Having honoured the whole bridegroom’s party with courtesy, gifts, supplication and compliments, King Janaka joyfully paid his homage to and greeted the great sages after bestowing his loving attention on them. Bowing his head and invoking the gods he addressed them all with joined palms, "Gods and holy men seek one’s love alone; can the ocean be propitiated by offering as much water as can be held within one’s palms?" Again, with joined palms Janaka and his younger brother (KuÜaketu) submitted to the King of Kosala in winning words full of affection, courtesy and sincerity, "By our connection with you, O king, we have now been exalted in every respect; alongwith this kingdom and all that we possess pray look upon us both as your slaves purchased without any consideration. Taking these girls as your hand-maidens foster them with your unremitting kindness. Pardon me my offence; it was too presumptuous on my part to have called you here." The ornament of the solar race, King DaÜaratha, in his turn flooded the bride’s father with all kinds of honour. The courtesy they showed to each other was past all telling; for their hearts overflowed with love. Hosts of gods rained down flowers and King DaÜaratha proceeded to the palace where he and his party had been lodged amidst the crash of kettledrums, shouts of victory and the chanting of Vedic texts. There was much rejoicing both in the heavens and in the city. Then, receiving orders from the chief of sages, Vasiƒ¢ha, the lovely companions of the brides conducted them alongwith the bridegrooms to the apartment where the guardian deities of the family had been installed for worship during the wedding days. (1—4)