O King, behold the sacrificial site, surrounded on all sides by offerings of every desirable thing—a place wondrously crafted, as though shaped by the mind itself. On an auspicious day, under a favorable star, King Daśaratha, following the counsel of the venerable Vasiṣṭha and the sage Ṛśyaśṛṅga, set forth to this sacred ground. There, the foremost Brahmins gathered, with Vasiṣṭha and Ṛśyaśṛṅga at their head, and began the grand sacrificial rites. All who participated moved to the sacrificial enclosure, performing each act with precision and reverence, just as prescribed in the scriptures. The illustrious King Daśaratha, together with his wives, undertook the vow of consecration, preparing themselves for the great endeavor ahead. When a full year had passed and the sacred horse had returned, the king’s sacrifice commenced on the northern bank of the Sarayū river. Ṛśyaśṛṅga led the assembly of learned Brahmins as they began the great Aśvamedha sacrifice for the high-souled monarch. The officiating priests, well-versed in the Vedas, conducted every rite with flawless adherence to scripture and tradition. The Pravargya and Upasada rites were performed in proper order, and all the additional rituals were carried out as prescribed by sacred texts. After honoring the sages, the morning Soma-pressing rites were joyfully performed. The Indra offering was duly presented, and the sinless king was consecrated anew. The midday Soma-pressing followed in sequence, and then the third pressing was conducted, all in accordance with scriptural injunctions, by the foremost Brahmins. Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the other skilled priests, their mantras perfectly pronounced, invited the best of the gods, beginning with Indra himself. The Hotṛ priests, with sweet and gentle chants, invoked the deities and offered the shares of oblations to those who dwell in heaven. Not a single oblation was omitted or misplaced; every act was performed with such perfection that it seemed as if Brahmā himself presided over the sacrifice. The entire event was conducted with complete security and order. During those days, no one was seen weary or hungry. Every Brahmin was learned; every attendant was proper. All the Brahmins ate their fill, as did those with patrons, the ascetics, and the mendicants. The elderly, the sick, women, and children also partook of the offerings, and though they ate constantly, none ever felt sated. Heaps of food, as vast as mountains, were prepared every day, and all who came—men and women from distant regions—were well provided with food and drink at this tremendous sacrifice. The twice-born praised the fare, declaring it properly prepared and delicious. Rāghava heard their words of contentment: “Ah, we are satisfied—may you be blessed!” Well-adorned men served the Brahmins, while others, their ears gleaming with polished jewels, attended to their every need. During intervals between the rituals, the wise and eloquent Brahmins engaged in spirited debates on reasoning, each striving to surpass the others in wisdom. Day after day, the skilled Brahmins, prompted as prescribed, performed all the rites at the sacrificial ground, strictly according to scripture. Among the king’s officiants, there was none ignorant of the six Vedāṅgas, none undisciplined or unlearned, and no Brahmin unskilled in debate. When the time came to raise the sacrificial posts, six were made of Bilva wood, and likewise six of Khadira; the same number again of Bilva, and others from leafy branches. One post was crafted from śleṣmātaka wood, another from devadāru, each with arms outstretched for grasping, as prescribed. All these posts were constructed by those skilled in the scriptures and sacrificial rites, and for the sake of the sacrifice’s splendor, each was adorned with gold. In total, twenty-one sacrificial posts stood, each set with twenty-one jewels and decorated with twenty-one garments. All were firmly and skillfully made by expert craftsmen, set in their proper places, eight-sided and smooth in form. Draped in garments, worshipped with flowers and fragrant scents, they shone like the radiant Seven Sages in the sky. Bricks, measured and shaped according to rule, were prepared, and the altar fire was laid by Brahmins skilled in the art of constructing altars. The altar itself, built for the lion among kings, took the form of Garuḍa with golden wings, triple-layered and composed of eighteen parts—a marvel of sacred architecture. Animals were assigned for each deity as prescribed, including serpents and birds, all designated according to the scriptures. A horse and aquatic creatures were also assigned by the sages, in full accordance with the sacred texts. Three hundred animals were fixed at the sacrificial posts, and the best jewel among horses was set aside for King Daśaratha. Kausalyā, with great devotion, attended to the horse in every way, and with joy in her heart, she released it with three knives, as was proper. With steady mind, together with the bird, she spent the whole night there, desiring righteousness. The Hotṛ, Adhvaryu, and Udgātṛ priests then joined the queen’s wives by hand and led another around as well. At last, the officiating priest, self-controlled and highly accomplished, took the fat of the bird and, following the scriptural injunctions, poured it into the sacred fire, thus fulfilling the final act of the great sacrifice.