Upon hearing words that denied righteousness and the divine, Rāma, the son of the king, could no longer contain his fierce energy. Deeply disturbed by such speech rooted in disbelief, he reproached the speaker with firm resolve. Rāma declared that truth, righteousness, valor, compassion for all beings, gentle speech, and honoring the twice-born, the gods, and guests—these are the virtues praised by the noble as the true path to heaven. He explained that those who understand life rightly and hold unwavering determination, such as the Brahmins who practice all forms of righteousness, remain ever-vigilant and aspire toward the world to come. Rāma then condemned his own father's action in accepting one whose mind was set on falsehood, for anyone who acts with such misguided understanding—truly atheistic—has turned away from the path of righteousness. Rāma likened such a mind to that of a thief, declaring that atheism is no different from such a state. Therefore, he warned, the atheist is the most suspect among all people, and the wise should never keep company with one who denies the divine. He reminded the Brahmins that those before them, and even greater ones, had performed many auspicious deeds, conquering both this world and the next, and so offerings and sacrifices are indeed blessed acts. He described how sages devoted to righteousness, united with the noble, radiant, generous, virtuous, non-violent, and pure, are honored throughout the world as foremost among men. Rāma spoke these words with anger, yet steadfast and great-souled as he was. In response, the Brahmin addressed Rāma truthfully, with faith and gentleness. He clarified, “I do not speak the words of atheists, nor am I an atheist, nor do I hold that nothing exists. According to the time and circumstance, I may appear faithful or faithless. At this moment, just as I spoke words of disbelief, I did so only to turn you back, Rāma, and to win your favor.” Thus concludes the one hundred and ninth sarga of the Ayodhyā Kāṇḍa in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Seeing Rāma’s anger, the sage Vasiṣṭha addressed him, saying, “Jābāli is well-versed in the coming and going of this world. He spoke as he did only to persuade you to return. Now, O lord of the world, listen as I recount the origin of this universe. “In the beginning, all was but water. Upon these waters, the earth was formed, and from them arose Brahmā, the self-born, along with the gods. Brahmā, taking the form of a boar, lifted up the earth from the depths. Eternal, imperishable, and self-existent, Brahmā was born from the sky and created the entire world, together with his sons, who had mastered themselves. “From Brahmā was born Marīci, and from Marīci his son Kāśyapa. Kāśyapa’s son was Vivasvān, and from Vivasvān came Manu, the ancient lord of creatures. Manu’s son was Ikṣvāku. “This prosperous earth was first given by Manu to Ikṣvāku, the earliest king of Ayodhyā. Ikṣvāku’s renowned son was Kukṣi, and from Kukṣi came the heroic Vikukṣi. From Vikukṣi was born the mighty and valorous Bāṇa, and Bāṇa’s son was the great-armed, celebrated Anaraṇya. “During Anaraṇya’s reign, there was neither irregular rainfall nor famine, and among the virtuous, not a single thief was found. From Anaraṇya came the mighty Pṛthu, and from Pṛthu, the great king Triśaṅku was born. Because of his truthfulness, Triśaṅku, a hero, ascended to heaven in his own body. “Triśaṅku’s son was the illustrious Dhundhumāra, and from him was born the mighty Yuvanāśva. Yuvanāśva’s son was the celebrated Māndhātṛ, and from Māndhātṛ came the mighty Susandhi. Susandhi had two sons, Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit. From the renowned Dhruvasandhi was born Bharata, destroyer of enemies. “Bharata’s son was the mighty-armed Asita. Against Asita arose rival kings—the Haihayas, Tāla-jaṅghas, and the valiant Śaśibindus. Though he resisted all of them in battle, Asita was eventually exiled and lived as a sage on the beautiful chief of mountains. “It is said he had two wives, both pregnant. One, wishing to destroy the other’s child, gave her a potion intended for miscarriage. A sage of the Bhārgava line, Cyavana, dwelled on Mount Himavat. The wife Kālindī approached and respectfully greeted him. The sage, seeing her longing for a son, blessed her, saying, ‘O lady, you shall have a son, a great soul, renowned in the world, righteous, virtuous, founder of a lineage, and destroyer of foes.’ “Joyfully, she circled the sage, received his blessing, returned home, and gave birth to a son. But her co-wife, still wishing to destroy the child, gave her a potion; yet, with that potion, the child was born—he became Sagara. “King Sagara, who excavated the ocean, performed great sacrifices and, with his speed, struck fear into his foes. Sagara’s son was Asamañja, who, while still alive, was expelled by his father for wicked deeds. Asamañja’s son was the valorous Aṃśumān; from Aṃśumān came Dilīpa, and Dilīpa’s son was Bhagīratha. “From Bhagīratha was born Kakutstha, by whom the Kakutstha lineage became famous. Kakutstha’s son was Raghu, from whom the Raghus take their name. Raghu’s son was powerful and renowned, known as Kalmāṣapāda, Saudāsa, the devourer of men. “Kalmāṣapāda’s son was the celebrated Śaṅkhaṇa, who, inheriting his father’s strength, destroyed a thousand armies. Śaṅkhaṇa’s son was Sudarśana, valiant and illustrious. Sudarśana’s son was Agnivarṇa, and Agnivarṇa’s son was Śīghraga. Śīghraga’s son was Maru; Maru’s son was Praśuśruka. Praśuśruka’s son was Ambarīṣa, radiant with great splendor. “Thus, O Rāma, is your lineage, shining with virtue and glory.