Arriving swiftly in Sāṃkāśya, the messengers found King Kuśadhvaja and conveyed to him all that had transpired, as well as King Janaka’s intentions. Hearing their earnest and skillful report, Kuśadhvaja did not delay—he set out at Janaka’s command. Upon reaching Mithilā, he beheld the great-souled Janaka, steadfast in righteousness, and after greeting both Śatānanda and Janaka, he paid them due homage. Kuśadhvaja then ascended the splendid royal seat, magnificent and worthy of kings, and sat beside his brother Janaka; the two brothers, radiant and equal in brilliance, took their places together. At that moment, they called for their foremost minister, Sudāman. They instructed him, "Go quickly, chief among ministers, to the illustrious Ikṣvāku, the unconquerable king who enhances the glory of the Raghu lineage. Invite him here, along with his sons and counselors, to the place of hospitality." Sudāman went at once and, upon reaching King Daśaratha, bowed his head in respect. He addressed him, "O lord of Ayodhyā, the king of Mithilā, Janaka, wishes to see you. He is resolved to meet you, together with your preceptors and priests." Hearing the minister’s words, King Daśaratha, accompanied by his sages, ministers, preceptors, and kinsmen, made his way to Janaka’s court. There, among the assembled company, one skilled in speech addressed Janaka: "O great king, you are well aware of the tutelary deity of the Ikṣvāku line. In all matters, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha is our spokesperson, with the approval of Viśvāmitra and all the great sages." He continued, "This righteous Vasiṣṭha will speak for me in due order." With these words, Daśaratha fell silent, and the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha began to speak. In the presence of the priests, Vasiṣṭha recounted the ancient lineage: "Brahmā, whose origin is imperceptible, eternal and undecaying, spoke these words to the wise Vaideha. From Brahmā was born Marīci; from Marīci, Kaśyapa; from Kaśyapa, Vivasvān; and from Vivasvān, Manu, known as Vaivasvata. Manu, the ancient progenitor, was the father of Ikṣvāku, the first king of Ayodhyā. "The illustrious son of Ikṣvāku was Kukṣi; from Kukṣi, Vikukṣi was born; from Vikukṣi, the mighty and radiant Bāṇa; from Bāṇa, the great Anaraṇya. From Anaraṇya came Pṛthu, and from Pṛthu, Triśaṅku. Triśaṅku’s son was Dhundhumāra, famed throughout the world. From Dhundhumāra came the mighty Yuvanāśva, a great chariot-warrior, and his son was Māndhātā, lord of the earth. "Māndhātā’s son was Susandhi, and Susandhi had two sons: Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit. From Dhruvasandhi was born the renowned Bharata, and from Bharata, the mighty Asita. Against Asita, rival kings arose: the Haihayas, Tāla-jaṅghas, and the heroic Śaśabindus. In battle, Asita was exiled and, with his wives, went to the Himalayas. There, King Asita, weakened, met his end, but it is said both his wives were pregnant. "One wife, out of jealousy, gave a potion to her co-wife in an attempt to destroy her pregnancy, but in the beautiful mountains, the sage Cyavana, a Bhārgava, was residing. The noble lady Kālindī, with lotus-leaf eyes, desiring an excellent son, approached the radiant sage and bowed before him. The sage, pleased by her devotion, blessed her, saying, 'A virtuous and greatly powerful son will be born to you. Do not grieve.' Thus, even with the potion, Sagara was born along with the pregnancy. "Sagara’s son was Asamanja; from Asamanja came Amshuman; from Amshuman’s son Dilipa was born Bhagiratha. From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, and from Kakutstha, Raghu. From Raghu was born the illustrious Pravridha, the devourer of men. From him came Kalmashapada, then Shankhana, then Sudarshana, and from Sudarshana, Agnivarṇa. Agnivarṇa’s son was Shighraga; Shighraga’s son was Maru; from Maru came Prashushruka, and from him, Ambarisha. "Ambarisha’s son was King Nahuṣa; from Nahuṣa came Yayāti, and from Yayāti, Nābhāga. Nābhāga’s son was Aja, and from Aja was born Daśaratha. From this Daśaratha were born the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. "O King Janaka, this is the ancient, pure, and supremely righteous line of kings, born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty—heroes and speakers of truth. For the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, I seek your daughter. You should give her to those who are their equals, O best of men, to those who are truly worthy." Thus concluded the lineage and the noble request, as the assembly listened in reverent silence, marking the beginning of a sacred alliance between the houses of Ayodhyā and Mithilā. Listen now to the seventy-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.