Sita's Palanquin Moves beneath a Sky of Omens
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 336
Doha 339 · Movement 1 of 2
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Janaka counsels Sita in the dharma of marriage and the customs of her new family. He gives her beloved maidservants and devoted attendants, preserving familiar faces around her as the palanquin prepares to move.
The townspeople grow restless, but auspicious omens heap themselves along the way. Brahmins, ministers, and the assembly accompany Janaka. At the proper hour instruments sound and the chariots, elephants, and horses take their ordered places.
Dasharatha honours the Brahmins with gifts, places the dust of their feet upon his head, and receives their blessing. Remembering Ganesha, he begins the journey. Sorrow and good fortune travel together: Mithila grieves behind the departing brides while signs of blessing open the road ahead.
As Sita leaves Mithila, tears follow the palanquin and auspicious signs rise before it.
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AI-created devotional illustration · Chaupai 336
All8couplets and HindiPDF324-325; selectedDasharatha humilityportrait, fullJanaka/servants/Brahmins/otheractsoffcrop.
Source reference and artistic choices
Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 324, 325 · printed pages 322, 323. Reader passage: bala-kanda-chaupai-336. Printed numbering may differ.
Source facts
- JANAKA teachesDAUGHTER WOMANDHARMA/FAMILYTRADITION historicalspeech notpresentdayinstruction.
- MANY MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS given, TRUSTED/PURE andDEAR SITA; notmaidsalone. Sourcehistoricalcategories no newcommerce.
- SITAdeparture TOWNSPEOPLE distressed; MANYAUSPICIOUSOMENS. JANAKA escortsWITHBRAHMINS MINISTERS ANDASSEMBLY.
- AtPROPERTIME instrumentsplayed; baraatCHARIOTS ELEPHANTS HORSES prepared.
- DASHARATHA summonsALLBRAHMINS, GIFTSANDHONOR fully; BEARS THEIRFOOTLOTUSDUST ONOWNHEAD, JOYFULLYRECEIVESBLESSINGS.
- REMEMBERS GAJANANA THENSETSOUT withmanyauspiciousomens; notsimultaneousdeityphysicalmanifestation.
Artistic choices
- PASS E03 ONEproperDasharathahead TWOarms TWOOWNNAMASTE hands atownCHEST. OPENeyesDOWNRIGHT headinclinedRIGHT closedjoyhumblemouth ACTUALsmallWHITEcheekTEARTRACE artistaddition sourcejoyspecificemotioncauseunspecified. FullGREYWHITEbeard greycurlshoulderhair whiteUred ROUND RUBYGOLDcrown ROUNDknobs creamRUSTREDGOLD pearls hoops/cuffs. Jewelglassleadlinedfloralarches. No otherfigures/text, no physicalfootdustcontact/newguruidentity/fullactcensuscertificate.
- Exact poses/gazes/numericalages/clothes/ornamentcounts/geargeometryfastening/materials/spatialframing artistchoices not history or wholeparticipant/anatomy/motion/audible/emotionmotive census. Fullsourceoffcrop facts retained noabsenceinference/corpuscorrection/inventedHindi/publishing. Source comparisons/characterinsults/threats not physicaltransformations/violentevents.
An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.
बहुबिधि भूप सुता समुझाई। नारिधरमु कुलरीति सिखाई।। दासीं दास दिए बहुतेरे। सुचि सेवक जे प्रिय सिय केरे।। सीय चलत ब्याकुल पुरबासी। होहिं सगुन सुभ मंगल रासी।। भूसुर सचिव समेत समाजा। संग चले पहुँचावन राजा।। समय बिलोकि बाजने बाजे। रथ गज बाजि बरातिन्ह साजे।। दसरथ बिप्र बोलि सब लीन्हे। दान मान परिपूरन कीन्हे।। चरन सरोज धूरि धरि सीसा। मुदित महीपति पाइ असीसा।। सुमिरि गजाननु कीन्ह पयाना। मंगलमूल सगुन भए नाना।।
In many ways the king counseled his daughter, teaching her a wife's dharma and the customs of the family. He provided numerous maidservants and attendants, devoted servants who were dear to Sita. As Sita set forth the townspeople grew restless, yet auspicious omens appeared in abundance, heaped like blessings. Brahmins, ministers, and the whole assembly accompanied the king as he escorted her onward. Seeing the proper hour, the musical instruments sounded, and chariots, elephants, and horses were arrayed for the wedding procession. King Dasharatha summoned all the brahmins and honored them fully with gifts and reverence. Placing the dust of their lotus feet upon his head, the joyful king received their blessings. Remembering Gajanana, he set out on the journey, and many auspicious omens arose as the very root of good fortune.