The magnificent horse sacrifice of King Daśaratha was conducted with utmost precision and reverence. Twenty-one sacrificial posts stood tall, each adorned with twenty-one jewels and draped in twenty-one garments, their craftsmanship flawless and their placement exact, following the ancient rules. These posts, crafted with skill, were eight-sided and smooth, their forms pleasing to the eye. They were covered with fine garments, worshipped with fragrant flowers, and shone like the radiant Seven Sages in the heavens. Bricks for the altar were carefully measured and made, and learned Brahmins, experts in constructing sacred fires, laid the altar fire. For the lion among kings, Daśaratha, the altar was built in the form of Garuḍa, its golden wings outstretched, triple-layered and composed of eighteen distinct parts. Animals were designated for each deity according to scripture, with serpents and birds assigned their places. Sages also prescribed a horse and aquatic creatures, all in accordance with the sacred texts of that era. Three hundred animals were fixed at the sacrificial posts, along with the finest jewel among horses, chosen for King Daśaratha. Queen Kausalyā lovingly tended to the horse, and with great joy, released it using three knives. With a steady mind and a heart full of righteousness, she spent the entire night beside the horse and a bird, fulfilling her sacred duty. The Hotṛ, Adhvaryu, and Udgātṛ priests joined the queen’s wives, guiding them by hand, and led another around the sacrificial grounds. The officiating priest, self-controlled and accomplished, took the fat of the bird and, as prescribed by the scriptures, poured it into the fire. At the proper time, King Daśaratha inhaled the smoke-scent of the fat, purifying himself and dispelling sin. All sixteen priests cast the limbs of the horse into the fire according to rule. For other sacrifices, oblations are made on branches of the plakṣa tree, but for the Aśvamedha, a vessel of reeds is used. The Aśvamedha sacrifice lasts three days, as declared by the Brahmins in the Kalpasūtra. The first day is arranged as the Catuṣṭoma rite, followed by the Ukthya, Atirātra, and many other rites, all performed as prescribed. Jyotiṣṭoma, Āyuṣī, Atirātra, Abhijit, Viśvajit, Āptoryāma, and the great sacrifice were all conducted, fulfilling the sacred requirements. The king, a true enhancer of his lineage, gave the eastern direction to the Hotṛ, the western to the Adhvaryu, the southern to the Brahman, and the northern to the Udgātṛ, as prescribed in the ancient tradition established by Svayambhū. Having completed the sacrifice properly, King Daśaratha, the foremost among men, gave the land to the officiating priests. Joyful, the illustrious descendant of Ikṣvāku listened as the priests addressed him, now freed from sin. They said, “You alone are worthy to protect the earth. We have no use for the land, nor are we capable of its governance. We are devoted to self-study, O ruler of the earth. Please grant us another compensation.” They requested, “Give us a jewel, a precious gem, gold, or cows—whatever is available, O best of men; we have no need for the land.” Thus addressed by the Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, the king generously gave them ten hundred thousand cows, ten crores of gold, and four times that in silver. The priests divided the wealth among themselves, and to the sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and the wise Vasiṣṭha, the foremost Brahmins made a proper division. All were pleased and responded joyfully. To those who assisted, the king gave gold with great care, including gold from Jāmbūnada in the count of crores, and to a poor Brahmin, the finest hand ornaments. To any who requested, the descendant of Raghu gave freely. When the Brahmins were satisfied, Daśaratha, who cherished them, acted accordingly, bowing to them with senses overwhelmed by joy. The Brahmins pronounced various blessings upon him. For the generous, heroic king who had given up the earth, Daśaratha, with a delighted mind, attained the supreme sacrifice. The sin-removing, heaven-leading, difficult-to-accomplish rite for kings had been completed. Then King Daśaratha addressed Ṛṣyaśṛṅga: “You, of noble vows, ought to perform that which will increase your lineage.” The foremost among the twice-born replied, “O King, you will have four sons who will bring glory to your family.” Hearing these sweet words, the great-souled king bowed reverently to the sage, experiencing supreme joy, and again spoke to Sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga. Now, listen to the fifteenth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. The wise sage, after a moment’s contemplation and regaining his composure, spoke to the king, knowledgeable in the Vedas: “I will perform for you a sacrificial rite for the sake of sons, using mantras prescribed in the Atharvaśirsa, accomplished according to proper procedure.” He then began the sacrificial rite for the purpose of sons, and the radiant Ṛṣyaśṛṅga offered oblations into the fire, performing the ritual exactly as prescribed by the mantras.