Against King Asita, there arose a host of rival kings—powerful foes such as the Haihayas, the Tāla-jaṅghas, and the heroic Śaśabindus. In the battles that followed, King Asita was defeated and exiled from his kingdom. Bereft of his throne, he journeyed to the Himalayas with his wives, seeking refuge in those lofty mountains. There, King Asita, weakened and worn, met the end destined for him. It is said that both his wives were with child at the time. One of the queens, wishing to destroy her own pregnancy, passed her unborn child, Sagara, to her co-wife. Amidst the beauty of the mountains, a sage found joy in these events. A Bhārgava sage named Cyavana had also taken refuge in the Himalayas. To him came one of the noble queens, radiant and godlike in her bearing. Her eyes were like lotus petals, and, longing for an excellent son, she approached Cyavana with reverence. This noble lady, Kālindī, bowed before the sage and greeted him with humility. Cyavana, perceiving her yearning for a son, spoke words of blessing at the time of the child’s birth: “In your womb, O noble lady, a son of great virtue and immense power will be born. Do not grieve, O lotus-eyed one; your son will be mighty and radiant, born together with the burden you now carry.” Having received the sage’s blessing, the royal princess, steadfast in her devotion to her husband even in his absence, gave birth to a son. Yet, out of jealousy, her co-wife gave her a potion intended to destroy the embryo. Despite this, the child Sagara was born, together with the effects of that potion. Sagara’s own son was Asamanja, from whom was born Amshuman. Amshuman’s son was Dilipa, and Dilipa’s son was the illustrious Bhagiratha. From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, then Raghu, and from Raghu was born the renowned Pravridha, known as the devourer of men. From Pravridha came Kalmashapada, whose son was Shankhana. Shankhana’s son was Sudarshana, and Sudarshana’s son was Agnivarṇa. Agnivarṇa’s son was Shighraga, then Maru, then Prashushruka, and from Prashushruka came Ambarisha. Ambarisha’s son was the great king Nahuṣa; from Nahuṣa came Yayāti, then Nābhāga, and Nābhāga’s son was Aja. From Aja was born Dasharatha, and from Dasharatha were born the brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. This ancient and pure lineage of kings, supremely righteous and born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty, is filled with heroes and speakers of truth. Thus, for the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, O king, I seek your daughter. You should give her to those who are her equals in worth and virtue, O best of men. Now, listen to the seventy-first sarga in the glorious Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki, in the Bālakāṇḍa. So addressed, King Janaka, with hands joined in reverence, replied: “May all be well with you. You are indeed worthy to hear the account of our lineage. For, O best of sages, when a daughter is to be given, the family’s ancestry must be fully declared by one born in the line. Listen, O wise one. “There was a king, renowned throughout the three worlds for his deeds, named Nimi. He was supremely righteous, foremost among all beings. His son was Mithi, and Mithi’s son was Janaka—the first king Janaka, from whom came Udāvasu. Udāvasu’s son was the righteous Nandivardhana, whose son was the mighty hero Suketu. “From Suketu was born Devarāta, righteous and mighty, also known as the royal sage Bṛhadratha. Bṛhadratha’s son was the valiant Mahāvīra, whose son was Sudhṛti, steadfast and courageous. From Sudhṛti came the righteous Dhṛṣṭaketu, a king of great virtue, and Dhṛṣṭaketu’s son was the renowned Haryaśva. Haryaśva’s son was Maru, Maru’s son was Pratīndhaka, and Pratīndhaka’s son was the righteous king Kīrtiratha. Kīrtiratha’s son was Devamīḍha, then Vibudha, then Mahīdhraka. “Mahīdhraka’s son was the mighty king Kīrtirāta, whose son was the royal sage Mahāromā. Mahāromā’s son was the righteous Svarṇaromā, and Svarṇaromā’s son was Hrasvaromā. That king, a knower of righteousness and great of soul, had two sons—I am the elder, and my valiant younger brother is Kuśadhvaja. “My father anointed me as king and, entrusting the burden of the kingdom to me, went to the forest, installing Kuśadhvaja as ruler elsewhere. When my aged father departed this world, I bore the duty righteously, always showing affection to my brother Kuśadhvaja, who is equal to the gods. “Then, after some time, the powerful king Sudhanvā came from Sāṃkāśya and besieged Mithilā. He sent me a message, demanding the unrivaled bow of Śiva and Sītā, the lotus-eyed maiden. Because I did not yield to his demands, a battle ensued between us. In that fight, I slew King Sudhanvā, who confronted me. Having vanquished him, I anointed my heroic brother Kuśadhvaja as king in Sāṃkāśya. “This is my younger brother, and I am the elder, O great sage. With utmost joy, I give you both brides. May good fortune be yours—I give Sītā to Rāma, and Urmilā to Lakṣmaṇa. My daughter Sītā, equal to the daughters of the gods and won by prowess, I give into your hands.