As the yagna drew to a close, a ceslestial being rose form the fire-pit. Dark and dressed in red, he offered Dashrath a vessel containing a celestial potion. 'Offer this to your wives and they will bear divine sons," said the being before disappearing. A very happy Dashrath, immediately rushed to his wives and divided the magical potion between his senior queen, Kaushalya, and his favorite queen Kailkeyi. Both of them divide their share and gave one half each to Sumitra, the junior queen. As a result, the three queens gave birth to four sons. Vasishth named Kaushalya's son, Ram, Kaikeyi's son, Bharat, and Sumitra's twins, Lakshman and Shatrughna. -D. Pattanaik