King Daśaratha, longing for sons to continue his noble lineage, summoned the foremost Brāhmaṇas to his court. Among those he called were Suyajña, Vāmadeva, Jābāli, Kāśyapa, the revered family priest Vasiṣṭha, and other eminent sages. With deep respect and honor, Daśaratha welcomed these wise men and then addressed them with gentle words, filled with righteousness and purpose. He spoke, “I wish to perform a sacrifice according to the sacred scriptures. How may I fulfill my desire for sons? I ask you all to consider this with your wisdom.” The assembled Brāhmaṇas, with Vasiṣṭha at their head, listened and responded with great pleasure, “Well spoken, O King!” Pleased by his resolve, they advised, “Let all the necessary materials be gathered and the consecrated horse released. Prepare the sacrificial ground on the northern bank of the Sarayū. O King, by this sacrifice you shall surely obtain sons as you wish. Since such a righteous resolve has arisen in you, success is certain.” Hearing these words, Daśaratha was filled with joy. His eyes shone with excitement as he turned to his ministers and instructed, “Let every preparation be made here for the ritual, following the guidance of our elders. Release the consecrated horse with its preceptor under proper supervision, and let the sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayū. All pacifying rites must be performed as prescribed by tradition, for any king who is able can accomplish this sacrifice. Let there be no error, for learned Brahmarākṣasas ever seek out flaws. If a sacrifice is performed improperly, its performer is ruined. Therefore, let my sacrifice be completed perfectly, according to the rules.” He commanded, “Let all capable men make the arrangements,” and the honored ministers replied, “So be it.” The twice-born Brāhmaṇas, learned in righteousness, encouraged the king, assuring him of success. Then, having received his permission, the Brāhmaṇas departed as they had come. After dismissing them, Daśaratha spoke further to his ministers, “Let the sacrifice be performed exactly as the officiating priests instruct.” Having seen to these matters, the wise king entered his palace. There, he went to his beloved wives and said, “Undertake the vow of consecration, for I shall perform the sacrifice for the sake of a son.” Hearing his pleasing words, his wives’ faces shone with joy, like lotuses blossoming at winter’s end. Now, listen to the next part of this sacred tale. In private, Daśaratha’s charioteer, Sumantra, addressed the king, “Let me recount to you, as I have heard from the ancient tales, what happened in the past. This account, as instructed by the officiating priests, was once told by the venerable Sanatkumāra in the presence of sages. It concerns the coming of your son. There is a son of Kāśyapa named Vibhāṇḍaka, whose own son will be known as Ṛśyaśṛṅga. This Ṛśyaśṛṅga, a great sage, grows up in the forest, living only among the woods, always following his father and observing a twofold discipline of celibacy. This is well known among the people and often related by Brāhmaṇas. As he lived thus, the destined time arrived. At that very time, while Ṛśyaśṛṅga was serving the sacred fire and his illustrious father, there arose a powerful king named Romapada, who became renowned among the people of Anga. Yet, because of a transgression by King Romapada, a terrible calamity befell his land. Seeking a solution, Romapada summoned learned Brāhmaṇas and said, ‘You are versed in sacred rites and know the ways of the world. Instruct me in the proper discipline and expiation I must perform.’ The Brāhmaṇas, accomplished in the Vedas, replied, ‘O King, by any means, bring here the son of Vibhāṇḍaka. If you bring Ṛśyaśṛṅga here with due honor, and give him your daughter Śāntā in marriage with all proper rites, your troubles will end.’ Hearing this, Romapada became anxious, wondering how he could bring such a powerful sage to his kingdom. After careful deliberation with his ministers, the wise king sent his priests and counselors, treating them with respect. However, those men, troubled and fearful of the sage’s power, hesitated to go and tried to persuade the king otherwise. Eventually, after considering the matter, they said, ‘We will bring the sage here, and there will be no fault in this.’ Thus, by the efforts of the king of Anga, Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the sage’s son, was brought to the kingdom by courtesans. When Ṛśyaśṛṅga arrived, rain fell upon the land, ending the calamity, and Śāntā was given to him in marriage. Ṛśyaśṛṅga thus became your son-in-law and, as foretold by Sanatkumāra, he will grant you sons. Hearing this, Daśaratha, delighted, turned to Sumantra and asked, ‘Tell me by what means Ṛśyaśṛṅga was brought here.’ Now, listen to the next part of this sacred Rāmāyaṇa, the tenth chapter of the Bālakāṇḍa.