Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 73, Shloka 20
त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः (Sarga 73): Mithilā Vivāha
Kanyādāna and the Fourfold Marriage Rites
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:।।।।
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 ||
Nang masabi niyang “Gayon nga,” sa harap ni Janaka, si Vasiṣṭha—ang kagalang-galang na ṛṣi—na pinangungunahan sina Viśvāmitra at ang matuwid na Śatānanda, ay gumawa ayon sa batas ng isang altar sa gitna ng pabiliong pangkasal. Ang dakilang tapasvin ay pinalamutian ang altar sa lahat ng panig ng mababangong bulaklak, at ng mga kagamitang panghandog: mga sisidlang ginto, mga banga na may butas na may usbong, mga mangkok na hitik sa usbong, mga sisidlan ng insenso na may nasusunog na insenso, mga sisidlang hugis-kabibe, mga sandok at kutsarang panghandog, mga sisidlang punô para sa arghya at iba pang alay, at mga lalagyang punô ng piniritong butil at pinabanal na bigas.
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.
FAQs
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.
Vasiṣṭha accepts Janaka’s request and, with other sages, prepares and decorates the altar and ritual implements for the wedding ceremony.
Vasiṣṭha’s ritual competence and disciplined holiness (tapas), expressed through careful, rule-governed preparation.