Dasharatha decided to perform Ashwamedha yaga to beget children.
The logic is that Ashwamedha gets the performer entry into Swarga.
Entry into Swarga is possible only if someone's son has a grandson, meaning if the lineage continues unbroken.
So Ashwamedha should get Dasharatha, progeny.
Dasharatha called his minister Sumantra and said, ‘Go and get the Gurus and purohitas immediately.’
Sumantra went and brought everyone Suyajna, Vamadeva, Jabali, and Kashyapa - these are VidyaGurus. And also there were some more.
Vasishta also - Vasishta was the rajapurohita.
And also VidyaGuru.
Dasharatha worshiped all of them.
See these gestures are very important.
Every time they meet the Guru, they are to be paid respect.
Proper language is to be used while addressing them.
Proper body language should be followed.
Then only the system works.
If knowledge has to flow from the Guru to shishya, then the shishya has to be at a lower level.
Dasharatha may be the king.
But his status is lower than that of his Gurus.
This is expressed explicitly through gestures in their presence.
Dasharatha said, ‘I think, I should do AshwamedhaYaga to beget progeny. How can I successfully complete this, please think about it and advice me.’
Dasharatha is not ordering them to arrange to conduct the AshwamedhaYaga.
The Gurus were pleased to hear Dasharatha' words; appreciated his dharma buddhi. his faith in Vedic yajnas, the vedic system.
They told Dasharatha, ‘Construct yagavedi on the northern bank of Sarayu.’
Ayodhya is to the south of Sarayu.
Sarayu is also presently known as घाघरा nadi.
‘There, arrange everything needed for the yaga. There itself the horse will be released.’
The Gurus said, ‘सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रानभिप्रेतांश्च पार्थिव । you will get many sons, not just one.’
एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्राः - one should desire for many sons; that's how they blessed him; you will definitely get many sons.
Hearing this tears of happiness welled up in Dasharatha's eyes.
Earlier, it was tears of grief; now tears of happiness; they were all powerful Rishis; with their blessings definitely it will happen, he knew.
It was as good as it had already happened.
Dasharatha told the ministers, as per the instructions of the Gurus to start making arrangements.
It is not easy to perform Ashwamedha; small kings will not be able to do this; only powerful kings such as Dasharatha will be able to do it.
There will be so many obstacles.
400 powerful soldiers should be deployed to protect the yajnavedi itself.
The procedure should be completely faultless, otherwise BrahmaRakshasas will come and spoil the yajna.
BrahmaRakshasas are brahmins who have become Rakshasas because they themselves faltered while performing yajnas or conducted themselves in evil ways, such as being greedy or accepting donations that should not be accepted, or not doing what is promised.
Even now this happens; purohit will say 10,000 rupees is needed for materials of this puja.
Then he will buy only for 5000 and keep 5000 for himself.
There are mantras in veda itself pointing to these -
यन्मा हुतमहुतमाजगाम यदन्नमद्मि अनृतेन देवा दास्यन् अदास्यन्
saying that I will offer 108 ahutis and then offering only 28, doing shortcuts such purohits will become BrahmaRakshasas.
They wait near the yagavedi invisible and the moment they see a fault enter the yagavedi and cause a stream of series of defects.
The yajna will fail, perish causing immediate harm even death of the yajamana and the purohits.
निहतस्य च यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति ।
So every care and caution should be taken to make sure that the AshwamedhaYaga is done in perfection.
The Ashwamedha was scheduled for the next ChaitraPurnima.
Gurus left after blessing Dasharatha again and ministers also left.
Dasharatha also went inside the palace and informed his wives, ‘Get ready to get into yajna deeksha.’
They became happy to hear about the yajna.