From that time onward, that sacred bathing place became renowned as Govinda, also called Maṅgalāsaṃgama and Pūṛṇatīrtha, the supreme of all holy sites. It is further known as Indratīrtha and Bārhaspatya, a place where the divine presence of Siddheśvara, Viṣṇu, and Govinda abides. Any act of bathing, charity, or merit performed there is inexhaustible in its blessings and brings immense joy to one’s ancestors. Whoever hears, recites, or remembers daily the greatness of this tīrtha is granted restoration of lost kingdoms. On both banks, O best of sages, there exist thirty-seven thousand tīrthas, each bestowing every accomplishment. There is no tīrtha as great as Pūṛṇatīrtha, which yields immense fruit; a person who does not honor it from birth is considered fruitless. There is another sacred place known as Rāmatīrtha, which destroys the sin of killing a fetus; simply by hearing of it, one is freed from all sins. In the illustrious Ikṣvāku lineage, there was a kṣatriya king renowned throughout the world, strong, wise, and heroic like Śakra, the lord of the city of the gods. This was King Daśaratha, who ruled his ancestral kingdom as Bali once did, and he had three queens: Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī—each noble, fortunate, and adorned with auspicious marks. While Daśaratha ruled the prosperous kingdom of Ayodhyā, the sage Vasiṣṭha, foremost knower of Brahman, was his chief priest. During his reign, there was no disease, no famine, no drought, nor any affliction among the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and especially among the Śūdras. All the hermitages flourished in joy while this scion of the Ikṣvāku line was king. At that time, a conflict arose between the gods and the demons for supremacy; sometimes the gods prevailed, sometimes the demons. As this struggle continued, the three worlds became greatly afflicted. Then I addressed the Daityas and Dānavas, but the gods, in particular, did not heed my words, and once again, a great battle broke out among them. The gods went to Viṣṇu and to Īśāna, the lord of the universe. Both Viṣṇu and Īśāna addressed the gods, as well as the Asuras, Daityas, and Dānavas, saying: “Let those who are strong through austerity go and perform penance again, then wage battle.” Thus instructed, all departed, resolved to undertake austerities. But the gods, filled with envy, approached the Rākṣasas once more, and a terrible battle erupted between the gods and the Dānavas. In that fierce struggle, neither the gods nor the Daityas and Dānavas could secure victory. As the battle raged, a bodiless voice proclaimed: “Those who have King Daśaratha on their side will be victorious, not the others.” Hearing this, both the gods and the Dānavas sought Daśaratha to win his support. Then Vāyu hastened to the king and said, “O king, you must come to the battle between the gods and the Dānavas; wherever King Daśaratha is, victory is certain.” Vāyu urged him, “Therefore, you should side with the gods, so that the gods may be victorious.” Upon hearing Vāyu’s words, King Daśaratha replied, “I will certainly come; go, Vāyu, as you please.” After Vāyu departed, the Daityas themselves came to the king and said, “O lord, you ought to assist us as well. O illustrious Daśaratha, victory rests with you; therefore, you should assist the lord of the Daityas.” But Daśaratha, recalling his promise to Vāyu, replied, “I have already pledged this; let the Daityas and Dānavas depart.” Thus, true to his word, the king went to heaven and joined the battle with the Daityas, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas. While the assembly of gods looked on, the brothers of Namuci shattered the king’s chariot axle with sharp arrows. In his confusion, Daśaratha did not realize his chariot’s axle was broken. Kaikeyī, of beautiful brows, stood nearby. Without informing the king, the virtuous Kaikeyī, seeing the broken axle, placed her own hand there at once. O best of sages, this was a great and wondrous deed: the foremost of charioteers prevailed in battle with a chariot whose axle was replaced by her hand. Having conquered the Daityas and Dānavas and received many boons from the gods, Daśaratha was permitted by them to return, and he happily journeyed back to Ayodhyā. On the way, the great king saw his beloved Kaikeyī, and, witnessing her extraordinary act, he was filled with the utmost astonishment. Thereupon, he granted her three boons. After seeking the king’s permission, Kaikeyī said, “Let these boons, O king of kings, remain with you until I desire them.” The king, having adorned his beloved with ornaments, returned victorious and joyful to his city with her in the chariot. What is there that should not be given to beloved women at the proper time? Once, Daśaratha, surrounded by hunters, set out for the hunt. He wandered in the forest at night and constructed a water reservoir; for a king must be free from the seven vices.