Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 34, Shloka 9
कुशिकवंश
प्रसङ्गः / Genealogy of the Kuśika Line and the Kausikī River
दिव्या पुण्योदका रम्या हिमवन्तमुपाश्रिता।लोकस्य हितकामार्थं प्रवृत्ता भगिनी मम।।।।
divyā puṇyodakā ramyā himavantam upāśritā | lokasya hitakāmārthaṃ pravṛttā bhaginī mama ||
Chị của ta—thiêng liêng, mỹ lệ, tràn đầy nước công đức—nương tựa dãy Himavān; vì lợi ích và an lạc của thế gian, nàng khởi dòng chảy, tuôn trôi mãi mãi.
Conferring the benefit of the other world and worldly pleasures on men my sister Kausiki who is divine and beautiful having sacred waters took resort in Himavat mountain and started flowing from there.
FAQs
The verse foregrounds loka-hita (the good of the world) as a dharmic aim: even a sacred river’s movement is framed as service—benefiting beings through purity, nourishment, and well-being.
In Viśvāmitra’s account, the river Kauśikī—described as his ‘sister’—takes refuge in the Himālaya and begins to flow for the benefit of the world.
Viśvāmitra’s reverence for sacred forces and his orientation to public good (loka-hita) are emphasized through his portrayal of the river’s purpose.