When all the assembled sages and elders gathered for the marriage of Sītā, King Daśaratha spoke, but in all matters, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha was chosen as the spokesperson, with the approval of Viśvāmitra and all the great sages present. Daśaratha, recognizing the righteousness of Vasiṣṭha, declared that Vasiṣṭha would speak for him in due order, and then he fell silent. The venerable sage Vasiṣṭha then rose and addressed those assembled, recounting the noble lineage of Daśaratha. He began with Brahmā, whose origin is imperceptible, eternal, everlasting, and undecaying. In the presence of the priests, Vasiṣṭha spoke words that Brahmā had once spoken to the wise Vaideha. From Brahmā, Marīci was born; from Marīci came Kaśyapa; from Kaśyapa, Vivasvān was born; and from Vivasvān, Manu, known as Vaivasvata, emerged. Manu was the ancient progenitor, and his son Ikṣvāku became the first king of Ayodhyā. Ikṣvāku’s son was Kukṣi, and from Kukṣi came the illustrious Vikukṣi. Vikukṣi’s son was the mighty and radiant Bāṇa, and Bāṇa’s son was the equally mighty and radiant Anaraṇya. From Anaraṇya came Pṛthu, from Pṛthu came Triśaṅku, and Triśaṅku’s son was Dhundhumāra, renowned for his great fame. Dhundhumāra’s son was the mighty Yuvanāśva, a great chariot-warrior, whose son was Māndhātā, lord of the earth. Māndhātā’s son was the illustrious Susandhi, who had two sons: Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit. From Dhruvasandhi came the renowned Bharata, and from Bharata, the mighty Asita was born. Against Asita, rival kings rose as enemies: the Haihayas, Tāla-jaṅghas, and the heroic Śaśabindus. Asita fought bravely but was exiled, and together with his wives, he went to the Himalayas. There, King Asita, weakened, met his destined end, and both his wives became pregnant. One wife, out of jealousy, sought to destroy her pregnancy and gave Sagara to her co-wife. In the beautiful mountain, a sage became delighted. A Bhārgava named Cyavana had taken refuge in the Himalayas, and there, a noble lady, radiant like a god, approached him. With lotus-leaf eyes, desiring an excellent son, she bowed and greeted him; her name was Kālindī. The sage Cyavana, eager to bless her with a son, addressed her: "In your womb, O noble lady, a virtuous and greatly powerful son will be born. A son of great strength and radiance will soon be born; together with the pregnancy, O lotus-eyed, do not grieve." Having bowed to Cyavana, the royal princess, devoted to her husband though separated from him, gave birth to a son. Despite her co-wife’s jealousy and the potion intended to destroy the embryo, Sagara was born together with that potion. Sagara’s son was Asamanja, from Asamanja came Amshuman, and from Dilipa, son of Amshuman, was born Bhagiratha. From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, from Kakutstha, Raghu; from Raghu was born the illustrious Pravridha, the devourer of men. From him came Kalmashapada, from Kalmashapada, Shankhana; Sudarshana was the son of Shankhana, and Agnivarṇa was born of Sudarshana. Shighraga was the son of Agnivarṇa, Maru was the son of Shighraga; from Maru came Prashushruka, and from Prashushruka, Ambarisha. Ambarisha’s son was the king Nahuṣa; from Nahuṣa came Yayāti, and from Yayāti, Nābhāga. Nābhāga’s son was Aja, and from Aja was born Dasharatha; from this Dasharatha were born the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. Vasiṣṭha declared that this ancient, pure line of kings was supremely righteous, born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, heroes and speakers of truth. For the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, he sought Janaka’s daughter, Sītā, and urged Janaka to give her to those who were her equals, worthy and noble. As the seventy-first sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, began, Janaka, with joined palms, replied to Vasiṣṭha: "May it be well with you; you are worthy to hear the account of our lineage." He explained that, in matters of giving a daughter, the lineage must be fully declared by one born in the family. Janaka began his account: There was a king, renowned in the three worlds for his deeds, named Nimi, supremely righteous and foremost among all beings. His son was Mithi, and Janaka was Mithi’s son—the first king Janaka. From Janaka came Udāvasu, and from Udāvasu was born the righteous Nandivardhana. Nandivardhana’s son was the mighty hero Suketu, and from Suketu too, the righteous and mighty Devarāta was born. Devarāta, the royal sage, was also known as Bṛhadratha. Bṛhadratha’s son was the valiant and mighty Mahāvīra; Mahāvīra’s son was Sudhṛti, steadfast and truly courageous. From Sudhṛti came the righteous Dhṛṣṭaketu, of great virtue, and from Dhṛṣṭaketu, the royal sage, was born the renowned Haryaśva. Maru was the son of Haryaśva, and Pratīndhaka was the son of Maru; from Pratīndhaka was born the righteous king Kīrtiratha. Kīrtiratha’s son was known as Devamīḍha; Vibudha was the son of Devamīḍha, and Mahīdhraka was the son of Vibudha. Thus, both lineages—the solar dynasty of Rāma and the noble line of Janaka—were declared, each radiant with virtue, righteousness, and illustrious kings, preparing for the sacred union of Sītā and Rāma.