The Birth (Bāla Kānda) of Ramayana

King Dasharatha's Wives and Sons

• King Dasharatha had three wives: Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi.
• The Ashwamedha and Putreshti yajnas for King Dasharatha were conducted by Rishi Rishyashringa.
• After the rituals performed by Rishi Rishyashringa, King Dasharatha's queens bore four sons: Rāma, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna.
• Rāma was the eldest son of King Dasharatha.

Rishi Vishvāmitra and the Yajna

• Rishi Vishvāmitra came to take Rāma to guard his rituals at the age of 16.
• Demons, specifically Taṭaka and her sons, were obstructing Rishi Vishvāmitra's yajna sankalpa.

Events in Mithilā and Bow of Shiva

• King Janaka organized the grand yajna in Mithilā.
• Rāma succeeded in stringing the bow of Shiva, a task no one else could accomplish.

Marriages and Banished Life

• Lakshmana was married to Urmila, the sister of Sita.
• Rāma, Seetā, and Lakshmana spent the first year of their banishment in the Dandaka forest.

Kaikeyi's Influence and Aftermath

• Kaikeyi's desire for her son Bharata's coronation and her enmity towards Rāma prompted her to seek Rāma's banishment.
• King Dasharatha died soon after Rāma's departure, overwhelmed by grief.
• Bharata refused to take the throne of Ayodhyā after Dasharatha's death, choosing instead to honor Rāma.
• Rāma was called back to Ayodhyā by his mother's request to perform the last rites of King Dasharatha.
• After performing the last rites, Bharata went to the forest to persuade Rāma to return to Ayodhyā.

Note on Exile

• Rāma, Seetā, and Lakshmana spent their first year of banishment in the Dandaka forest, adapting to their new life in exile.