaiś ca pātrībhir akṣatair abhisaṃskṛtaiḥ ||

Translation

Having said “So be it” to Janaka, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha—placing Viśvāmitra and the righteous Śatānanda at the fore—constructed, according to rule, an altar in the midst of the marriage pavilion. The great ascetic adorned it on all sides with fragrant flowers and with consecrated vessels and offerings: golden bowls, perforated water-pots set with sprouts, dishes filled with sprouts, incense-holders with burning incense, conch-shaped vessels, ladles and offering-spoons, vessels filled for arghya and other oblations, and containers of parched grain and sanctified rice.

Context

Venerable and renowned ascetic Vasishta said "Be it so".And with Viswamitra and virtuous Satananda in the forefront, an altar was duly improvised in the centre of the sacrificial pavilion. He adorned the altar on all sides with fragrant flowers, golden ladles, water-pots with holes filled with sprouts, earthen vessels with sprouts, holders of burning fragrant incense conch-shaped vessels, sacrificial ladles, bowls filled with with water for arghya and other purposes, vessels with roasted paddy and grains of rice.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Vasiṣṭha
• Viśvāmitra
• Śatānanda
• prapā (marriage pavilion)
• vedi (altar)
• gandha-puṣpa (fragrant flowers)
• suvarṇa-pālikā (golden vessels)
• chidra-kumbha (perforated water-pots)
• aṅkura (sprouts)
• dhūpa (incense)
• śaṅkha-pātra (conch-shaped vessels)
• sruc/srug (ladles/spoons)
• arghya (honor-water offering)
• lāja (parched grain)
• akṣata (unbroken rice)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is meticulous adherence to sacred procedure: the rite is made legitimate through vidhivat (scripturally correct) preparation, purity of materials, and leadership by qualified sages.

What is the narrative situation?

Vasiṣṭha accepts Janaka’s request and, with other sages, prepares and decorates the altar and ritual implements for the wedding ceremony.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Vasiṣṭha’s ritual competence and disciplined holiness (tapas), expressed through careful, rule-governed preparation.