In a magnificent setting, a grand sacrifice unfolded, drawing men and groups of women from various regions, all well provided with food and drink. The atmosphere was filled with the praises of the foremost of the twice-born, who savored the properly prepared and delicious offerings, expressing their satisfaction with heartfelt blessings for Rāghava. Well-adorned men served the Brahmins, while others, adorned with polished jeweled earrings, attended to their needs. During the intervals between the sacred rituals, the wise and eloquent Brahmins engaged in lively debates, each striving to outshine the other with their reasoning and knowledge. Day after day, the skilled twice-born performed the rites at the sacrificial ground, adhering strictly to the scriptures. Among the king's officiants, there was not a single one who was ignorant of the six Vedāṅgas, nor was there any undisciplined or unlearned Brahmin; every participant was adept in the art of debate. As the sacrificial posts were raised, six were crafted from Bilva wood, and six more from Khadira, with additional posts made from leafy branches. Two more were established from śleṣmātaka and devadāru wood, each designed with outstretched arms, ready for the sacrificial offerings. These posts, constructed by those well-versed in scriptures and sacrificial rites, were adorned with gold to enhance the splendor of the sacrifice. Twenty-one sacrificial posts stood proudly, each embellished with twenty-one jewels and draped in twenty-one garments. They were skillfully made by expert craftsmen, set in their rightful places, eight-sided and smooth, shining like the radiant Seven Sages in the sky. The altar bricks were fashioned to precise measurements, and the altar fire was laid by Brahmins skilled in the sacred art of altar construction. This altar, dedicated to the lion among kings, took the form of Garuḍa with golden wings, triple-layered and composed of eighteen parts. In accordance with the scriptures, animals were designated for each deity, including serpents and birds, alongside a noble horse and aquatic creatures. Three hundred animals were fixed at the sacrificial posts, with the finest jewel among horses chosen for King Daśaratha. Kausalyā, with utmost devotion, attended to that horse, joyfully releasing it with three knives. With a steady heart, she spent the night there, desiring righteousness. The Hotṛ, Adhvaryu, and Udgātṛ joined the queen’s wives, leading another around as well. The officiating priest, self-controlled and accomplished, took the fat of a bird and, as prescribed, poured it into the fire. The king inhaled the fragrant smoke, dispelling sin from himself at the appropriate time. Sixteen priests cast all the limbs of the horse into the fire according to the established rules. While other sacrifices utilized branches of the plakṣa tree for oblations, for the Aśvamedha, a vessel of reeds was prescribed. The Aśvamedha was declared to span three days, as outlined in the Kalpasūtra by the Brahmins. The first day was arranged for the Catuṣṭoma rite, followed by the second Ukthya and the enumerated Atirātra, with many rites performed in accordance with the scriptures. Jyotiṣṭoma, Āyuṣī, and Atirātra were conducted, along with Abhijit, Viśvajit, and the great sacrifice. King Daśaratha, the enhancer of his lineage, assigned the eastern direction to the Hotṛ, the western to the Adhvaryu, and the southern to the Brahman. To the Udgātṛ, he granted the northern direction, honoring the prescribed donations of the great horse sacrifice established long ago by Svayambhū. Upon the proper completion of the sacrifice, the illustrious descendant of Ikṣvāku felt a surge of joy, and the priests, now freed from sin, addressed him with reverence. "You alone are worthy to protect the entire earth," they proclaimed. "We have no need for the land, nor are we capable of its governance. Our devotion lies in the practice of self-study, O ruler of the earth; grant us some other compensation." They requested jewels, precious gems, gold, or cows—anything available, for they had no desire for land. Responding to the Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, the king generously bestowed upon them ten hundred thousand cows, ten crores of gold, and four times that in silver. The priests joyfully distributed the wealth among themselves, and the foremost Brahmins, including the sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and the wise Vasiṣṭha, ensured a proper division of the gifts. With hearts well pleased, they responded with joy, and the king, who cherished them, gave gold with great care to those who assisted. He offered gold from Jāmbūnada in the count of crores, and to a humble Brahmin, he gifted the finest hand ornaments. Thus, when the Brahmins were properly satisfied, King Daśaratha, the beloved descendant of Raghu, acted in accordance with their needs, ensuring that the spirit of the sacrifice was honored and that all were left in a state of joy and fulfillment.