Shloka 2.3.24
यौवराज्याभिषेक-उपकल्पनम् (Preparations for Rama’s Installation as Yuvaraja)
अथ तत्र समासीना स्तदा दशरथं नृपम्।।।।प्राच्योदीच्याः प्रतीच्याश्च दाक्षिणात्याश्च भूमिपाः।म्लेच्छाश्चार्याश्च ये चान्ये वनशैलान्तवासिनः।।।।उपासाञ्चक्रिरे सर्वे तं देवा इव वासवम्।
atha tatra samāsīnāḥ tadā daśarathaṃ nṛpam | prācyodīcyāḥ pratīcyāś ca dākṣiṇātyāś ca bhūmipāḥ | mlecchāś cāryāś ca ye cānye vana-śailānta-vāsinaḥ | upāsāñ cakrire sarve taṃ devā iva vāsavam ||
Then, seated there, kings from the east and north, from the west and the south—mleccha and ārya rulers alike, and others dwelling by forests and mountain frontiers—all paid homage to King Daśaratha, as the devas do to Indra.
After Sumantra had gone, the kings from eastern, northern, western, southern nonAryan and Aryan countries, rulers from forests and mountains paid homage to king Dasaratha, as devatas do to Indra.
Respect for legitimate authority: rulers acknowledge Daśaratha’s sovereignty through homage, reflecting the dharmic ideal of ordered governance and mutual recognition among kings.
A wide assembly of regional rulers has gathered at Ayodhyā and is honoring Daśaratha in a formal court setting.
Daśaratha’s royal stature and established legitimacy—he is portrayed as a central, Indra-like figure among rulers.