At the place of hospitality, the unconquerable king, enhancer of the Raghu lineage, was summoned to come with his sons and counselors. Upon arriving, he was greeted with reverence; bowing his head, the messenger addressed him, “O lord of Ayodhyā, King Janaka of Mithilā wishes to see you.” Janaka was eager to meet him, along with his preceptors and priests. Hearing these words from his chief minister, King Daśaratha, accompanied by sages, relatives, ministers, and preceptors, proceeded to where Janaka awaited. There, the best among those skilled in speech addressed Janaka, saying, “O great king, you know well 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. This righteous Vasiṣṭha will speak for me in due order.” When Daśaratha fell silent, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha began to speak. In the presence of priests, Vasiṣṭha recounted the lineage, beginning with Brahmā, whose origin is imperceptible, eternal, everlasting, and undecaying. From Brahmā was born Marīci; Marīci’s son was Kaśyapa; from Kaśyapa came Vivasvān; and Manu, known as Vaivasvata, was born from Vivasvān. Manu, the ancient progenitor, had a son named Ikṣvāku, who was the first king of Ayodhyā. Ikṣvāku’s illustrious son was Kukṣi, and from Kukṣi came Vikukṣi. Vikukṣi’s son was the mighty and radiant Bāṇa, whose son was Anaraṇya, equally mighty and radiant. From Anaraṇya came Pṛthu, and from Pṛthu, Triśaṅku. Triśaṅku’s son was Dhundhumāra, famed for his great renown. Dhundhumāra’s son was the powerful chariot-warrior Yuvanāśva, whose son was Māndhātā, lord of the earth. From Māndhātā came the illustrious Susandhi, who had two sons: Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit. Dhruvasandhi’s son was the renowned Bharata, and Bharata’s son was the mighty Asita. Against Asita, rival kings—the Haihayas, Tāla-jaṅghas, and heroic Śaśabindus—arose as enemies. After battling them, Asita was exiled and, with his wives, went to the Himalayas. There, King Asita, weakened, met his destined end, but both his wives were pregnant. One wife, intending to destroy her pregnancy, gave Sagara to her co-wife, and in that beautiful mountain, the sage became delighted. A Bhārgava named Cyavana had taken refuge in the Himalayas, and a noble lady approached him, radiant like a god, with lotus-leaf eyes and the desire for an excellent son. Bowing to Cyavana, Kālindī greeted him, and the sage assured her, “In your womb, O noble lady, a virtuous and greatly powerful son will be born. Do not grieve, for a son of great strength and radiance will soon be born, together with the pregnancy.” Having bowed to Cyavana, the royal princess, devoted to her husband though separated from him, gave birth to a son. Yet, out of jealousy towards her co-wife, a potion was given to her with the intention of destroying the embryo, but together with that potion, Sagara was born. Sagara’s son was Asamanja; from Asamanja came Amshuman; from Dilipa, son of Amshuman, was born Bhagiratha. From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, and from Kakutstha, Raghu. Raghu’s illustrious son was Pravridha, the devourer of men. From him came Kalmashapada; from Kalmashapada came Shankhana; Sudarshana was the son of Shankhana, and Agnivarṇa was born of Sudarshana. Shighraga was Agnivarṇa’s son; Maru was Shighraga’s son; from Maru came Prashushruka, and from Prashushruka, 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 Dasharatha. From Dasharatha were born the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. This ancient, pure line of kings, supremely righteous, born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, were heroes and speakers of truth. For the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, O king, Vasiṣṭha declared, “I seek your daughter. You should give her to those who are their equals, O best of men, to those who are worthy.” Now, listen to the seventy-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Thus addressed, Janaka, with joined palms, replied, “May it be well with you; you are worthy to hear the account of our lineage. For, O best of sages, in the matter of giving a daughter, the lineage must be fully declared by one born in the family; listen to it, O wise one.” He began, “There was a king, renowned in the three worlds for his own deeds, named Nimi, supremely righteous, foremost among all beings. His son was named Mithi, and Janaka was the son of Mithi—the first king Janaka. From Janaka came Udāvasu; from Udāvasu was born the righteous Nandivardhana; Nandivardhana’s son was the mighty hero named Suketu.” Thus, both lineages were declared with reverence and clarity, each tracing their noble ancestry and righteousness, as befitting the sacred union about to be formed.