Arrival in Mithila

Vishvamitra, Rama and Laxman proceeded in the direction of Mithila, the capital city of king Janaka. The city was flowers, festoons and flags. King Janaka was performing a sacrificial rite. Thousands of learned brahmins from different parts of the neighboring states had gathered in the city. Their carriages were parked in the open grounds. Vishvamitra camped in an isolated corner of an open ground with the help of Rama and Laxman. 

On getting the news of Vishvamitra's arrival in the precincts of the sacrificial altar, Janaka, accompanied by his royal priest Shatananda, came to greet Vishvamitra in his camp. 

After the customary greetings, Janka said, "Your holiness, in twelve days my sacrifice will be brought to completion. I request you to stay on till then." 

Vishvamitra accepted the invitation. King Janaka's eye fell on the two brothers standing modestly beside Vishvamitra all this while.

"Pray, who are these handsome young men?" asked Janaka. 

Vishvamitra said,"They are the sons of king Dashratha of Ayodhya. I am taking them along with me to the various parts of this country," said Vishvamitra.

Janaka and his preceptor Shatananda were looking at the boys curiously. Vishvamitra told them about the killing of Tataka and the meeting with Ahalya. Rama noticed that Shatananda was listening with rapt concentration while Vishvamitra was relating the incident of their strange meeting with Ahalya. Rama also noticed tears in Shatananda's eyes. When Vishvamitra was through with his account which he had given in a sultry, matter-of-fact manner, Shatananda looked at Rama with immense gratitude. Rama wondered why. Shatananda went to Rama and kissed his hands. Laxman watched, perplexed by what was happening.

Shatananda said to Rama, "My mother suffered a lot. There seemed no end to it." Rama was astonished. Vishvamitra said, "I did not tell you before; but Shatananda is Ahalya's son." He paused for a moment and added, "Ahalya's son by Indra."

Rama looked at everybody. Both Janaka and Shatananda were calm.Obviously Janaka knew it. Rama looked at both again. He cherished that picture in his memory and whenever he thought of magnanimity, he recalled that picture.

Shatananda turned to Vishvamitra and asked, "Where is my mother and how is she?"

Vishvamitra said,"She has joined her husband Gautam and they are living together now."

Shatananda turned to Rama and said,"You are indeed lucky that Vishvamitra has chosen both of you as his disciples. He combines in himself the brilliance of Brahmanic knowledge and the valor of Kshatriya. Now that he has given up his kingly status, he cannot fight battles directly, but he has immense knowledge of weaponry and war. He can give you both- his yogic power as well as knowledge of war. I cannot stop recounting all his accomplishments.But i  t's time to continue our sacrificial rites as it is nearing sunset."

Janaka came forward, walked around Vishvamitra ceremonially to express reverence and left with his priests and preceptors.