Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 23
त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha
Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु जनकं वसिष्ठो भगवानृषि:।विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य शतानन्दं च धार्मिकम्।।1.73.20।।प्रपामध्ये तु विधिवत्वेदिं कृत्वा महातपा: ।अलञ्चकार तां वेदिं गन्धपुष्पै स्समन्तत: ।।1.73.21।।सुवर्णपालिकाभिश्च छिद्रकुम्भैश्च साङ्कुरै:।अङ्कुराढ्यैश्शरावैश्च धूपपात्रै स्सधूपकै:।।1.73.22।। शङ्खपात्रै स्स्रुवै स्स्रुग्भि: पात्रैरर्घ्याभिपूरितै:।लाजपूर्णैश्च पात्रीभिरक्षतैरभिसंस्कृतै:।।1.73.23।।
śaṅkhapātraiḥ sruvaiḥ srugbhiḥ pātrair arghyābhipūritaiḥ |
lājapūrṇaiś ca pātrībhir akṣatair abhisaṃskṛtaiḥ || 1.73.23 ||
Il fit aussi disposer des vases en forme de conque, des louches et des coupes d’offrande ; des récipients remplis pour l’arghya, des vases débordant de grains grillés, et des akṣata—riz entier sanctifié—, achevant ainsi les auspices requis du sacrifice.
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, waterpots with holes filled with sprouts, earthen vessels with sprouts, holders of burning fragrant incense conchshaped vessels, sacrificial ladles, bowls filled with with water for arghya and other purposes, vessels with roasted paddy and grains of rice.
FAQs
Dharma is shown as honoring sacred order through proper offerings (arghya) and consecrated materials—outer correctness representing inner sincerity and truthfulness in a public rite.
Immediately before the formal marriage acts, the altar is furnished with the standard implements for offering, honoring, and sanctifying the ceremony.
Ritual integrity and conscientiousness—ensuring nothing essential to dharmic practice is omitted.