With joy in his heart, King Daśaratha went forth to meet the sage Viśvāmitra, approaching him as Indra himself would approach Brahmā. He beheld the ascetic, radiant and steadfast in his vows, and his own face shone with delight. In reverence, the king offered Viśvāmitra water for welcoming, the arghya, in accordance with sacred tradition. The sage graciously accepted, and then, with gentle concern, inquired after the king’s welfare—asking about the prosperity of his city, the state of his treasury, the well-being of his country, and the happiness of his relatives and friends. Kauśika, ever virtuous, also asked whether all the king’s vassals and neighboring enemies had been subdued, and whether both human and divine duties were being properly observed. Meeting with the venerable Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages, Viśvāmitra inquired after his well-being as well. The illustrious sage greeted the other seers present, fulfilling all the courtesies due. Their hearts gladdened by this meeting, they all entered the king’s residence. There, honored by the king, the sages took their seats as was fitting. King Daśaratha, delighted in mind, turned to the great sage Viśvāmitra. With joy and reverence, he spoke: “O revered one, your coming is like receiving nectar, like rain falling after a long drought, like the birth of a son to one without children, like the recovery of what was lost, like the joy of unexpected fortune. So, O great sage, I welcome you! Tell me your highest wish—what can I do, gladdened as I am by your presence? “You are most worthy of my reverence, O Brāhmaṇa. By great fortune you have come to me today. My life and birth are truly fulfilled. Because I have seen you, lord of Brāhmaṇas, this night has become supremely auspicious. Once you were called a royal sage, your brilliance kindled by austerity. Now you are a Brahmarṣi, worthy of manifold worship. For me, this is a wondrous and supremely pure event. “By your presence, O lord, I have entered a field of merit. Tell me your purpose, for which you have come. I wish to be favored by you, and to help fulfill your aim. You, steadfast in vows, need not hesitate to speak your request. Though I am the agent in all things, you are my divine protector. This is great fortune for me, and all this righteousness springs from your arrival.” Hearing these words—humble, heartfelt, and spoken by the self-controlled and renowned king—the eminent seer Viśvāmitra was filled with supreme joy. Now begins the nineteenth section. Hearing the king’s wondrous and detailed words, the radiant and mighty Viśvāmitra replied, his hair standing on end with delight. “Such conduct, O tiger among kings, befits you alone and none other on earth—descendant of a great lineage, bearing the name of Vasiṣṭha. Now, what I hold in my heart, the resolve for which I have come, you must accomplish; be true to your promise. “I am observing a sacred vow, O best of men, yet two powerful demons, able to change their form at will, obstruct it. Whenever my vow nears completion, these two, Mārīca and Subāhu, appear. They shower the altar with flesh and blood, defiling the sacrifice and preventing its fulfillment. Weary and discouraged, I am forced to withdraw, yet, O king, I do not allow anger to overcome me. “Such is my plight, and the curse remains unbroken. Therefore, O tiger among kings, you must give me your son Rāma, whose valor is true. Give me your eldest son, the heroic youth with hair dark as a crow’s wing. Protected by my divine power, he is capable. He will destroy these spoilers, and I will bestow upon him manifold blessings—there is no doubt. “By his deeds, fame will be won in all three worlds, for those two cannot stand against Rāma in any way. No one but Rāma, son of Raghu, can slay these demons, arrogant in strength and bound by the noose of time. They are not equal to great-souled Rāma, O king; nor should you let love for your son sway you from righteousness. “I give you my word: know that these two demons will be slain. I know Rāma’s true valor, as does Vasiṣṭha, radiant in ascetic power, and all those steadfast in austerity. If you desire righteousness and supreme fame on earth—if you desire steadfastness—then grant me Rāma, with the approval of your ministers, O descendant of Kakutstha. “Let Vasiṣṭha and your counselors consent, and give me your son Rāma, dear to you, yet unattached. The sacrifice will last but ten nights, and Rāma, lotus-eyed, will not be delayed beyond that time, as I have said.” Having spoken thus, the great and radiant sage Viśvāmitra fell silent. Hearing these auspicious words, King Daśaratha—the king of kings—was overcome with sorrow. He trembled, his heart pierced by anxiety and fear, and became faint. Regaining his senses, he rose from his seat, deeply troubled and wavering, his mind shaken by the sage’s request. This is the twentieth section. Listen.