This "Sarga" (section) details the stories of Rama's childhood and
events related the time-frame. Dasharatha was the King of Ayodhya. He
had three wives: Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. He was childless for a
long time and anxious to have an heir, so he performs a fire sacrifice
known as Putra-kameshti Yajna. As a consequence, Rama was first born to
Kaushalya, Bharata was born to Kaikeyi, Lakshmana and Shatrughna were
born to Sumitra. These sons are endowed, to various degrees, with the
essence of the Supreme Trinity Entity Vishnu; Vishnu had opted to be
born into mortality to combat the demon Ravana, who was oppressing the
gods, and who could only be destroyed by a mortal. The boys were reared
as the princes of the realm, receiving instructions from the scriptures
and in warfare from Vashistha. When Rama was 16 years old, sage
Vishwamitra comes to the court of Dasharatha in search of help against
demons who were disturbing sacrificial rites. He chooses Rama, who is
followed by Lakshmana, his constant companion throughout the story. Rama
and Lakshmana receive instructions and supernatural weapons from
Vishwamitra and proceed to destroy the demons: Tataka and many more.