gaja chāla byāla kapāla māla bilōki bara sura hari ham̐sē. 12.
Chanda 12. The sky reverberated with the sound of the kettle-drums being played
loudly as well as the from the sound of melodious songs having sweet lyrics that were
being sung everywhere in this world.
Shiva—for whom the moon is an ornament of the head—rode a bull (known
as the Nandi). The Gods enthusiastically applauded and praised Shiva as they
showered flowers upon him, while good omens heralding good luck and
auspiciousness began to happen.
Tulsidas says that ghosts, spirits and phantoms made up the groom’s party.
Seeing ‘Pashupati’ (literally, the lord of animals and non-humans) adorned with an
elephant skin, serpents wrapped around his body and a garland/necklace of skulls
hanging from his neck, the Gods and Hari (Vishnu) began to laugh (at such a strange
groom).^1 (Chanda no. 12)
[Note—^1 Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, from Chaupai line no. 8 that precedes
Doha no. 92—to Chaupai line no. 1 that precedes Doha no. 94.]
Merry-making en-route to the bride’s place
fccq/k cksfy gfj dgsm fudV iqj vk;mA
vkiu vkiu lkt lcfga fcyxk;mAA97AA
çeFkukFk ds lkFk çeFk xu jktfgaA
fcfc/k Hkk¡fr eq[k ckgu cs"k fcjktfgaAA98AA
bibudha bōli hari kahē'u nikaṭa pura āya'u.
āpana āpana sāja sabahiṁ bilagāya'u. 97.
pramathanātha kē sātha pramatha gana rājahiṁ.
bibidha bhām̐ti mukha bāhana bēṣa birājahiṁ. 98.
97-98. Hari (Vishnu) summoned the Gods and advised them—‘We have arrived near
the city (of the bride). Hence, all of you should segregate yourselves and your
companions into separate groups.’^1 (97)
Presently, the ghosts and the phantoms look stunning in the company of their
Lord (i.e. Lord Shiva). They present an awesome sight—having all sorts of
unconventional faces, clothes, ornamentations, vehicles and mounts.^2 [That is why
Vishnu asked the Gods to separate themselves from Shiva's group which is very odd
and fear-inspiring. The Gods and their retinue had charming forms while Lord Shiva
and his companions had all the oddities one can ever imagine to be present in a
groom—there were ghosts and phantoms to accompany Lord Shiva, and he himself
was attired in an elephant skin, was wrapped by serpents, had a necklace of skulls and
got ash smeared all over his naked body. It was a time of rejoicing and merry-making,
so when Lord Vishnu asked the Gods to separate themselves from the party of Lord
Shiva he did not mean any slight to Shiva but was done in jest.] (98)
[Note—^1 Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Doha no. 92, and Chaupai line nos. 1-
3 that precede Doha no. 93.
(^2) Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, from Chaupai line no. 4 that precedes
Doha no. 93—to Chaupai line no. 1 that precedes Doha no. 94.]