When the great sacrifice was complete, King Dasharatha, scion of the Raghu dynasty, gave generously to all who requested, ensuring that the Brahmins were satisfied in every respect. Cherishing them as he did, he fulfilled all their wishes with utmost care. Overwhelmed with joy, Dasharatha bowed reverently before the Brahmins, and in return, they showered him with blessings of every kind. The generous and heroic king, who had all but given away the earth in charity, attained the highest merit through this supreme, sin-destroying, heaven-leading rite—a sacrifice difficult for even kings to accomplish. When the sacred acts were done, King Dasharatha addressed the sage Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, saying, “O noble one, you must now perform that which will increase my lineage.” Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, foremost among the twice-born, replied, “O King, you will have four sons, each destined to bring glory to your family.” Hearing these sweet words, Dasharatha, his heart overflowing with happiness, bowed deeply to the sage and spoke to him again with reverence. At this point, the story continues in the next chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, wise and composed, addressed the king, who was learned in the Vedas: “I will perform for you a sacrifice for the sake of sons, using the mantras of the Atharvaśirsa, and I shall do all according to the proper rites.” With this, the radiant sage began the son-bestowing sacrifice, offering oblations into the sacred fire as prescribed by the ancient mantras. As the rituals progressed, the gods assembled—joined by Gandharvas, Siddhas, and eminent sages—all gathering to receive their shares according to the sacred rites. In that divine assembly, the deities spoke to Brahmā, the creator of worlds: “O Lord, through your grace, a Rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa oppresses us all by his strength. We cannot restrain him. Out of affection, you granted him a boon, and honoring your word, we endure his every torment. He agitates the three worlds, despising them, and now seeks to violate even Indra, king of the gods. He transgresses against sages, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Brāhmaṇas, and Asuras, emboldened by your boon and swollen with arrogance. The sun does not burn him, the wind does not blow near him, and even the ocean, seeing him, does not stir its waves. Great fear grips us because of this terrifying Rākṣasa. O Lord, you must devise a means for his destruction.” Thus addressed, Brahmā pondered deeply and then spoke: “The means for the destruction of this wicked one is now clear. Rāvaṇa himself declared, ‘I am invulnerable to Gandharvas, Yakṣas, gods, Dānavas, and Rākṣasas,’ and I affirmed it. Out of disdain, he did not mention humans; therefore, he is vulnerable to death by a human, and no other.” At that moment, Viṣṇu, resplendent and radiant, appeared—holding conch, discus, and mace, clad in yellow garments, and shining as the lord of the universe. Mounted upon Garuda, like the sun atop a rain cloud, adorned with blazing golden armlets, he was praised by the best of the gods. Brahmā himself arrived and stood with focused mind, as all the gods bowed and extolled Viṣṇu, addressing him: “O Viṣṇu, for the welfare of the worlds, we appoint you. You must become the son of King Dasharatha, lord of Ayodhya—righteous, generous, and equal in brilliance to the great sages. Among his three wives, who are as Modesty, Fortune, and Fame themselves, become his son, dividing yourself into four forms. There, taking human birth, you must destroy the great scourge of the worlds. O Viṣṇu, slay Rāvaṇa in battle, for he cannot be killed by gods; he torments the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the best of sages. That foolish Rākṣasa, drunk on power, oppresses the sages, Gandharvas, and Apsaras. In the Nandana grove, he struck them down in his cruelty. For his destruction, we have come together with the sages. The Siddhas, Gandharvas, and Yakṣas have sought refuge in you; you are the supreme refuge, O subduer of foes. Turn your mind to the destruction of the enemies of gods and men in this world.” Thus praised and honored by all the worlds, with Brahmā at their head, Viṣṇu, the foremost among immortals, spoke to the assembled gods: “Abandon fear, and may good be yours. For your welfare, I will slay Rāvaṇa in battle—together with his sons, grandsons, ministers, counselors, kin, and allies. Having destroyed that cruel, formidable terror of gods and sages, I shall dwell in the world of men for ten thousand and one thousand years. I will remain on earth, protecting it, among humans for that time.” Granting this boon, the self-possessed Viṣṇu then considered his place of birth among humans. The lotus-eyed one divided himself into four forms. At that moment, he chose King Dasharatha as his father. The gods, sages, Gandharvas, Rudras, and hosts of Apsaras praised Madhusudana, the slayer of Madhu, with divine hymns. They implored, “That arrogant Rāvaṇa, fierce in energy, swollen with pride, hater of the lords of the gods, roaring and a thorn to ascetics—remove that terror, O savior of ascetics. Having slain that roaring Rāvaṇa, fierce in valor, along with his forces and kin, come to the heavenly world, freed from all distress, guarded by Indra, and cleansed of all fault and sin.” Thus, the stage was set for the divine to descend, and the world awaited the birth of Viṣṇu as the sons of King Dasharatha, destined to bring peace and righteousness to all creation.