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Putrakameshti
Dasharatha had three queen consorts, namely, Kaushalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. Kaushalya was from the Kingdom of Magadha. Sumitra was from Kashi. Kaikeyi was from the Kekeya Kingdom. He performed two yajnas with the help of Sage Rishyasringa on the advice of Vasishtha. One was Ashwamedha and the other was Putrakameshti at the bank of Manorma River. Dasharatha and Kaushalya had a daughter Shanta, who was Rishyashringa's wife. As the conclusion of the Yagna drew near, Agni sprang out from the Yagnakunda (sacrificial fire pit) and handed Dasharatha a pot of Kheer (Payasa), advising him to distribute it among his queens. Kaushalya ate half the Kheer or dessert; Sumitra ate a quarter of it. Kaikeyi ate some and passed the pot back to Sumitra who consumed the Kheer for the second time.

On completion of the ritual, six seasons have passed by and then in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Chaitra month [April-May,] when the presiding deity of the ruling star of the day was Aditi. The ruling star of the day was Punarvasu, the asterism in the ascendant, and when five of the nine planets Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus at their highest position. Jupiter with Moon was in ascendance in Cancer, and as the day advances, and then Queen Kausalya gave birth to a son. He was born with all the divine attributes like lotus-red eyes, lengthy arms, roseate lips, voice like a drumbeat, and who took birth to delight the Ikshwaku dynasty, who adored by all the worlds, and who is the greatly blessed epitome of Vishnu, namely Rama.

By this configuration of stars, the supreme merits of Rama indicated. The fruit of ritual obtained in the shape of dessert, and Kausalya consumed half of it, but it is not half of Vishnu as he is illimitable.

Kausalya shone forth with such a son whose resplendence is unlimited, as with woman Aditi who once stood out with her son Indra, the best one among gods.

Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata, one embodied with all merits, and whose truthfulness itself is his valor and who is the fourth component of manifest Vishnu, namely Rama.

Queen Sumitra then gave birth to two sons who are the embodied epitomes of Vishnu, namely Lakshmana, and Shatrughna, who are valiant ones and experts in all kinds of weaponry.

The fair-minded Bharata is born under Pisces where Pushyami Nakshatra, the star of the day, and the sons of Sumitra, namely Lakshmana and Shatrughna born under Cancer, where Aasresa, the star of the day and when the sun is rising.