Thus instructed by the Lord and having vowed to carry out his command, the gods and celestial beings set about their task and begot sons in the forms of mighty monkeys. Not only the gods, but also great sages, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, Nagas, and Charanas brought forth heroic sons—dwellers of the forests, born to fulfill a divine purpose. Among these, Indra fathered Vali, the lord of the monkeys, who was equal in might to Indra himself. The radiant Sun, foremost among the shining ones, begot Sugriva. Brihaspati, preceptor of the gods, became the father of Tara, the most excellent and wisest among the monkeys. Kubera, lord of wealth, sired the illustrious Gandhamadana, while Vishvakarma, the celestial architect, begot Nala, a monkey of great renown. Agni, the fire-god, fathered Nila, who shone with a fiery radiance and excelled all others in energy, fame, and valor. The Ashvins, famed for their beauty and prosperity, begot Mainda and Dvivida, both renowned for their handsome forms. Varuna, lord of the waters, begot a monkey named Sushena, and Parjanya, the mighty rain-god, begot Sharabha. Hanuman, the illustrious son of Vayu, the wind-god, was born with a body as firm as a thunderbolt and with a speed that rivaled Garuda himself. All these heroes, immeasurable in strength and valor, were endowed with the power to assume any form at will. They were as mighty as elephants and mountains, their bodies splendid and powerful. Bears, monkeys, and those with cow-like tails were born swiftly, each reflecting the form, appearance, and valor of their divine sire. Each was the very image of the deity who begot him, and among the Golangulas, some were born with prowess even surpassing their fathers. In the same way, monkeys were born among the Riksha and Kinnari women. The gods, great sages, Gandharvas, Garuda, and illustrious Yakshas, as well as Nagas, Kimpurushas, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, and Uragas, all joyfully begot thousands of sons. The celestial singers too produced heroic sons who roamed the forests—monkeys of immense size, all at home in the woods. From the foremost Apsarases, Vidyadharis, Naga maidens, and Gandharvis were born those gifted with the power to change their form and strength at will, moving freely wherever they wished. All these beings were like lions and tigers in pride and might, wielding rocks as weapons and living amongst the trees and mountains. They were armed with claws and fangs, skilled in every weapon, able to shake even the king of mountains and shatter the sturdiest trees. With their speed, they could agitate the ocean, tear the earth with their feet, and leap across vast seas. They could soar into the sky, seize the clouds, and capture wild, intoxicated elephants in the forest. Their roaring cries could bring down birds in flight. Such were the forms of the monkeys born with the power to change shape at will. Hundreds of thousands of mighty leaders of monkey troops were born—chiefs among the monkeys. They became the foremost leaders and in turn produced more heroic monkeys; others, in great numbers, joined the bear-like ones on their journeys. Some took to various mountains and forests, all serving Sugriva, son of the Sun, and Vali, son of Indra. Around these two brothers, as well as Nala, Nila, Hanuman, and other leaders, all the monkey chiefs assembled. Endowed with the strength of Garuda and skilled in battle, they roamed the earth, overpowering lions, tigers, and great serpents. The mighty and long-armed Vali, of vast prowess, protected the monkeys with bear-like tails by the strength of his arms. By these heroes, the entire earth—with its mountains, forests, and oceans—was filled. The land became diverse in form, marked by various features. These monkey troop leaders, mighty as thunderclouds or mountain peaks, covered the earth with their fearsome forms, all for the sake of aiding Rama. Now, listen to what followed. After the great horse sacrifice was completed, the gods received their shares and departed as they had come. The king, having fulfilled all his vows and rituals, entered his city with his wives, accompanied by his servants, army, and vehicles. The lords of the earth, having been duly honored by the king, joyfully returned to their own lands after bowing to the eminent sage. As these illustrious kings made their way back to their cities, their splendid armies, filled with delight, shone brightly. When all the lords of the earth had departed, King Dasharatha, resplendent, entered his city, leading the foremost among the twice-born. Rishyashringa, having been greatly honored, left together with Shanta and his retinue, not detained by the wise king. Thus, having bid farewell to all, the king, his mind now fulfilled, remained happily in his city, his thoughts dwelling on the birth of a son. After the completion of the sacrifice, six seasons passed. Then, in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of the bright half of Caitra, when the star Punarvasu, presided over by Aditi, was ascendant, and five planets occupied their exalted positions, with Jupiter and the Moon together in Cancer at the ascendant—at that auspicious time, as the all-honored Lord of the Universe was rising—Kausalya gave birth to Rama, endowed with divine marks.