Shloka 1.18.1
पुत्रजन्मोत्सवः — Birth of the Princes and Viśvāmitra’s Arrival (Bālakāṇḍa 18)
निर्वृत्ते तु क्रतौ तस्मिन्हयमेधे महात्मन:।प्रतिगृह्य सुरा भागान्प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्।।।।
nirvṛtte tu kratau tasmin hayamedhe mahātmanaḥ |
pratigṛhya surā bhāgān pratijagmur yathāgatam || 1.18.1 ||
When that Aśvamedha sacrifice of the great-souled king was completed, the gods, having received their allotted shares, returned each to the place from which they had come.
Completed by the magnanimous king (Dasaratha). The aswamedha and putreshti sacrifices, the devatas received their share of havis and returned to their respective abodes.
Dharma is ritual and social order upheld through rightful performance and rightful receipt: the king completes his obligation, and the devas accept their due share—an image of balanced reciprocity.
Daśaratha’s Aśvamedha concludes; the gods partake of their portions and depart, setting the stage for the promised births.
Rājadharma—steadfast fulfillment of sacred duty by a ruler, sustaining cosmic and civic harmony.