Collected here and there troops of ladies, all brilliant as the lightning, with moon-like face and eyes resembling those of a fawn and beauty enough to rob Love’s consort (Rati) of her pride, and who had practised all the sixteen kinds of female adornment, * sang auspicious strains with voice so melodious that the female cuckoo was put to shame on hearing the sweet sound ! How is the king’s palace to be described; the pavilion set up there would dazzle the whole universe. Various articles of good omen and charming in appearance were displayed and a number of kettledrums were sounded. Here were panegyrists singing the family glory and here were BrŒhma˜as chanting the Vedas; while pretty women carolled festive songs, many times repeating the names of RŒma and S¶tŒ. (1) rubbing and cleansing the body with fragrant unguents, (2) ablution, (3) putting on a new attire, (4) dyeing the sides of one’s feet with red lag, (5) dressing the hair, (6) adorning the parting line of the hair with red lead, (7) painting the forehead with streaks of sandal-paste, (8) dotting the chin with a small black spot, (9) colouring the palms of one’s hands and the soles of one’s feet with the reddish dye extracted from the leaves of the Mehad¶ plant, (10) an inting one’s body with perfumed unguents, (11) adorning the body with bejewelled ornaments, (12) beautifying the hair etc., with wreaths of flowers, (13) perfuming and dyeing one’s mouth by chewing betel-leaves etc., (14) colouring the teeth, (15) painting the lips and (16) applying collyrium to one’s eyes. 284 * ÝR” RMACARITAMNASA* There was an excess of joy all round, while the palace was too small to contain it; it seemed, therefore, as if it overflowed on all sides. (1—4)