THE GODANA--CHAPTER 72
Then Visvamitra answered him, “The royal houses of Ikshvaku and Videha are immeasurable in glory. You may search around. But you cannot come across another kingdom like these. Rama and Lakshmana and Sita and Urmila stand beautifully matched. But one more word I beseech you. Janaka your brother Kusadhvaja is here. He is the father of two beautiful maidens. I would ask for them in marriage to Bharata and Satrughna. They are the sons of the royal Dasaratha. They are beautiful youths and of peerless prowess.” Vasishtha gave his assent to Visvamitra’s proposal.
This proposal of the sage fell like honey drops on the ears of Janaka. He hastened to reply in all reverence. “Thrice blessed indeed is my house. Your holy ones are pleased to pronounce the alliance a well-matched one. Hail! Saintly ones! Be it so; let Bharata and Satrughna take the daughters of Kusadhvaja to wife. It would be a beautiful sight to see four maidens wedded to the four royal sons of Dasaratha on the same day. The astrologers say that the auspicious day for marriage is when the moon is in conjunction with the asterism Uttara Phalguni. For, Bhaga, the Lord of Generation is the ruler thereof.”
He stood up and approached the holy pair. He resumed, “I am your humble pupil, to whom you have deigned to show high favour. May you be pleased to grace the excellent seats. Dasaratha lords these wide domains of mine. And he grants me no less lordship over Ayodhya. Don’t hesitate to exercise your authority here.
Then the Lord of Ayodhya replied to him: “You and your worthy brother are famous here. You are famed over the earth. It is for your manifold graces of heart and mind. Right royally you have entertained the sages. You have also entertained the numerous kings here. All good be yours. Give me leave to retire to my quarters. For I have to perform the preliminary Sraddhas.”
And with the permission of Janaka, Dasaratha repaired to his palace. Visvamitra and Vasishtha went along with him. The Sraddhas were duly conducted. And the next morning the king set about to perform the Gift of Kine. Hundreds of thousands he gave away to pious Brahmanas. It was to secure the welfare of his sons. A hundred thousand cows, full-yielding, he gave away in the name of each of his sons. The cows' horns were plated with gold. Each cow was given with its calf and milking vessel of bronze. When the rites were over, the aged monarch sat there in the midst of his four sons. He looked as grand as the Self-born One, surrounded by the Guardians of the Worlds.
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