Once, a king fought valiantly in battle but was ultimately exiled from his kingdom. Taking his wives with him, he journeyed to the majestic Himalayas. This king, Asita, was of little strength and soon met his destined end. It is said that both his wives were pregnant at the time. One of them, wishing to destroy her own pregnancy, gave the child Sagara to her co-wife. Amidst the beautiful mountains, a sage was greatly pleased. There, a Bhārgava sage named Cyavana had also taken refuge in the Himalayas. One noble lady, radiant as a celestial being, approached him. Her eyes were like lotus leaves, and she desired an excellent son. Bowing reverently before the sage, she greeted him—her name was Kālindī. Cyavana addressed her, seeing her eagerness for a son, and spoke at the birth of her child: “O noble lady, a virtuous and greatly powerful son will be born in your womb. A son of great strength and radiance will soon come forth; do not grieve for your pregnancy, O lotus-eyed one.” Having bowed to Cyavana, the royal princess, though separated from her husband and devoted to him, gave birth to a son. However, out of jealousy towards her co-wife, she was given a potion intended to destroy her embryo. Yet, together with that potion, Sagara was born. Sagara’s son was Asamanja, and from Asamanja came Amshuman. Amshuman’s son was Dilipa, and from Dilipa was born Bhagiratha. From Bhagiratha came Kakutstha, and from Kakutstha, Raghu. From Raghu was born the illustrious Pravridha, known as the devourer of men. From Pravridha came Kalmashapada, and from Kalmashapada, Shankhana. Shankhana’s son was Sudarshana, and Sudarshana’s son was Agnivarṇa. Agnivarṇa’s son was Shighraga, and Shighraga’s son was Maru. 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. These heroes belong to the ancient, pure line of kings, supremely righteous, born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty—heroes and speakers of truth. Therefore, for the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, O king, your daughter is sought; 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, King 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, when giving a daughter in marriage, the lineage must be fully declared by one born in the family. Listen, O wise one. There was a king, renowned in the three worlds for his deeds, named Nimi, supremely righteous and 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 Suketu. From Suketu, 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, the righteous Dhṛṣṭaketu, of great virtue, was born; 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 is known as Devamīḍha; Vibudha was the son of Devamīḍha, and Mahīdhraka was the son of Vibudha. Mahīdhraka’s son was the mighty king Kīrtirāta; from the royal sage Kīrtirāta was born Mahāromā. From Mahāromā was born the righteous Svarṇaromā; from the royal sage Svarṇaromā was born Hrasvaromā. That king, a knower of righteousness and great-souled, had two sons. I am the elder, and my valiant younger brother is Kuśadhvaja. My father anointed me, the elder, as king, and entrusting the burden to me, he went to the forest, installing Kuśadhvaja. When my aged father departed to heaven, I bore the duty righteously, always looking upon my brother Kuśadhvaja, who is equal to the gods, with affection. Then, after some time, the powerful king Sudhanvā came from Sāṃkāśya and besieged Mithilā. He sent me a message, saying, ‘Give me the unrivaled bow of Śiva and Sītā, the lotus-eyed maiden.’ Because I did not give them, O great sage, a battle ensued between us. In that fight, I slew King Sudhanvā, who faced me. Having slain Sudhanvā, the best of kings, O foremost sage, I anointed my heroic brother Kuśadhvaja in Sāṃkāśya. This is my younger brother, and I am the elder, O great sage. With utmost joy, I give you both brides, O best of sages. May good fortune be yours; I give Sītā to Rāma and Urmilā to Lakṣmaṇa—my daughter Sītā, equal to the daughters of the gods, won by prowess. And the second, Urmilā as well—I say it three times, there is no doubt—with utmost joy, I give you both brides, O best of sages.