Word Sent to Ayodhya
Dasharatha's riders had barely stopped for breath before delivering their news: the bow was broken, and Sita's hand was 's. Overjoyed, the aging king set out for Mithila himself with and his full court, arriving to a city still ringing with celebration. There, an idea took shape that would multiply the joy fourfold. Janaka had a younger daughter, Urmila, and his brother Kushadhwaja had two daughters of his own, Mandavi and Shrutakirti. Why, the elders reasoned, should only one match be made when destiny had gathered four eligible princes and four eligible princesses under a single roof at a single hour? and Janaka's own priest, the sage Shatananda, conferred and agreed: Lakshmana would marry Urmila, Bharata would marry Mandavi, and Shatrughna would marry Shrutakirti, each ceremony held together with and Sita's own.
✦ Visual cue — King Dasharatha and sage Vashishtha arriving at the ornately decorated gates of Mithila on elephant-back, King Janaka welcoming them with folded hands amid garlands and celebrating crowds.