In those ancient times, at the will of the gods, a wondrous event unfolded among the celestial and semi-divine beings. Among the women of the Rikshas and Kinnaras, as well as among the Nagas, Gandharvas, Garudas, Yakshas, Kimpurushas, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, and Uragas, the gods, great sages, and renowned spirits joyfully begot thousands of offspring. The celestial musicians, too, fathered heroic sons destined to roam the forests—monkeys of immense size and strength, all at home in the wild woodlands. From the foremost among the Apsarases, Vidyādharīs, Nāga maidens, and Gandharvīs, were born beings endowed with the power to assume any form and strength at will, moving freely as they pleased. These offspring were proud and strong as lions and tigers, wielding rocks as weapons, and thriving among the trees and mountains. All had claws and fangs for weapons, were skilled in every kind of warfare, and possessed the might to shake even the king of mountains or shatter the sturdiest trees. With their speed, they could stir the ocean, tear the earth with their feet, and leap across the vast seas. Their prowess was such that they could soar into the sky, seize clouds, and capture wild, intoxicated elephants roaming the forests. Their thunderous roars could bring down birds in flight. These were the forms of the monkeys born with the power to change shape at will. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of mighty leaders of monkey troops were born—chiefs among the vanaras. They became the foremost of troop leaders and produced yet more heroic monkeys; others, in their thousands, accompanied the bear-like ones on their journeys. Some settled in various mountains and forests, all serving Sugrīva, son of the Sun, and Vālin, son of Indra. Around these two brothers gathered all the monkey chiefs, as well as Nala, Nīla, Hanumān, and other leaders of the monkey hosts. Endowed with the strength of Garuḍa, skilled in battle, they roamed about, overpowering lions, tigers, and great serpents. The mighty and long-armed Vālin, of vast prowess, protected the monkeys with bear-like tails by the strength of his arms. Thus, by these heroes, the earth—with its mountains, forests, and oceans—became filled, diverse in form and marked by many features. The mighty monkey troop leaders, as formidable 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 next chapter. When the great horse sacrifice was completed, the gods received their shares and departed as they had come. King Daśaratha, having fulfilled his vows and rituals, returned to his city with his wives, accompanied by his retinue, army, and splendid vehicles. The lords of the earth, having been duly honored by the king, joyfully departed to their own realms, bowing respectfully to the eminent sage. As these illustrious kings returned to their cities, their radiant armies, filled with delight, shone with great splendor. When the rulers had departed, King Daśaratha, resplendent, entered his city, leading the foremost among the twice-born. Ṛśyaśṛṅga, who had been greatly honored, left with Śāntā and his retinue, not detained by the wise king. Having thus dismissed all his guests, the king, his heart fulfilled, remained in happiness, his mind ever contemplating the birth of a son. After the completion of the sacrifice, six seasons passed. Then, in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Caitra, when the star Punarvasu—presided over by Aditi—was ascendant, and five planets were in their highest positions, with Jupiter and the Moon together in Cancer at the ascendant, the all-honored Lord of the Universe was rising. At that auspicious moment, Kausalyā gave birth to Rāma, endowed with divine marks. Rāma was half of Viṣṇu himself, radiant and glorious, the joy of the Ikṣvāku line, with red eyes, mighty arms, red lips, and a voice like the deep roll of a drum. Kausalyā shone with her son of immeasurable splendor, just as Aditi shone with Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, among the gods. Bharata, steadfast in truth and valor, was born to Kaikeyī, a fourth part of Viṣṇu, endowed with every virtue. Then Sumitrā gave birth to two sons—Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna—heroes skilled in all weapons, each possessing half the power of Viṣṇu. Bharata, of serene mind, was born under the star Puṣya, with the ascendant in Pisces; the sons of Sumitrā were born under the star Āśleṣā, with the ascendant in Cancer, as the sun was rising. Thus, the king’s four sons, great-souled and virtuous, were born separately, each perfect in form and comparable in beauty to the twin stars Proṣṭhapada. The Gandharvas sang sweetly, the Apsarases danced, divine drums resounded, and a shower of flowers rained from the sky. The halls of the palace, vast and adorned with jewels, resounded splendidly with melodious singing and harmonious instruments. The king bestowed gifts upon bards, genealogists, and panegyrists, and to the Brāhmaṇas he gave wealth and thousands of cows. When eleven days had passed, the king performed the naming ceremony for his sons: the eldest, the great-souled Rāma, and Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī. Vasiṣṭha, filled with supreme joy, named Sumitrā’s sons as Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna. The king had the Brāhmaṇas, as well as the citizens and people of the land, sumptuously fed, and he gave the Brāhmaṇas a great abundance of precious gems.