When the two radiant princes arrived upon the earth, it seemed as if immortals themselves had descended from the heavenly realms. Observing them, King Janaka turned to the sage and marveled, “Who are these youths, who have come here on foot? For what purpose have they arrived, and to whom do they belong, O venerable sage?” He continued, his eyes drawn to their noble bearing and the weapons they carried, “These are heroes, armed with splendid weaponry. Whose sons are they, O great sage? Truly, they grace this land just as the moon and sun adorn the sky.” Janaka noted how alike they were—in stature, gestures, and movements—heroes with flowing locks dark as a crow’s wing. With curiosity and reverence, he asked, “I long to hear the truth about them.” In response to Janaka’s heartfelt inquiry, the great sage, immeasurable in wisdom, revealed, “These are the sons of Daśaratha.” Viśvāmitra then spoke of their stay at Siddhāśrama, their victory over the rākṣasas, their peaceful journey to this place, and their sight of the city of Viśālā. He recounted their encounter with Ahalyā, her reunion with the sage Gautama, and their arrival here to behold the great bow. All this, the illustrious Viśvāmitra narrated to the noble Janaka, and then he paused. Now begins the fifty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words, Śatānanda—radiant, ascetic, and eldest son of Gautama—felt awe so profound that his hair stood on end. Filled with wonder at the sight of Rāma, Śatānanda, shining with the fruits of austerity, gazed upon the two princes seated comfortably and addressed the great sage Viśvāmitra. “O tiger among sages,” he asked, “did my illustrious mother, long devoted to penance, appear before the royal prince? Did she, resplendent and steadfast, offer Rāma the worship due to all beings, with gifts from the forest? Was it revealed to Rāma, the tale of what befell my mother long ago at the hands of the god? O Kauśika, was my mother, foremost among sages’ wives, reunited with my revered father after seeing Rāma? Did my teacher honor Rāma, the great-souled one, who came here and received due homage? And did my father, with a tranquil mind, receive honor and greeting from Rāma?” Viśvāmitra, wise and skilled in speech, replied, “O best of sages, nothing was left undone by me. The wife was indeed reunited with the sage, just as Reṇukā was with Bhārgava.” Hearing this, Śatānanda, radiant in his splendor, turned to Rāma and addressed him with warmth. “Welcome, best of men! By great fortune you have come, O Rāghava, brought here by the unconquerable sage Viśvāmitra. Know that Viśvāmitra, of immeasurable brilliance, is a brahmarṣi whose deeds are beyond comprehension, attained through immense austerity—I know well his supreme state. There is no one on earth more blessed than you, Rāma, for the son of Kuśika, performer of great penance, is your protector. “Listen as I recount, as best I can and as it truly happened, the story of the great sage Kauśika. Hear it from me as I narrate. “Kauśika was once a righteous king, a subduer of foes for a long time, learned in dharma, accomplished in knowledge, and devoted to the welfare of his people. There was a king named Kuśa, son of Prajāpati, and Kuśa’s son was the powerful and supremely righteous Kuśanābha. Kuśanābha’s son was the renowned Gādhi, and Gādhi’s son was Viśvāmitra—the great and radiant sage. “The mighty and illustrious Viśvāmitra ruled the earth for thousands of years, governing as king. One day, the great and radiant king assembled his army and, surrounded by his divisions, set forth on a journey across the land. He traveled through cities, kingdoms, rivers, and great mountains, visiting hermitages in turn until he arrived at one most sacred. “He reached the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, adorned with flowering vines and trees, teeming with many kinds of animals, and frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers. Gods, demons, gandharvas, and kinnaras graced its grounds; tranquil deer roamed freely, and twice-born sages gathered in groups. The hermitage was filled with assemblies of brahmarṣis, attended by hosts of devarṣis, and inhabited by great souls accomplished in asceticism, their austerity shining like fire. “Always, the hermitage was filled with illustrious sages, resembling Brahmā himself—some subsisting on water, some on air, others eating only fallen leaves. There were sages who ate only fruits and roots, who were self-restrained and had conquered their faults and senses, including the Vālakhilyas, devoted to recitation and sacrifice. On all sides, other Vaikhānasa sages adorned the place. Beholding this hermitage, Viśvāmitra, foremost among the mighty and victorious, felt as though he had entered another world of Brahmā.” Now begins the fifty-second sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Seeing the hermitage and Vasiṣṭha himself, the mighty Viśvāmitra was filled with supreme joy. With reverence, the hero bowed before Vasiṣṭha, foremost among those who recite the sacred mantras. The great Vasiṣṭha greeted him warmly, saying, “Welcome to you,” and offered him a seat. When the wise Viśvāmitra had seated himself, the eminent sage, according to custom, brought him fruits and roots as a gesture of hospitality.