Hearing the joyful approval of the assembled Brahmins, King Dasharatha was filled with hope. They said to him with great delight, “Let the necessary materials be gathered, and let the consecrated horse be released. Prepare the sacrificial ground on the northern bank of the Sarayū. O King, through this, you shall surely obtain the sons you so desire. Since this righteous resolve for offspring has arisen in your heart, O King, you will be blessed.” Pleased by their words, Dasharatha’s eyes shone with excitement and happiness. He turned to his ministers and instructed them, “Make all the arrangements for the ritual here, exactly as the elders direct. Let the consecrated horse, accompanied by its preceptor, be released 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. Such a sacrifice can be accomplished by any king who is capable. Let there be no grave error in this most excellent of sacrifices, for learned Brahmarakshasas are ever watchful for flaws. If the sacrifice is not performed properly, its performer is immediately ruined. Therefore, let my sacrifice be completed strictly according to the rules.” He added, “Let all arrangements be made accordingly by those who are capable.” The honored ministers respectfully replied, “So be it.” Hearing the king’s words, the twice-born Brahmins, learned in righteousness, encouraged the noble king further. Then, with his permission, they departed as they had come. After dismissing the Brahmins, Dasharatha spoke again to his ministers, “Let the sacrifice be performed exactly as the officiating priests instruct.” Having given these commands, the wise king entered his palace. Going to his beloved wives, he spoke to them with affection, “Undertake the vow of consecration; I am performing this sacrifice for the sake of a son.” At his pleasing words, the faces of his wives shone with radiant joy, like lotuses blooming at winter’s end. Now, listen to the next part of the tale as recounted in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. In private, Dasharatha’s charioteer Sumantra addressed the king, “Let me tell you, O King, what I have heard from ancient tales. The officiating priests once instructed me in this, and the venerable Sanatkumāra told this story before the sages concerning the coming of your son. There is a great sage, Vibhāṇḍaka, son of Kāśyapa. His son, Ṛśyaśṛṅga, lives always in the forest, growing up as a sage among the woods. That best of Brahmins knows only his father and observes a twofold discipline of celibacy. This is well known among people and often spoken of by the Brahmins. As he lived thus, the destined time arrived. At that very time, while Ṛśyaśṛṅga was serving the sacred fire and his illustrious father, Romapada—a powerful and renowned king among the people of Anga—came to fame. Yet, due to a transgression by that king, a terrible calamity befell his land. In his distress, Romapada summoned learned Brahmins and addressed them, ‘You are versed in sacred rites and know the customs of the world. Instruct me in the proper discipline and expiation that should be performed.’ The eminent Brahmins replied, ‘O King, by every means bring here the son of Vibhandaka.’ ‘Bring here, with due honor, Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the son of Vibhandaka and a Brahmin accomplished in the Vedas. O King, give him your daughter Shanta in marriage, with proper rites and full attention.’ Hearing this, King Romapada became anxious, wondering how such a powerful sage could be brought to his city. After careful deliberation with his ministers, he sent his priests and counselors, treating them with respect. But those men, troubled and with bowed heads, hesitated to go, fearing the sage, and tried to persuade the king otherwise. After consideration, they said to the king, ‘We will bring the sage here, and there will be no fault in this.’ Thus, by the king of Anga, Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the sage’s son, was brought by courtesans. When he arrived, rain fell upon the parched land, and Shanta was given to him in marriage. Ṛśyaśṛṅga became your son-in-law, O King, and he will grant you sons. This much, as told by Sanatkumāra, I have related.” Delighted, Dasharatha then said to Sumantra, “Tell me, by what means was Ṛśyaśṛṅga brought here?” Now, listen to the next chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Thus prompted by the king, Sumantra spoke: “Hear from me, together with your ministers, exactly how Ṛśyaśṛṅga was brought here. Romapada, with his ministers and priest, devised a means that was safe and without fault. Ṛśyaśṛṅga, dwelling in the forest, devoted to austerity and study, was unacquainted with women, worldly pleasures, or enjoyments. By means of sense-objects—delightful and alluring, which disturb the minds of men—we shall quickly bring him to the city; let this be resolved. Let the beautiful courtesans, adorned with their ornaments, go there; by employing various means of persuasion, they will bring him here, having been treated with honor.” Thus, Sumantra explained to Dasharatha the extraordinary means by which Ṛśyaśṛṅga was brought from the forest, setting in motion the events that would ultimately fulfill the king’s longing for sons.