Then the Fire god vanished after telling the whole assembly of what was to be done. The king was transported with ecstasy and his heart could not contain his joy.

The king at once sent for his beloved wives. When Kausalya and the other queens came to him, he gave half of the offering to Kausalya and divided the remaining half into two parts.

-one of which he gave to Kaikeyi. What remained he again divided into two parts, which he placed in the hands of Kausalya and Kaikeyi and after thus obtaining their approval, gave both the shares to Sumitra.

In this way all the queens became great with child, and profound was their joy and gladness of heart. From the day that Hari found his way into the womb joy and prosperity reigned over all the worlds.

All the queens shone resplendent in the palace, mines of beauty, virtue and glory. Some little time was thus happily spent, till the time drew near for the Lord to be revealed.

The position of the sun and the moon, the zodiacal sign into which the sun had entered, the position of the seven other planets, the day of the week and of the month, all these were auspicious; all creation rejoiced, for the birth of Rama is the source of all delights.

It was the ninth day of the bright half of the holy month of Chaitra; the moon had entered the asterism named Abhijit, which is so dear to Hari. It was mid-day neither cold nor hot, a holy time of rest for the whole world.