CC Ādi 13.114
Bengali
দুর্বা, ধান্য, গোরোচন, হরিদ্রা, কুঙ্কুম, চন্দন,
মঙ্গল–দ্রব্য পাত্র ভরিয়া ।
বস্ত্র–গুপ্ত দোলা চড়ি’ সঙ্গে লঞা দাসী চেড়ী,
বস্ত্রালঙ্কার পেটারি ভরিয়া ॥ ১১৪
মঙ্গল–দ্রব্য পাত্র ভরিয়া ।
বস্ত্র–গুপ্ত দোলা চড়ি’ সঙ্গে লঞা দাসী চেড়ী,
বস্ত্রালঙ্কার পেটারি ভরিয়া ॥ ১১৪
Verse text
durvā, dhānya, gorocana, haridrā, kuṅkuma, candana,
maṅgala-dravya pātra bhariyā
vastra-gupta dolā caḍi’ saṅge lañā dāsī ceḍī,
vastrālaṅkāra peṭāri bhariyā
maṅgala-dravya pātra bhariyā
vastra-gupta dolā caḍi’ saṅge lañā dāsī ceḍī,
vastrālaṅkāra peṭāri bhariyā
Synonyms
durvā — fresh grass; dhānya — rice paddy; gorocana — a yellow patch for the head of a cow; haridrā — turmeric; kuṅkuma — a kind of scent produced in Kashmir; candana — sandalwood; maṅgala-dravya — auspicious things; pātra bhariyā — filling up a dish; vastra-gupta — covered by cloth; dolā — palanquin; caḍi’ — riding; saṅge — along with; lañā — taking; dāsī — maidservant; ceḍī — female attendants; vastra-alaṅkāra — ornaments and clothes; peṭāri — basket; bhariyā — filled up.
Translation
Riding in a palanquin covered with cloth and accompanied by maidservants, Sītā Ṭhākurāṇī came to the house of Jagannātha Miśra, bringing with her many auspicious articles such as fresh grass, paddy, gorocana, turmeric, kuṅkuma and sandalwood. All these presentations filled a large basket.
Purport
The words vastra-gupta dolā are very significant in this verse. Even fifty or sixty years ago in Calcutta, all respectable ladies would go to a neighboring place riding on a palanquin carried by four men. The palanquin was covered with soft cotton, and in that way there was no chance of seeing a respectable lady traveling in public. Ladies, especially those coming from respectable families, could not be seen by ordinary men. This system is still current in remote places. The Sanskrit word asūrya-paśyā indicates that a respectable lady could not be seen even by the sun. In the oriental culture this system was very prevalent and was strictly observed by respectable ladies, both Hindu and Muslim. We have actual experience in our childhood that our mother would not walk even next door to observe an invitation; rather, she would go in either a carriage or a palanquin carried by four men. This custom was also strictly followed five hundred years ago, and the wife of Advaita Ācārya, being a very respectable lady, observed the customary rules current in that social environment.