Before Kausalya gave birth to Rama she had a daughter by name Shanta. As she was female child and was not qualified to succeed to the throne, Dasharatha gave her in adaption to King Romapada; the King brought her up and gave her in marriage to sage Rishyasringa.
Dasharatha invited many noble sages to attend Putrakameshti Yaga on the advice of his minister Sumantra. He also invited Sage Rishyasringa to come and grace the function. Rishyasringa was a noble sage. There were timely rains, peace and prosperity and people lived in joy and plenty wherever Rishyasringa set his foot. Sumantra went to Rishyasringa and requested him to be the chief Ritwik for the yaga. Rishyasringa replied, ‘I cannot come alone. I agree to be chief Ritwik but my consort Shanta also should come with me. She shall also function as a Ritwik.’ Sumantra agreed to this. Shanta and Rishyasringa reached there. As soon as she reached Ayodhya, Shanta did prostrations to the feet of Dasharatha and Kausalya. Dasharatha wondered who she was as she looked like a rishi. Wherever she set foot, draught vanished, making place for timely rains. When parents wondered who she was, Shanta said, ‘I am your daughter, Shanta’. Dasharatha and Kausalya were overjoyed when they realised that she was Shanta whom they had given away in adaption to King Romapada. (SSB 2002, pp. 77-78)