With calm and reverence, Ahalyā welcomed Rāma, offering water for his feet, gifts, and the hospitality prescribed by sacred tradition. Rāma, the scion of the Kakutstha line, accepted these offerings as the rites required. In that moment, a wondrous shower of flowers rained down from above, accompanied by the resonant sound of celestial drums. The Gandharvas and Apsarases rejoiced in celebration, filling the air with festivity. The gods themselves praised Ahalyā, exclaiming “Excellent, excellent!” Her body, purified by the power of her long austerities and her steadfast devotion to Gautama’s will, shone with new radiance. Gautama, brilliant among ascetics, was filled with happiness as he stood beside Ahalyā, now restored. Together, they honored Rāma with due ceremony, and then the great sage Gautama resumed his life of penance. Rāma, having received the highest honors from Gautama, departed from their hermitage and continued on his journey toward Mithilā. Now, listen to the fiftieth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, the Bāla Kāṇḍa. Journeying northeast, Rāma and his brother Lakṣmaṇa, guided by the sage Viśvāmitra, approached the sacred enclosure where a great sacrifice was underway. Rāma turned to the eminent sage and said, “Truly, the sacrificial prosperity of the great-souled King Janaka is admirable. Here are thousands of fortunate Brāhmaṇas from many lands, all devoted to the Vedas. Hermitages of sages are everywhere, bustling with hundreds of carts. O Brāhmaṇa, please show us a place where we may stay.” Viśvāmitra, hearing Rāma’s words, arranged for their dwelling in a quiet spot with water nearby. News of Viśvāmitra’s arrival soon reached Janaka, the righteous king. With his chief priest Śatānanda at the forefront, Janaka came forth, accompanied by his officiating priests, who quickly brought offerings and approached with great reverence. Janaka, steadfast in dharma, honored Viśvāmitra with gifts as tradition required. Viśvāmitra, having received this homage from the noble king, inquired after Janaka’s welfare and the smooth progress of the sacrifice. He also greeted the assembled sages and their teachers with proper respect. With joy, Viśvāmitra met all the sages, and the king, hands joined in respect, addressed him. The venerable sage, together with the eminent sages, took his seat. The priests, officiants, and the king’s counselors all sat in their places, arranged with decorum. Seeing Viśvāmitra present, King Janaka spoke: “Today, by the gods’ grace, the success of my sacrifice is assured. I have gained the fruit of this sacrifice by beholding the revered sage. Blessed and favored am I, for you have come to my sacrificial ground. O Brahman, you have arrived with these sages. The wise say the consecration lasts twelve days, O Brahmarṣi. Therefore, O Kauśika, you should witness the gods as they come to claim their shares.” Having spoken joyfully to the sage, Janaka again, with folded hands and devotion, respectfully asked, “May you be blessed! Who are these two youths, equal to the gods in valor? Heroes whose gait is like that of noble elephants, resembling tigers and bulls, with wide lotus-like eyes, bearing swords, quivers, and bows. In beauty, they are like the Aśvins, standing at the threshold of youth. They have arrived on earth as if by chance, like immortals from the heavens. How have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose sons are they, O sage? These heroes, bearing excellent weapons—whose sons are they, O great sage? They adorn this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky. They resemble each other in stature, gestures, and movement, their hair dark as a crow’s wing. I wish to hear the truth about them.” Hearing these words of the noble Janaka, the great sage Viśvāmitra revealed, “They are the sons of Daśaratha.” He recounted how they had dwelled at Siddhāśrama, slain the rākṣasas, arrived here without trouble, and visited Viśālā. He spoke of their meeting with Ahalyā, her reunion with Gautama, and their coming now to test the great bow. All this the illustrious Viśvāmitra reported to the noble Janaka, and then he fell silent. Now hear the fifty-first chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words, Śatānanda—the radiant, ascetic son of Gautama—was filled with wonder, his hair standing on end. Beholding the two princes seated comfortably, Śatānanda addressed Viśvāmitra, “O tiger among sages, did my illustrious mother, long devoted to austerity, appear before the royal prince? Did my radiant mother offer Rāma the worship due to all beings, with gifts from the forest? Was it told to Rāma, all that happened long ago—what my glorious mother suffered at the hands of the god? O Kauśika, was my mother, best among sages’ wives, reunited with my father, after seeing Rāma? O son of Kuśika, did my father honor Rāma, the great-souled one, who came to their hermitage and received their worship?” Thus, in reverence and wonder, Śatānanda sought to know the full tale of Rāma’s meeting with his parents, and the blessings that had come to their house.