At the command of the great sage Vasiṣṭha, a call was sent forth: “Summon all the kings of the south, and any other friendly rulers who dwell upon the earth.” Sumantra, ever dutiful, was instructed to bring these monarchs quickly, together with their retinues and relatives, sending noble messengers in the king’s name. Hearing these words, Sumantra immediately ordered the worthy men present to set out and invite the kings. Obedient and righteous, Sumantra himself departed swiftly and wisely to gather them, just as the sage had instructed. Meanwhile, those overseeing the preparations for the sacrifice came before Vasiṣṭha and reported all that had been arranged. Delighted, the best of the twice-born sages addressed them with gentle admonition: “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.” And so, within a few days and nights, the invited kings began to arrive, each bringing splendid jewels for King Daśaratha. Vasiṣṭha, pleased with all that had been accomplished, approached the king and said, “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, you should behold, O king, the sacrificial site, crafted as if by the mind itself.” Thus, following the guidance of both Vasiṣṭha and Ṛśyaśṛṅga, King Daśaratha, lord of the earth, 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 went 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 the year was complete and the horse had returned, the king’s great sacrifice commenced on the northern bank of the Sarayū. Ṛśyaśṛṅga led the foremost Brahmins in performing the grand Aśvamedha sacrifice for the high-souled king. The officiating priests, learned in the Vedas, performed the rites precisely, moving about as prescribed by scripture and custom. They completed the Pravargya and Upasada rites according to the texts, and all the additional rituals were carried out as prescribed. After duly honoring the sages, all the eminent ones, filled with joy, performed the morning Soma-pressing rites as prescribed. The Indra offering was duly given, and the sinless king was consecrated; then, in due order, the midday Soma-pressing commenced. The third Soma-pressing for this great-souled king was also performed by the foremost Brahmins, exactly as laid down in the scriptures. There, Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the others, skilled in mantras and their precise pronunciation, invited the best of the gods, beginning with Indra. With sweet and gentle chants, the Hotṛ priests invoked the gods and offered their 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, as did those with patrons, the ascetics, and the mendicants. The elderly, the sick, women, and children likewise ate; yet, though they ate constantly, none felt any sense of fullness. Heaps of food, as vast as mountains, were seen there every day, all properly prepared at the proper time. Men and groups of women who had come from various regions were well provided with food and drink at that great sacrifice. The foremost of the twice-born praised the food, declaring it properly prepared and delicious; Rāghava heard them say, “Ah, we are satisfied—may you be blessed!” Well-adorned men served the Brahmins, while others, with polished jeweled earrings, attended upon them. During intervals between rituals, the wise and eloquent Brahmins engaged in many debates on reasoning, each wishing to surpass the other. Day after day, the skilled twice-born, prompted as prescribed, performed all the rites at the sacrificial ground according to the scriptures. Among the king’s officiants, there was none ignorant of the six Vedāṅgas, none undisciplined, none unlearned, and no Brahmin unskilled in debate. When the sacrificial posts were raised, six were made of Bilva wood, and likewise of Khadira; the same number with Bilva wood again, and others with leafy branches. One was prescribed to be made of śleṣmātaka wood, and another of devadāru wood; only these two were established there, each with arms outstretched for grasping. All these posts were constructed by those skilled in the scriptures and in sacrificial rites; for the sake of the sacrifice’s splendor, they were adorned with gold. There were twenty-one sacrificial posts, each set with twenty-one jewels, and each was decorated with twenty-one garments. All were firmly and skillfully made by craftsmen, set in their proper places according to rule, eight-sided and possessing a smooth form. Thus did the grand Aśvamedha sacrifice of King Daśaratha proceed, with every detail attended to, in the presence of sages, kings, and the people, as prescribed by ancient tradition and sacred law.