Hearing the charioteer’s words, Rāma felt a sense of urgency arise within him. Without delay, he made his way once more to the royal palace, eager to see his father, King Daśaratha. Word quickly reached the king that Rāma had arrived. Desiring to speak kindly to his beloved son, Daśaratha ordered that Rāma be brought into his private chamber. As the illustrious Rāghava entered his father’s palace, he saw Daśaratha from afar. With joined palms, Rāma bowed deeply in reverence. The king, moved by affection, raised Rāma up from his bow, embraced him warmly, and offered him a seat. Only then did Daśaratha begin to speak to his son. “Rāma,” he said, “I am old and have lived a long life, enjoying pleasures as I wished. I have performed hundreds of sacrifices, bestowing generous gifts as my heart desired. Today, O best of men, you are my incomparable and cherished son, born as I wished. I have given, learned, and accomplished all that I hoped for. O hero, I have also enjoyed happiness and am free of debts—to the gods, the seers, the ancestors, the priests, and even to myself. “There is but one thing left for me to do for you: your consecration. Therefore, whatever I now ask of you, you must carry out for me. Today, all the people desire you as their king. Thus, my son, I will consecrate you as the crown prince. “Moreover, O Rāma, I have seen ominous dreams today: fiery meteors, falling from the sky with thunderous sounds. The astrologers tell me that my star is afflicted by cruel planets—the Sun, Mars, and Rāhu. When such omens appear, it is said that the king faces death or terrible calamity. “Therefore, Rāghava, before my mind becomes clouded, you must be consecrated, for the thoughts of living beings are indeed fickle. Today, the moon has reached Pūrvāṣāḍhā before Puṣya; tomorrow, the astrologers will certainly announce the conjunction with Puṣya. Therefore, be consecrated during Puṣya; my mind urges me strongly. Tomorrow, I will consecrate you as crown prince, O scorcher of foes. “From today onward, you must spend the night, with self-restraint, together with your wife, lying upon a bed of darbha grass. Your friends, ever alert, will guard you on all sides, for great undertakings such as this often encounter obstacles. “Since Bharata is away from the city, the time for your consecration has come, in my opinion. Indeed, your brother Bharata follows the conduct of the virtuous; he honors his elder, is righteous, compassionate, and has mastered his senses. Yet, I believe the minds of men are unstable; but among the virtuous who are steadfast in righteousness, their actions shine, O Rāghava.” Thus addressed and permitted to prepare for the consecration on the morrow, Rāma bowed again to his father and departed for his own house. Entering his residence as the king had instructed, he immediately set out for his mother’s inner chambers. There, Rāma found his mother, Kausalyā, humble and silent, dressed in fine linen, seated in the shrine and praying for his prosperity. Sumitrā and Lakṣmaṇa had already arrived, and Sītā too had been brought, having heard the joyful news of Rāma’s impending consecration. Kausalyā stood there, her eyes closed, surrounded by Sumitrā, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa. Having heard that her son would be anointed as crown prince under the Puṣya constellation, she, restraining her breath, meditated upon Janārdana. As she remained absorbed in her observances, Rāma approached, greeted her with reverence, and spoke words that delighted her heart: “Mother, my father has appointed me to the duty of protecting the people. Tomorrow I will be consecrated, as per my father’s command. Sītā too must observe a fast tonight with me; thus have my teachers instructed me, for my father has told me so. Whatever auspicious rites are appropriate for tomorrow’s consecration, arrange those today for me and for Vaidehī as well.” Hearing this, Kausalyā, whose long-cherished wish was being fulfilled, was overcome with emotion. With words choked by tears of joy, she said, “My child Rāma, may you live long; your adversaries are vanquished. You, endowed with prosperity, bring joy to my kinsfolk and to Sumitrā as well. O son, you were indeed born under an auspicious star, for by your virtues you have pleased your father, Daśaratha. Truly, my patience has not been in vain, O lotus-eyed one, for this royal glory of the Ikṣvāku line will now rest upon you, my son.” Thus addressed by his mother, Rāma looked upon his brother, who sat humbly with joined palms, and spoke with a gentle smile: “Lakṣmaṇa, rule this earth together with me; this royal fortune has come to you, whom I consider my second self. Saumitri, enjoy the pleasures and fruits of sovereignty; both my life and the kingdom I desire for your sake.” Having thus spoken to Lakṣmaṇa, Rāma bowed to his mothers, took leave of Sītā, and returned to his own residence. Thus concludes the fifth sarga of the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. After instructing Rāma regarding the consecration to take place on the morrow, King Daśaratha summoned the chief priest Vasiṣṭha and spoke to him as follows.