At the command of King Daśaratha, a great and sacred enterprise began to unfold in Ayodhyā. The king summoned all those skilled in their crafts: artisans, carpenters, diggers, calculators, and craftsmen, as well as actors and dancers, so that every aspect of the coming sacrifice would be attended to with excellence and joy. Alongside them, he called upon pure and learned men, well-versed in the sacred scriptures, instructing them, “By the king’s command, let this sacrifice be undertaken by you all.” He ordered that thousands of bricks be swiftly gathered, and that every necessary preparation for the sacrifice be made with utmost care and dedication. Hundreds of auspicious dwellings for Brahmins were to be built, each well-equipped and furnished with abundant food and drink, so that the guests of honor would lack nothing. Spacious accommodations were also to be arranged for the townspeople, and separate, fitting lodgings for kings who would soon arrive from distant lands. Further, stables for horses and elephants were to be constructed, along with sleeping quarters and grand residences for soldiers and foreign guests. The king’s instructions were clear: food must be provided to all—properly and respectfully, without carelessness—ensuring that every caste received due honor and attentive service. No disrespect, whether born of desire or anger, was to be shown to any participant in the sacrifice, including the artisans and workers; they too were to be especially honored, receiving gifts and meals in due order, so that all would feel respected. The king urged everyone to arrange matters so that nothing was lacking, instructing them to carry out their tasks with joyful hearts and devotion. In time, all those entrusted with these duties gathered and reported to the great sage Vasiṣṭha, “Everything has been properly arranged as you wished; nothing is left incomplete. We will do as you have instructed; nothing will be neglected.” Vasiṣṭha then summoned Sumantra and spoke: “Invite the righteous kings of the earth, as well as thousands of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. Bring, with due honor, people from every region. Above all, bring Janaka, the brave and truthful lord of Mithila—he is an old ally, so I mention him first—treat him with the greatest respect. Likewise, invite the kindly-spoken king of Kāśi, noble in conduct and godlike in appearance, and the aged, supremely righteous king of the Kekayas, father-in-law to the lion among kings, along with his sons. Bring Romapāda, lord of Aṅga, mighty with the bow and a cherished friend of the king, together with his sons. Also summon the well-cultured king Bhānumant of Kosala, and the learned, brave lord of Magadha, master of all sciences. Invite the wise, generous, and honored best among men, who knows the proper time to arrive. Take the king’s command and urge the foremost kings—those of the East, Sindhu, Sauvīra, and Saurāṣṭra. Summon all the southern kings and any other friendly rulers who dwell upon the earth. Bring them quickly, together with their retinues and relatives, and send for them with noble messengers, by the king’s command.” Hearing these instructions from Vasiṣṭha, Sumantra promptly ordered the worthy men to set out and bring the kings. Obedient and wise, Sumantra himself departed swiftly to gather the honored guests. Meanwhile, those overseeing the preparations reported every detail of their arrangements to the great sage Vasiṣṭha. The delighted sage addressed them all, reminding them, “Let nothing be given with disrespect or carelessness to anyone. If anything is given with disrespect, it destroys the giver—of this there is no doubt.” Within a few days and nights, the kings began to arrive, each bringing many jewels for King Daśaratha. Well pleased, Vasiṣṭha spoke to the king, “O tiger among men, the kings have come at your command; I have honored them all as is fitting, O best of kings. All the sacrificial preparations have been properly completed by the attentive men; you may now proceed from your residence to the sacrificial ground to perform the rite. Surrounded on all sides by offerings of every desired thing, behold the sacrificial site, crafted as if by the mind itself.” Following the words of both Vasiṣṭha and Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the lord of the earth, King Daśaratha, set out on an auspicious day under a favorable star. All the foremost Brahmins, led by Vasiṣṭha and with Ṛśyaśṛṅga at their head, began the sacrificial rites. They proceeded to the sacrificial enclosure, performing every act according to scripture and proper rule, and the illustrious king, together with his wives, undertook the vow of consecration. When a full year had passed and the sacred horse had returned, the king’s sacrifice commenced on the northern bank of the Sarayū. With Ṛśyaśṛṅga at their head, the foremost Brahmins performed the great Aśvamedha sacrifice for the high-souled king. The officiating priests, learned in the Vedas, conducted the rites with precision, moving about according to scripture and established custom. They performed the Pravargya and Upasada rites as prescribed, and the twice-born sages carried out all the additional rituals according to the sacred texts. Then, after duly honoring all present, the eminent sages, filled with joy, performed the morning Soma-pressing rites as prescribed, marking the auspicious beginning of Daśaratha’s great sacrifice.