The ritual consecrations of the Asvamedha ended. the gods received their share of the havis and returned to their worlds, the happy lords and rulers of the earth went back to their countries while Dasaratha returned to Ayodhya with his queens and entourage. Rshyasringa and Shantha took leave of the king who now awaited the birth of his sons. Six seasons passed after the completion of rituals. In the twelfth month of Chaitra on the ninth day of the new moon, in Kartaka lagna presided by Aditi as devata, when the star Punarvasu was in ascendance with the five planets Sun, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus Kausalya gave birth to an illustrious son Rama. She beheld him the pride of the Ikshvakus, with great joy. Blessed with every sign of divinity, he was one half of Visnu. Kaikeyi's son Bharata whose purity of mind was flawless was born under the next star Pushya, which was ascendant in the Meena lagna. To Sumithra were born the equally impeccable Lakshmana and Satrughna in the Karkataka lagna when the star Aslesha appeared.These incarnations of Visnu as the four sons of Dasaratha radiated effulgence like the stars of Purvabhadra and Uttarabhadra. At that auspicious moment the palace reverberated with joy. Gandharvas sang, apsaras danced the kettle drums of heaven boomed and the skies rained flowers. The streets of Ayodhya thronged and reverberated with the sound of music, revelry and joy as the citizens celebrated the birth of the divine princes. Twelve days after the birth of the princes, Vasishta performed appropriate rituals and named the first born of princes Rama, Kaikeyi's son as Bharata and Sumithra's twins as Lakshmana and Satrughna. The brahmins were feted, feasted and showered with gifts and the people of Ayodhya came in droves from towns and country to share the joy of the palace. The sons of Dasratha, who soon the Vedas, were virtuous, valiant, and ever concerned about the welfare of the people. Among them Rama, devout, dedicated and free of all taint endeared himself to the entire world and was Dasaratha's most beloved son. Lakshmana, ho loved Rama more than his life followed him like his own shadow. Rama too reciprocated his brother's love. He could neither eat not sleep without Lakshmana who followed his brother with ready bow and arrow to ward off any danger that might ensue! Bharata and Satrughna also had a strong bond between them; Though Dasaratha took great pride in them, the princes never took advantage of his affection, but ever humble. They were always ready to serve him with love and reverence. Renowned for their great knowledge, wisdom and virtue, they were yet modest and aware of the ways of the world. Dasaratha gave thought to the marriage of his sons. On day while he was conferring with his ministers and kinsmen. Visvamitra the mighty ascetic arrived at the gates of the palace commanding the guards. "Announce at once that I Kausika, son of Gadhi have come"! And Dasaratha along with Vasishta hurried to welcome and honor the most renowned of sages. Visvamitra embraced Vasishta asking him of him welfare and the of other sages. He then asked Dasaratha about his subjects, his relative, the state of his treasury and about his religious pursuits to propitiate the gods and if tributary kings were submissive. Quivering with excitement Dasaratha answered Visvamitra's questions and said, "Your arrival has rendered this place holy and is as welcome as is rain to the desert. I am honored! Tell me what I can do for you and I, with your blessings will achieve it!" The sound of those words pleased Visvamitra's ears and delighted his mind!
Summary
The ritual consecrations of the Asvamedha ended. the gods received their share of the havis and returned to their worlds, the happy lords and rulers of the earth went back to their countries while Dasaratha returned to Ayodhya with his queens and entourage. Rshyasringa and Shantha took leave of the king who now awaited the birth of his sons. Six seasons passed after the completion of rituals. In the twelfth month of Chaitra on the ninth day of the new moon, in Kartaka lagna presided by Aditi as devata, when the star Punarvasu was in ascendance with the five planets Sun, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus Kausalya gave birth to an illustrious son Rama. She beheld him the pride of the Ikshvakus, with great joy. Blessed with every sign of divinity, he was one half of Visnu. Kaikeyi's son Bharata whose purity of mind was flawless was born under the next star Pushya, which was ascendant in the Meena lagna. To Sumithra were born the equally impeccable Lakshmana and Satrughna in the Karkataka lagna when the star Aslesha appeared.These incarnations of Visnu as the four sons of Dasaratha radiated effulgence like the stars of Purvabhadra and Uttarabhadra. At that auspicious moment the palace reverberated with joy. Gandharvas sang, apsaras danced the kettle drums of heaven boomed and the skies rained flowers. The streets of Ayodhya thronged and reverberated with the sound of music, revelry and joy as the citizens celebrated the birth of the divine princes. Twelve days after the birth of the princes, Vasishta performed appropriate rituals and named the first born of princes Rama, Kaikeyi's son as Bharata and Sumithra's twins as Lakshmana and Satrughna. The brahmins were feted, feasted and showered with gifts and the people of Ayodhya came in droves from towns and country to share the joy of the palace. The sons of Dasratha, who soon the Vedas, were virtuous, valiant, and ever concerned about the welfare of the people. Among them Rama, devout, dedicated and free of all taint endeared himself to the entire world and was Dasaratha's most beloved son. Lakshmana, ho loved Rama more than his life followed him like his own shadow. Rama too reciprocated his brother's love. He could neither eat not sleep without Lakshmana who followed his brother with ready bow and arrow to ward off any danger that might ensue! Bharata and Satrughna also had a strong bond between them; Though Dasaratha took great pride in them, the princes never took advantage of his affection, but ever humble. They were always ready to serve him with love and reverence. Renowned for their great knowledge, wisdom and virtue, they were yet modest and aware of the ways of the world. Dasaratha gave thought to the marriage of his sons. On day while he was conferring with his ministers and kinsmen. Visvamitra the mighty ascetic arrived at the gates of the palace commanding the guards. "Announce at once that I Kausika, son of Gadhi have come"! And Dasaratha along with Vasishta hurried to welcome and honor the most renowned of sages. Visvamitra embraced Vasishta asking him of him welfare and the of other sages. He then asked Dasaratha about his subjects, his relative, the state of his treasury and about his religious pursuits to propitiate the gods and if tributary kings were submissive. Quivering with excitement Dasaratha answered Visvamitra's questions and said, "Your arrival has rendered this place holy and is as welcome as is rain to the desert. I am honored! Tell me what I can do for you and I, with your blessings will achieve it!" The sound of those words pleased Visvamitra's ears and delighted his mind!