In the assembly of kings and sages, the great lineage of the Ikṣvāku dynasty was recounted with reverence. Ambarisha’s son, Nahuṣa, was a celebrated king, and from Nahuṣa descended Yayāti, whose son was Nābhāga. Nābhāga’s son was Aja, and from Aja came Daśaratha, the wise and noble ruler. It was from Daśaratha that the illustrious brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa were born—heroes of truth, belonging to the ancient, pure line of kings famed for righteousness, all born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty. For the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, a request was made to the king: the daughter should be given to those who are their equals, to those worthy of such alliance. Thus began the seventy-first sarga in the glorious Bālakāṇḍa of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. King Janaka, with joined palms and humility, replied, “May all be well with you; you are indeed worthy to hear the account of our lineage.” He explained that, in the matter of giving a daughter, the family’s lineage must be fully declared by one born within it. He began his narration: “There was a king, renowned throughout the three worlds for his deeds, named Nimi—the supremely righteous, foremost among all beings. His son was Mithi, and from Mithi came Janaka, the first king by that name. From Janaka came Udāvasu, and from Udāvasu was born the righteous Nandivardhana. Nandivardhana’s son was the mighty Suketu, and from Suketu came the righteous and mighty Devarāta, known also as Bṛhadratha. Bṛhadratha’s son was the valiant Mahāvīra, whose son was Sudhṛti, steadfast and truly courageous. From Sudhṛti came the righteous Dhṛṣṭaketu, of great virtue, and from Dhṛṣṭaketu was born the renowned royal sage Haryaśva. Haryaśva’s son was Maru, and Maru’s son was Pratīndhaka. From Pratīndhaka came the righteous king Kīrtiratha, whose son was Devamīḍha. Devamīḍha’s son was Vibudha, and Vibudha’s son was Mahīdhraka, whose son was the mighty king Kīrtirāta. From Kīrtirāta came Mahāromā, and from Mahāromā the righteous Svarṇaromā. From Svarṇaromā came Hrasvaromā, the knower of righteousness and great-souled king. Hrasvaromā had two sons: I am the elder, Janaka, and my younger brother is Kuśadhvaja, valiant and beloved. My father anointed me as king and, entrusting the burden to me, went to the forest, installing Kuśadhvaja as ruler elsewhere. When my aged father departed to heaven, I bore the duty righteously, always regarding my brother Kuśadhvaja, who is equal to the gods, with affection. In 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, a battle ensued. In that fight, I slew King Sudhanvā. Having slain him, I anointed my heroic brother Kuśadhvaja as king in Sāṃkāśya. This is my younger brother, and I am the elder. With utmost joy, I offer 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, won by prowess. And Urmilā as well—I say it three times, there is no doubt—with utmost joy, I give you both brides. O king, arrange for the gifting of cows for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, and perform the ancestral rites; then, may good fortune be yours, conduct the wedding ceremony. Today is the constellation Maghā, and on the third day, under the Uttara Phalgunī star, perform the wedding; for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, make the auspicious gifts.” Thus began the seventy-second sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. When King Janaka had spoken thus, the great sage Viśvāmitra, together with Vasiṣṭha, addressed the valiant king. They declared, “The lineages of the Ikṣvākus and the Videhas, O best of men, are unfathomable and immeasurable; there is truly no one equal to them. The union of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with Sītā and Urmilā is fitting both in righteousness and in beauty. And now, O foremost of men, hear my words: this is King Kuśadhvaja, my younger brother, who knows righteousness. To this righteous one, unmatched in beauty on earth, belong two daughters. We seek them as wives for your sons, Bharata and the wise Śatrughna. These sons of Daśaratha, endowed with beauty and youth, are all equal to the guardians of the world, their valor like that of the gods. Let the noble house of Ikṣvāku, O king of righteous deeds, be joined without anxiety to yours by this alliance.” Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words and Vasiṣṭha’s counsel, Janaka, with joined palms, spoke to the two eminent sages: “I consider this lineage blessed, for whom you two foremost sages yourselves command such a fitting alliance.” Thus, in the presence of kings and sages, the sacred union of the two noble houses was arranged, rejoicing in righteousness, lineage, and virtue.