Hearing Rāma’s gentle words, the great sage Viśvāmitra arranged for their dwelling in a quiet, secluded place where water was close at hand. News soon reached Mithilā that Viśvāmitra had arrived, and King Janaka—the foremost of kings, flawless in conduct—came forth to greet him, led by his chief priest Śatānanda. The officiating priests, noble in soul, swiftly gathered the sacrificial offerings and, filled with reverence, went out to receive the sage. Janaka, ever righteous, offered Viśvāmitra the honored gifts due to him, strictly observing the laws of dharma. Viśvāmitra received these marks of respect from the great-souled Janaka and inquired after the king’s welfare and the untroubled progress of the great sacrifice. He then greeted the assembled sages, their teachers, and priests as was proper, expressing his joy at their company. After these courtesies, the king, his hands joined in respect, spoke to Viśvāmitra, the foremost among sages. The venerable sage, having heard Janaka’s words, took his seat among the eminent sages. The priests, the officiants, and Janaka with his counselors all settled into their places, arranged fittingly around the gathering. Seeing Viśvāmitra present, King Janaka spoke with emotion: “Today, by the grace of the gods, the purpose of my sacrifice is fulfilled. By beholding you, O revered one, I have attained the true fruit of my sacrifice. Fortunate and blessed am I, for the eminent sage himself has come to my enclosure. O Brahman, you have arrived with these sages as the consecration period of twelve days is declared by the wise. Therefore, O Kauśika, you should behold the gods as they come to claim their shares.” Having spoken thus, his face radiant with joy, Janaka again bowed with joined palms and asked with devotion, “May you be blessed! Who are these two youths, equal to the gods in valor, whose gait is like that of royal elephants, resembling tigers and bulls, with broad, lotus-like eyes? They bear swords, quivers, and bows, and in their beauty are like the twin Aśvins, standing at the threshold of youth. They have appeared on earth as if by chance, like immortals from the heavens. For what purpose have they come here on foot, and to whom do they belong, O sage? Heroes bearing excellent weapons—whose sons are they, O great sage? They adorn this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky. They are alike in stature, gestures, and movements, their hair dark as crow’s wings. I wish to hear the truth about them.” Hearing these words of the great-souled Janaka, the immeasurable sage Viśvāmitra revealed, “They are the sons of Daśaratha.” He recounted their residence at Siddhāśrama, the slaying of the rākṣasas, their peaceful journey to Mithilā, and the sights they had witnessed, including the city of Viśālā. Viśvāmitra spoke of their encounter with Ahalyā, her reunion with sage Gautama, and their arrival here to behold the great bow. All this the illustrious sage Viśvāmitra narrated to the noble Janaka, and then he paused. Now begins the fifty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, the Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words, Śatānanda—the radiant, ascetic son of Gautama—was overcome with wonder, his hair standing on end. Beholding the two princes seated comfortably, Śatānanda addressed Viśvāmitra, the tiger among sages: “O sage, did my illustrious mother, long devoted to austerity, appear before the royal prince? Did she, of great splendor, offer Rāma the worship due to all beings, with gifts from the forest? Was it told to Rāma what 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? Did my teacher honor Rāma, the great-souled one, who received worship here? Did my father, with a peaceful mind, receive honor and greeting from Rāma?” To these earnest questions, the great sage Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, replied, “O best of sages, nothing has been left undone by me. The wife was indeed reunited with the sage, just as Reṇukā was with Bhārgava.” Hearing these words, Śatānanda, shining with splendor, turned to Rāma and spoke: “Welcome, best of men! By great fortune you have come, O Rāghava, led here by the unconquered Viśvāmitra. This sage, of immeasurable brilliance, is a brahmarṣi whose deeds are beyond thought, attained through austerity—I know his supreme state. There is no one on earth more blessed than you, Rāma, for the son of Kuśika, who performed mighty penances, is your protector. Listen as I recount, as best I can and as it truly happened, the story of the great sage Kauśika; hear it from me as I narrate. He was a righteous king, subduer of foes for a long time, learned in dharma, accomplished in knowledge, and devoted to the welfare of his people.