Honored by all the worlds, with Brahma himself at their head, the Supreme Lord addressed the assembly of gods, who had gathered in devotion and righteousness. With a voice full of assurance, he said, “Abandon your fears and let good fortune be yours. For your welfare, I will slay Ravana in battle—together with his sons, grandsons, ministers, counselors, kin, and allies. I will destroy that cruel and formidable terror of gods and sages, and then I shall dwell among men in the world for eleven thousand years, protecting the earth during that time.” Having granted this boon, the self-possessed Vishnu, steadfast in his resolve, spoke thus to the gods. Then, considering his own place of birth among humans, the lotus-eyed Lord divided himself into four forms. At that moment, he chose King Dasharatha as his father. The gods, sages, Gandharvas, Rudras, and hosts of Apsaras all praised Madhusudana with hymns extolling his divine form. They pleaded, “That arrogant Ravana, fierce in energy and swollen with pride, hater of the lords of the gods, a roaring thorn to ascetics—remove that terror, O savior of ascetics! Having slain that roaring Ravana, mighty in valor, together with his forces and kin, return to the heavenly world, freed from all distress, protected by Indra, and cleansed of all fault and sin.” Meanwhile, King Dasharatha, longing for sons, performed a great sacrifice. At the culmination of the rite, a wondrous being emerged from the sacrificial fire, resplendent with immense strength and valor. His complexion was dark, his garments red, his mouth crimson, and his voice resounded like a drum. His tawny beard and glossy hair shone brilliantly, and his form was adorned with auspicious marks and divine ornaments. He stood tall as a mountain peak, radiant as the sun, and carried a vessel of refined gold lined with silver, filled with celestial porridge. This vessel he held close to his chest, as lovingly as one would hold a beloved wife, his broad arms embracing it as though it were a creation of illusion. With joined palms, King Dasharatha humbly greeted the divine messenger, “O Lord, you are welcome! What shall I do for you?” The being, born of the Creator, replied, “O King, by worshipping the gods, you have now obtained this. Take this divine pāyasa, prepared by the gods, which brings forth offspring, is blessed, and increases health. Give it to your worthy wives, telling them, ‘Eat this.’ Through them, O king, you shall obtain the sons for whose sake you performed this sacrifice.” The king, overjoyed, accepted the golden vessel with bowed head. He respectfully circled the marvelous being, his heart filled with the highest joy, as one who has found great treasure. Having fulfilled his purpose, the wondrous being vanished on the spot, leaving the inner chambers of the palace aglow with happiness, like the autumn sky illuminated by the moon’s beams. Entering his inner chambers, Dasharatha addressed Kausalya, “Receive this pāyasa, for the sake of obtaining a son for yourself.” He gave half of the pāyasa to Kausalya, and from that half, he gave another portion to Sumitra. For Kaikeyi, he reserved the remaining half, and once again, he gave the last portion, sweet as nectar, to Sumitra. Thus, reflecting wisely, the king distributed the divine pāyasa among his wives. Each of the noble queens received her share and felt deeply honored, their hearts swelling with joy. Soon, after partaking of the excellent pāyasa, the king’s wives conceived, glowing with brilliance like fire and the sun. Seeing his wives pregnant, King Dasharatha’s heart was filled with peace and delight, as if he were Indra himself, honored by the gods, perfected beings, and sages in the heavenly realms. Thus, by the will of the Supreme Lord and the blessings of the gods, the stage was set for the divine descent that would bring relief and righteousness to the world.