As the preparations for King Daśaratha’s great sacrifice progressed, it was decreed that every guest must be honored in proper order, ensuring all received gifts and meals befitting their stature. The arrangements were to be made so that nothing was lacking, and everyone involved was to carry out their duties with joyful, devoted hearts. Soon, all those assembled approached the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha, declaring, “Everything has been arranged just as you wished; nothing remains incomplete. We will do as you have instructed; nothing will be neglected.” Hearing this, Vasiṣṭha summoned Sumantra and instructed him to invite the righteous kings from across the earth, as well as thousands of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. He emphasized that people from all regions should be brought with due honor, naming Janaka, the brave and truthful lord of Mithila, as a special guest and an old ally to be invited first. Vasiṣṭha then instructed Sumantra to personally bring the affectionate and kindly-spoken king of Kāśi, renowned for his noble conduct and godlike appearance. He also asked for the aged and supremely righteous king of the Kekayas, father-in-law to the lion among kings, to be brought along with his sons. Romapāda, the mighty and well-honored lord of Aṅga and friend of Daśaratha, was to be invited with his sons as well. Further, Vasiṣṭha listed the well-cultured king Bhānumant of Kosala, and the brave, learned lord of Magadha, master of all sciences. He instructed Sumantra to urge the foremost kings—those of the East, Sindhu, Sauvīra, and Saurāṣṭra—to attend, as well as all the southern kings and any other friendly rulers dwelling on earth. They were to be brought swiftly, together with their retinues and relatives, using noble messengers on the king’s command. Upon hearing these instructions, Sumantra immediately ordered the worthy men present to bring the kings. Obeying the sage’s command, Sumantra himself, swift and wise, set out to gather them. Meanwhile, those in charge of the preparations reported to Vasiṣṭha that everything for the sacrifice had been arranged. 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 invited kings arrived, bringing many jewels for King Daśaratha. Vasiṣṭha, well pleased, spoke to Daśaratha, “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 proceed from your residence to the sacrificial ground to perform the rite. Surrounded on all sides by offerings of every desired thing, you should behold, O king, the sacrificial site, crafted as if by the mind itself.” Thus, 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. Everyone proceeded to the sacrificial enclosure, performing every act according to scripture and proper rule. The illustrious king, together with his wives, undertook the vow of consecration. When the year was complete and the horse had arrived, 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, performed all rites properly, moving about according to scripture and established custom. They performed the Pravargya and Upasada rites according to scripture, and the twice-born carried out all additional rituals as prescribed by the texts. After duly honoring the eminent sages, all, filled with joy, performed the morning Soma-pressing rites as prescribed. The Indra offering was given, and the sinless king was consecrated; then, in due order, the midday Soma-pressing commenced. The third Soma-pressing for the great-souled king was also performed, as seen in the scriptures, by the foremost Brahmins. There, Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the others, skilled in mantras with precise pronunciation, invited the best of the gods, beginning with Indra. With sweet and gentle chants, as appropriate, the Hotṛ priests invoked the gods and offered the shares of oblations to the dwellers of heaven. Not a single oblation was omitted or mistaken; everything was conducted flawlessly, as if by Brahmā himself, and with complete security. During those days, no one was seen weary or hungry; no Brahmin was ignorant, nor was there anyone who was not a proper attendant. The Brahmins always ate, those with patrons ate, the ascetics ate, and the mendicants also ate. The elderly, the sick, women, and children likewise ate; yet, though they ate constantly, no sense of fullness was found. Thus concludes the fourteenth sarga.