कुशिकवंश-प्रसङ्गः / Genealogy of the Kuśika Line and the Kausikī River
बालकाण्ड
Sarga 34 concludes Viśvāmitra’s genealogical and regional account for Rāma. The chapter begins with the dynastic transition from King Kuśanābha’s putreṣṭi (a son-seeking rite) after Brahmadatta’s marriage and departure, leading to the birth of Gādhi. Viśvāmitra identifies Gādhi as his father and explains his own epithet “Kauśika,” rooted in the Kuśa lineage. He then narrates the sanctified history of his elder sister Satyavatī—married to Ṛcīka—who follows her husband to heaven and re-emerges as the great river Kausikī, flowing from the Himavat for the welfare of the world. The sarga transitions into a nocturnal tableau: still trees, resting animals, star-filled sky, and the moon rising—while nocturnal beings (yakṣas, rākṣasas, and flesh-eaters) roam. Viśvāmitra ends his discourse; the sages praise him, and Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa retire to sleep, marking a narrative pause after lineage, place, and moral provenance are established.
Verse 1.34.1
कृतोद्वाहे गते तस्मिन् ब्रह्मदत्ते च राघव।अपुत्र: पुत्रलाभाय पौत्रीमिष्टिमकल्पयत्।।।।
O Rāghava, when Brahmadatta’s marriage had been completed and he had departed, the king—being without a son—arranged the Putreṣṭi sacrifice in order to obtain a son.
Verse 1.34.2
इष्ट्यां तु वर्तमानायां कुशनाभं महीपतिम्।उवाच परमोदार: कुशो ब्रह्मसुतस्तदा।।।।
Having spoken thus, the great sage of mighty splendour fell silent. All the ṛṣis honoured him, saying, “Well said, well said.”
Verse 1.34.3
पुत्रस्ते सदृश: पुत्र भविष्यति सुधार्मिक:।गाधिं प्राप्स्यसि तेन त्वं कीर्तिं लोके च शाश्वतीम्।।।।
I had an elder sister as well, O Rāghava, steadfast in noble vows; she was named Satyavatī and was given in marriage to Ṛcīka.
Verse 1.34.4
एवमुक्त्वा कुशो राम कुशनाभं महीपतिम्।जगामाकाशमाविश्य ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनाम्।।।।
Following her husband, she went to heaven in her very body; and then, as the great river Kauśikī—most generous in her beneficence—she began to flow.
Verse 1.34.5
कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य कुशनाभस्य धीमत:।जज्ञे परमधर्मिष्ठो गाधिरित्येव नामत:।।।।
This is the lineage of the Kuśikas: truly great, ever devoted to dharma—high-souled men of the line of Kūśa, foremost among humans, comparable in dignity to Brahmā.
Verse 1.34.6
स पिता मम काकुत्स्थ गाधि: परमधार्मिक:।कुशवंशप्रसूतोऽस्मि कौशिको रघुनन्दन ।।।।
And above all, you yourself, illustrious Viśvāmitra—your Kauśikī is the finest among rivers, shining as an adornment that brings lustre to your lineage.
Verse 1.34.7
पूर्वजा भगिनी चापि मम राघव सुव्रता।नाम्ना सत्यवती नाम ऋचीके प्रतिपादिता।।।।
Thus praised by those tiger-like sages, the illustrious son of the Kuśikas lay down to sleep—like the radiant sun when it has set.
Verse 1.34.8
सशरीरा गता स्वर्गं भर्तारमनुवर्तिनी।कौशिकी परमोदारा प्रवृत्ता च महानदी।।।।
Rāma too, along with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), filled with a measure of wonder, praised that tiger-like sage and then took to sleep.
Verse 1.34.9
दिव्या पुण्योदका रम्या हिमवन्तमुपाश्रिता।लोकस्य हितकामार्थं प्रवृत्ता भगिनी मम।।।।
My sister—divine, lovely, and filled with sacred waters—took refuge in Himavān; and for the welfare and happiness of the world she set forth, flowing onward.
Verse 1.34.10
ततोऽहं हिमवत्पार्श्वे वसामि निरतस्सुखम्।भगिन्यां स्नेहसंयुक्त: कौशिक्यां रघुनन्दन।।।।
From then on, O delight of the Raghus, I have lived happily on the slopes of Himavat, bound by affection for my sister Kauśikī.
Verse 1.34.11
सा तु सत्यवती पुण्या सत्ये धर्मे प्रतिष्ठिता।पतिव्रता महाभागा कौशिकी सरितां वरा।।।।
Then, while the sacrificial rite was in progress, Kuśa—the exceedingly generous son of Brahmā—addressed King Kuśanābha.
Verse 1.34.12
अहं हि नियमाद्राम हित्वा तां समुपागत:।सिद्धाश्रममनुप्राप्य सिद्धोऽस्मि तव तेजसा।।।।
Satyavatī was holy, firmly established in truth and dharma. Faithful to her husband and greatly blessed, she became the Kauśikī, foremost among rivers.
Verse 1.34.13
एषा राम ममोत्पत्तिस्स्वस्य वंशस्य कीर्तिता।देशस्य च महाबाहो यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि।।।।
Rāma, it was for the sake of my sacred observance that I left her and came here. Having reached Siddhāśrama, I have fulfilled my purpose through your splendour and prowess.
Verse 1.34.14
गतोऽर्धरात्र: काकुत्स्थ कथा: कथयतो मम।निद्रामभ्येहि भद्रं ते मा भूद्विघ्नोऽध्वनीह न:।।।।
Rāma, mighty-armed one: since you asked me, I have recounted my origin, the account of my lineage, and also the history of this region.
Verse 1.34.15
निष्पन्दास्तरवस्सर्वे निलीनमृगपक्षिण:।नैशेन तमसा व्याप्ता दिशश्च रघुनन्दन।।।।
Kākutstha, midnight has passed as I have been telling these accounts. Now take rest; blessings be upon you. May no obstacle befall us on the road hereafter.
Verse 1.34.16
शनैर्वियुज्यते सन्ध्या नभो नेत्रैरिवावृतम् ।नक्षत्रतारागहनं ज्योतिर्भिरिव भासते।।।।
Raghunandana, all the trees stood still; beasts and birds had settled into rest, and every direction was pervaded by the darkness of night.
Verse 1.34.17
उत्तिष्ठति च शीतांशुश्शशी लोकतमोनुद:।ह्लादयन् प्राणिनां लोके मनांसि प्रभया विभो।।।।
Twilight slowly withdrew; the sky, as though covered with eyes, shone thick with constellations and stars—like a wide-spread field of lights.
Verse 1.34.18
नैशानि सर्वभूतानि प्रचरन्ति ततस्तत:।यक्षराक्षससङ्घाश्च रौद्राश्च पिशिताशना:।।।।
Then rose the moon, cool-rayed and driving away the world’s darkness; O mighty one, with its radiance it gladdened the hearts of living beings.
Verse 1.34.19
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विरराम महामुनि:।साधु साध्विति तं सर्वे ऋषयो ह्यभ्यपूजयन्।।।।
Thereupon nocturnal beings began to roam here and there—bands of yakṣas and rākṣasas, fierce and dreadful, including flesh-eaters.
Verse 1.34.20
कुशिकानामयं वंशो महान् धर्मपरस्सदा।ब्रह्मोपमा महात्मान: कुशवंश्या नरोत्तमा:।।।।
“A son will be born to you, like you in character—deeply righteous and established in dharma. He will be named Gādhi, and through him you will gain enduring fame in the world.”
Verse 1.34.21
विशेषेण भवानेव विश्वामित्रो महायशा:।कौशिकी सरितां श्रेष्ठा कुलोद्योतकरी तव।।।।
Having spoken thus to King Kūśanābha, O Rāma, Kūśa entered the sky and departed to the eternal Brahmaloka, the world of Brahmā.
Verse 1.34.22
इति तैर्मुनिशार्दूलै: प्रशस्त: कुशिकात्मज: ।निद्रामुपागमच्छ्रीमान् अस्तंगत इवांशुमान्।।।।
After some time, to the wise King Kūśanābha there was born a son of supreme righteousness, known by the name Gādhi.
Verse 1.34.23
रामोऽपि सहसौमित्रि: किञ्चिदागतविस्मय:।प्रशस्य मुनिशार्दूलं निद्रां समुपसेवते।।।।
That supremely righteous Gādhi, O scion of Kakutstha, is my father. Born in the lineage of Kūśa, O delight of the Raghus, I am known as Kauśika.