As Agni spoke, he declared that offering a fruitless ram would bring supreme satisfaction to the ancestors, the Pitṛs, and those who make such offerings would receive inexhaustible rewards. The assembled Pitṛs, hearing Agni’s words, took the testicles of the ram and implanted them in Indra, the thousand-eyed one. From that moment onward, O descendant of Kakutstha, the Pitṛs accepted fruitless rams in their rites, and the fruit of those offerings was assigned to them. And so, O Rāghava, Indra gained the testicles of a ram, by the power of sage Gautama and his great penance. Then, O radiant one, Viśvāmitra urged Rāma to proceed to the hermitage of the virtuous Gautama and deliver the highly fortunate Ahalyā, whose divine form awaited release. Hearing these words, Rāma, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, entered the hermitage, with Viśvāmitra leading the way. There, Rāma beheld Ahalyā, blessed and radiant from her austerities, her brilliance so intense that even gods and demons found her difficult to gaze upon. She appeared as if crafted with great effort by the Creator, divine and woven of illusion, her form enveloped in smoke, like a blazing tongue of fire. Her beauty was like the full moon’s radiance veiled by frost and clouds, shining amidst waters and difficult to approach, like the radiant sun. By Gautama’s curse, she had become invisible to all three worlds, until Rāma’s gaze broke the spell, making her visible once more. Then the two sons of Raghu, filled with joy, respectfully touched her feet. Remembering Gautama’s instructions, Ahalyā accepted their gesture. With composure, she offered water for washing their feet, hospitality, and gifts, and Rāma received them according to the prescribed rites. At that moment, a great shower of flowers descended, accompanied by the sound of divine drums, and a grand celebration arose among the Gandharvas and Apsarases. The gods praised Ahalyā, exclaiming, “Excellent, excellent!” Her body had been purified by the power of her austerities, and she remained obedient to Gautama’s will. Gautama, radiant and content, joined Ahalyā in happiness; after properly honoring Rāma, the great ascetic resumed his penances. Rāma, too, having received the highest honor from Gautama according to proper rites, departed for Mithilā. Let the fiftieth chapter be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa, chapter fifty. Continuing northeast, Rāma and Saumitri, guided by Viśvāmitra, approached the sacrificial enclosure of King Janaka. Rāma spoke to the foremost sage, together with Lakṣmaṇa, marveling at the sacrificial prosperity of Janaka, the great-souled king. There were thousands of highly fortunate Brāhmaṇas from various regions, all devoted to Vedic study. Hermitages of sages were seen, crowded with hundreds of carts. Rāma requested Viśvāmitra to designate a place for them to stay. Hearing Rāma’s words, Viśvāmitra arranged a dwelling in a secluded spot with water. News of Viśvāmitra’s arrival quickly reached Janaka, the faultless king, who came to greet him with Śatānanda, the chief priest, at his side. The great-souled officiating priests swiftly took the sacrificial offerings and approached with reverence. Janaka, foremost in righteousness, honored Viśvāmitra with gifts in accordance with dharma. Viśvāmitra, having received this homage, inquired about the king’s welfare and the flawless progress of the sacrifice. He also greeted the sages, their teachers, and priests, meeting them joyfully as was proper. The venerable sage Viśvāmitra took his seat among the eminent sages, having listened to Janaka’s words. The priests, officiants, and the king with his counselors all sat upon their seats as was fitting, arranged around the enclosure. Seeing Viśvāmitra present, the king spoke with gratitude, declaring that the success of his sacrifice had been fulfilled by the gods. He felt blessed and favored by the sage’s arrival, and spoke of the consecration lasting twelve days, inviting Viśvāmitra to behold the gods who would come for their shares. With joined palms and devotion, Janaka respectfully asked Viśvāmitra about the two youths standing beside him, whose valor rivaled that of the gods. He described them as heroes whose gait was like elephants, resembling tigers and bulls, with broad lotus-like eyes, bearing swords, quivers, and bows, and possessing beauty like the Aśvins, standing at the threshold of youth. They seemed to have arrived on earth as if by chance, like immortals from the realm of the gods. Janaka wished to know how they had come there, for what purpose, and whose sons they were. He wondered about the heroes, adorned with excellent weapons, and asked whose sons they were, saying they adorned the land as the moon and sun adorn the sky. The two youths resembled each other in stature, gestures, and movements; their locks were like crow’s wings. Janaka eagerly wished to hear the truth about them. Hearing Janaka’s words, Viśvāmitra, the immeasurable sage, revealed, “They are the sons of Daśaratha.” He told of their residence at Siddhāśrama, the slaying of the rākṣasas, their untroubled arrival, and their sight of Viśālā, thus recounting the noble lineage and deeds of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.