King Janaka, renowned for his righteousness and greatness, recounted his lineage to the assembled sages and kings. He spoke of his father, a knower of dharma and a soul of vast merit, who had two sons—himself, Janaka, the elder, and his younger brother, the valiant Kuśadhvaja. Upon Janaka’s coming of age, his father anointed him as king, entrusting the responsibilities of the realm to him. Having thus installed Janaka, the elder king retired to the forest, bestowing the kingship of another city upon Kuśadhvaja. When their father, now aged, departed this world for heaven, Janaka ruled the kingdom with unwavering adherence to righteousness, always holding his brother Kuśadhvaja—who was as noble as the gods themselves—in deep affection. In the course of time, a powerful monarch named Sudhanvā, hailing from Sāṃkāśya, besieged Mithilā. He sent forth a demand to Janaka: to surrender the unrivaled bow of Śiva and the lotus-eyed maiden, Sītā. Janaka, steadfast in principle, refused to yield either the sacred bow or his daughter. A fierce battle ensued between the two kings, and Janaka, facing Sudhanvā in combat, slew him on the field of battle. Having vanquished his foe, Janaka then anointed his heroic brother Kuśadhvaja as king in Sāṃkāśya. Turning to the assembled sages, Janaka declared, “This is my younger brother, and I am the elder. With utmost joy, O best of sages, I offer both brides to you.” He continued, “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—I give you both brides with great joy.” Janaka then requested, “O king, arrange for the gifting of cows for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, and perform the ancestral rites; then, with all auspiciousness, conduct the wedding ceremony. Today is the constellation Maghā; on the third day, under the Uttara Phalgunī star, perform the wedding for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, making the auspicious gifts.” As the next sarga began, the great sage Viśvāmitra, together with Vasiṣṭha, addressed the valiant king Janaka. They spoke of the illustrious lineages of the Ikṣvākus and the Videhas, saying that these families were immeasurable and without equal. “The union of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with Sītā and Urmilā is most fitting, both in righteousness and in beauty,” they affirmed. Viśvāmitra then continued, “Hear my words, O king: this is King Kuśadhvaja, my younger brother, who knows righteousness. To him belong two daughters, unmatched in beauty on earth. For your sons, Bharata and the wise Śatrughna, O King, I request these two daughters as wives for those great souls. These sons of Daśaratha, endowed with youth and beauty, are equal to the guardians of the world, their valor like that of the gods. Let the noble house of Ikṣvāku be joined with yours by this alliance, without anxiety.” Hearing the sage’s words, Janaka, with joined palms, replied with deep reverence, “Blessed indeed is this lineage for which you, the foremost sages, command such a fitting alliance. So be it—may it be auspicious! Let these daughters of Kuśadhvaja become the wives of both Śatrughna and Bharata together. On a single day, let the four mighty princes take the hands of the four royal maidens. On the following day, under the Phalgunī stars, when Bhaga and Prajāpati preside, let the marriage ceremony take place, as praised by the wise.” Having spoken thus, Janaka rose and addressed the eminent sages, “A supreme righteousness has been done for me; I am your disciple as well. Here are the chief seats—please be seated, O foremost sages. As Ayodhyā is to Daśaratha, so is this city to me; there is no doubt in authority—please act as you see fit.” As Janaka finished, King Daśaratha, filled with delight, replied, “You two brothers, kings of Mithilā, are young and possess countless virtues; sages and assemblies of kings have been honored by you both. May you attain well-being and prosperity; we shall return to our abode and duly perform the ancestral rites.” With the king’s assent, Daśaratha, famed for his greatness, led the way, placing the two great sages, Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, at the forefront. Upon reaching his residence, Daśaratha performed the śrāddha ceremony according to the prescribed rites. Rising early the next morning, he carried out the finest gifting of cows, giving one hundred thousand cows, each individually, to the Brahmins for the sake of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. In all, four hundred thousand cows, adorned with golden horns, with calves and fit for milking with bronze vessels, were bestowed. Raghunandana, ever affectionate toward his sons, gave abundant wealth besides to the twice-born, fulfilling the sacred duty of gifting for his sons’ sake. Thus, surrounded by his sons who had performed the gifting of cows, King Daśaratha shone like the gentle Prajāpati himself, encircled by the guardians of the worlds. On the day when the king performed this supreme gifting of cows, the heroic Yudhājit arrived.