When King Daśaratha saw that his queens were with child, his heart was filled with peace and delight. His joy was like that of mighty Indra in heaven, honored by all the gods, perfected beings, and sages. Now, let us listen to the next part of this sacred tale from the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, the seventeenth sarga of the Bālakāṇḍa. When Viṣṇu himself had entered the wombs of Daśaratha’s queens, taking birth as the king’s sons, the self-born Lord Brahmā gathered all the gods and addressed them, saying, “For the sake of this truthful and heroic king, who ever seeks the good of all, create powerful helpers for Viṣṇu—beings capable of taking any form at will. Let them be masters of illusion, valiant, swift as the wind, skilled in counsel, wise, and equal to Viṣṇu in valor. Endow them with irresistible strength, unknown means of defeat, and divine forms, filled with all the virtues of celestial weapons, as if they had tasted the nectar of immortality.” Brahmā continued, “Among the foremost Apsarases, in the bodies of Gandharva women, among the daughters of Yakṣas and Nāgas, and among the Rikṣa and Vidyādhara women, as well as Kinnarī and Vānara females, you shall create sons in the form of monkeys, equal in might.” Brahmā further declared, “Already, I have created Jāmbavān, foremost among bears, who was born in an instant from my own yawn.” Thus commanded by the Lord, the gods promised to obey. They, along with great sages, Siddhas, Vidyādharas, Nāgas, and Cāraṇas, begot heroic sons in the forms of monkeys and bears—dwellers of the forests. Indra, king of the gods, fathered Vāli, the lord of the monkeys, equal to Indra himself in strength. The radiant Sun begot Sugrīva. Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the gods, fathered Tāra, the wisest and most excellent among all the chiefs of the monkeys. Kubera, the lord of wealth, begot the illustrious Gandhamādana, while Viśvakarmā, the celestial architect, fathered Nala, the great monkey. From Agni, the fire god, was born the shining Nīla, radiant as fire, surpassing all in energy, fame, and valor. The twin Ashvins, famed for beauty and wealth, begot Mainda and Dvivida, both renowned for their appearance. Varuṇa, lord of the waters, begot Sushena, and Parjanya, the rain god, begot the mighty Śarabha. From the wind-god Vāyu, Hanumān was born, his body firm as a thunderbolt, his speed equal to Garuḍa. These heroes, of immeasurable strength and valor, could assume any form they wished. They were as mighty as elephants and mountains, their bodies splendid and powerful. Bears, monkeys, and those with cow-like tails were swiftly born, each bearing the form, appearance, and valor of their divine progenitor. Each one resembled his deity-father, and among the Golāṅgulas, some were even mightier. Monkeys were also born among the Rikṣa and Kinnarī women. The gods, great sages, Gandharvas, Garuḍa, and renowned Yakṣas, as well as Nāgas, Kimpuruṣas, Siddhas, Vidyādharas, and Uragas, all joyfully begot thousands of sons. The celestial singers too produced heroic sons who roamed the forests—monkeys of immense size, all dwellers of the woods. From the foremost Apsarases, Vidyādharīs, Nāga maidens, and Gandharvīs came those endowed with the ability to assume forms and strength at will, moving as they pleased. All these beings were like lions and tigers in pride and strength, wielding rocks as weapons, and at home among trees and mountains. They bore claws and fangs, were skilled in all weapons, could shake the king of mountains and shatter even the sturdiest trees. Their speed could agitate the ocean, rend the earth, and leap across vast seas. They could soar into the sky, seize clouds, and capture wild, intoxicated elephants in the forest. Their thunderous roars could bring down birds in flight. Such were the mighty, shape-shifting monkeys born for this great purpose. Hundreds of thousands of mighty leaders of monkey troops were thus born, chiefs among the monkeys. They became troop leaders and themselves produced heroic monkeys; others, in thousands, accompanied the bear-like ones on their journeys. Some took to various mountains and forests, all serving Sugrīva, son of the Sun, and Vāli, son of Indra. Around these two brothers, as well as Nala, Nīla, Hanumān, and other monkey leaders, all the monkey chiefs gathered. Endowed with the strength of Garuḍa and skilled in battle, they roamed the earth, overpowering lions, tigers, and great serpents. The mighty, long-armed Vāli, of vast prowess, protected the monkeys with bear-like tails by his own strength. The earth—with its mountains, forests, and seas—was filled with these heroes, diverse in form and marked by many features. These monkey troop leaders, mighty as masses of clouds or mountain peaks, covered the earth with their fearsome forms, all for the sake of aiding Rāma. Now, listen to the eighteenth sarga. When the great horse sacrifice was completed, the gods received their shares and departed as they had come.