Shloka 1.18.4
पुत्रजन्मोत्सवः — Birth of the Princes and Viśvāmitra’s Arrival (Bālakāṇḍa 18)
श्रीमतां गच्छतां तेषां स्वपुराणि पुरात्तत:।बलानि राज्ञां शुभ्राणि प्रहृष्टानि चकाशिरे।।।।
atītyaikādaśāhaṁ tu nāmakarma tathā'karot |
jyeṣṭhaṁ rāmaṁ mahātmānaṁ bharataṁ kaikayīsutam || 1.18.20 ||
saumitriṁ lakṣmaṇam iti śatrughnam aparaṁ tathā |
vasiṣṭhaḥ paramaprīto nāmāni kṛtavān tadā || 1.18.21 ||
When eleven days had passed, the naming rite was duly performed: the eldest, the great-souled one, was named Rāma; Kaikeyī’s son was named Bharata; Sumitrā’s son was named Lakṣmaṇa; and the other was named Śatrughna. Thus Vasiṣṭha, greatly pleased, bestowed their names.
When the army of the kings left the city (Ayodhya) for their own, the armed forces shone bright and cheerfl.
Dharma here is expressed as saṁskāra—life-rites performed in the proper time and manner—affirming social and spiritual order (satya as right order) through sacred duty.
After the princes’ birth, the family observes the prescribed interval; then the royal preceptor Vasiṣṭha conducts the formal naming ceremony and assigns each prince his name.
Vasiṣṭha’s priestly integrity and joy in righteous ritual performance; the royal household’s adherence to tradition and duty.