Vishwamitra's Lineage and the River Kaushiki

Shloka 1 (bala.34.1)

कृतोद्वाहे गते तस्मिन् ब्रह्मदत्ते च राघव । अपुत्रः पुत्रलाभाय पौत्रीमिष्टिमकल्पयत् ।। ३४.१ ।।

kṛtodvāhe gate tasmin brahmadatte ca rāghava | aputraḥ putralābhāya pautrīmiṣṭimakalpayat || 34.1 ||

When Brahmadatta, now married, had departed, O Raghava, the sonless Kushanabha performed the ritual for obtaining a son.

Shloka 2 (bala.34.2)

इष्ट्यां तु वर्तमानायां कुशनाभं महीपतिम् । उवाच परमोदारः कुशो ब्रह्मसुतस्तदा ।। ३४.२ ।।

iṣṭyāṃ tu vartamānāyāṃ kuśanābhaṃ mahīpatim | uvāca paramodāraḥ kuśo brahmasutastadā || 34.2 ||

While that rite was in progress, the supremely generous Kusha, son of Brahma, spoke to king Kushanabha.

Shloka 3 (bala.34.3)

पुत्र ते सदृशः पुत्रो भविष्यति सुधार्मिकः । गाधिं प्राप्स्यसि तेन त्वं कीर्तिं लोके च शाश्वतीम् ।। ३४.३ ।।

putra te sadṛśaḥ putro bhaviṣyati sudhārmikaḥ | gādhiṃ prāpsyasi tena tvaṃ kīrtiṃ loke ca śāśvatīm || 34.3 ||

"My son, you shall have a righteous son equal to yourself, named Gadhi; through him you shall obtain everlasting fame in the world."

Shloka 4 (bala.34.4)

एवमुक्त्वा कुशो राम कुशनाभं महीपतिम् । जगामाकाशमाविश्य ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम् ।। ३४.४ ।।

evamuktvā kuśo rāma kuśanābhaṃ mahīpatim | jagāmākāśamāviśya brahmalokaṃ sanātanam || 34.4 ||

Having said this to king Kushanabha, O Rama, Kusha rose into the sky and journeyed to the eternal realm of Brahma.

Shloka 5 (bala.34.5)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कुशनाभस्य धीमतः । जज्ञे परमधर्मिष्ठो गाधिरित्येव नामतः ।। ३४.५ ।।

kasyacittvatha kālasya kuśanābhasya dhīmataḥ | jajñe paramadharmiṣṭho gādhirityeva nāmataḥ || 34.5 ||

After some time, to the wise Kushanabha was born a supremely righteous son, known by the name Gadhi.

Shloka 6 (bala.34.6)

स पिता मम काकुत्स्थ गाधिः परमधार्मिकः । कुशवंशप्रसूतोऽस्मि कौशिको रघुनंदन ।। ३४.६ ।।

sa pitā mama kākutstha gādhiḥ paramadhārmikaḥ | kuśavaṃśaprasūto'smi kauśiko raghunaṃdana || 34.6 ||

"That supremely righteous Gadhi, O Kakutstha, is my father; and being born of Kusha's lineage, O delight of the Raghus, I am known as Kaushika."

Shloka 7 (bala.34.7)

पूर्वजा भगिनी चापि मम राघव सुव्रता । नाम्ना सत्यवती नाम ऋचीके प्रतिपादिता ।। ३४.७ ।।

pūrvajā bhaginī cāpi mama rāghava suvratā | nāmnā satyavatī nāma ṛcīke pratipāditā || 34.7 ||

"I also have an elder sister, O Raghava, of noble vows, named Satyavati, who was given in marriage to the sage Richika."

Shloka 8 (bala.34.8)

सशरीरा गता स्वर्गं भर्तारमनुवर्तिनी । कौशिकी परमोदारा सा प्रवृत्ता महानदी ।। ३४.८ ।।

saśarīrā gatā svargaṃ bhartāramanuvartinī | kauśikī paramodārā sā pravṛttā mahānadī || 34.8 ||

"Following her husband, she went to heaven with her very body; and that supremely generous woman became manifest as a great river, the Kaushiki."

Shloka 9 (bala.34.9)

दिव्या पुण्योदका रम्या हिमवन्तमुपाश्रिता । लोकस्य हितकार्यार्थं प्रवृत्ता भगिनी मम ।। ३४.९ ।।

divyā puṇyodakā ramyā himavantamupāśritā | lokasya hitakāryārthaṃ pravṛttā bhaginī mama || 34.9 ||

"My sister, divine, of sacred waters and lovely to behold, flows taking refuge in the Himalayas, having emerged for the welfare of the world."

Shloka 10 (bala.34.10)

ततोऽहं हिमवत्पार्श्वे वसामि नियतः सुखम् । भगिन्यां स्नेहसंयुक्तः कौशिक्यां रघुनंदन ।। ३४.१० ।।

tato'haṃ himavatpārśve vasāmi niyataḥ sukham | bhaginyāṃ snehasaṃyuktaḥ kauśikyāṃ raghunaṃdana || 34.10 ||

"Therefore, O delight of the Raghus, out of affection for my sister Kaushiki, I dwell contentedly and steadfastly on the slopes of the Himalayas."

Shloka 11 (bala.34.11)

सा तु सत्यवती पुण्या सत्ये धर्मे प्रतिष्ठिता । पतिव्रता महाभागा कौशिकी सरितां वरा ।। ३४.११ ।।

sā tu satyavatī puṇyā satye dharme pratiṣṭhitā | pativratā mahābhāgā kauśikī saritāṃ varā || 34.11 ||

"That pious Satyavati, established in truth and righteousness, a devoted wife of great fortune, became Kaushiki, the foremost among rivers."

Shloka 12 (bala.34.12)

अहं हि नियमाद्राम हित्वा तां समुपागतः । सिद्धाश्रममनुप्राप्तः सिद्धोऽस्मि तव तेजसा ।। ३४.१२ ।।

ahaṃ hi niyamādrāma hitvā tāṃ samupāgataḥ | siddhāśramamanuprāptaḥ siddho'smi tava tejasā || 34.12 ||

"For the sake of my vow, O Rama, I left her for a time and came here; having reached Siddhashrama, I have accomplished my purpose through your power."

Shloka 13 (bala.34.13)

एषा राम ममोत्पत्तिः स्वस्य वंशस्य कीर्तिता । देशस्य च महाबाहो यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि ।। ३४.१३ ।।

eṣā rāma mamotpattiḥ svasya vaṃśasya kīrtitā | deśasya ca mahābāho yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi || 34.13 ||

"This, O mighty-armed Rama, is the account of my birth and of my lineage, and of this land as well, which you had asked me about."

Shloka 14 (bala.34.14)

गतोऽर्धरात्रः काकुत्स्थ कथाः कथयतो मम । निद्रामभ्येहि भद्रं ते मा भूद्विघ्नोऽध्वनीह नः ।। ३४.१४ ।।

gato'rdharātraḥ kākutstha kathāḥ kathayato mama | nidrāmabhyehi bhadraṃ te mā bhūdvighno'dhvanīha naḥ || 34.14 ||

"While I was telling these tales, O Kakutstha, midnight has passed; now take your rest -- may you be blessed -- lest some obstacle befall us on our journey."

Shloka 15 (bala.34.15)

निष्पन्दास्तरवः सर्वे निलीना मृगपक्षिणः । नैशेन तमसा व्याप्ता दिशश्च रघुनंदन ।। ३४.१५ ।।

niṣpandāstaravaḥ sarve nilīnā mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ | naiśena tamasā vyāptā diśaśca raghunaṃdana || 34.15 ||

"All the trees stand motionless, the deer and birds have grown still, and the quarters of the sky, O delight of the Raghus, are pervaded by the darkness of night."

Shloka 16 (bala.34.16)

शनैर्विसृज्यते संध्या नभो नेत्रैरिवावृतम् । नक्षत्रतारागहनं ज्योतिर्भिरवभासते ।। ३४.१६ ।।

śanairvisṛjyate saṃdhyā nabho netrairivāvṛtam | nakṣatratārāgahanaṃ jyotirbhiravabhāsate || 34.16 ||

"The twilight fades slowly away, and the sky, dense with stars and constellations, glows as though covered over with countless eyes of light."

Shloka 17 (bala.34.17)

उत्तिष्ठति च शीतांशुः शशी लोकतमोनुदः । ह्लादयन् प्राणिनां लोके मनांसि प्रभया स्वया ।। ३४.१७ ।।

uttiṣṭhati ca śītāṃśuḥ śaśī lokatamonudaḥ | hlādayan prāṇināṃ loke manāṃsi prabhayā svayā || 34.17 ||

"The cool-rayed moon rises, dispelling the darkness of the world, gladdening the hearts of all living beings with its own gentle radiance."

Shloka 18 (bala.34.18)

नैशानि सर्वभूतानि प्रचरंति ततस्ततः । यक्षराक्षससंघाश्च रौद्राश्च पिशिताशनाः ।। ३४.१८ ।।

naiśāni sarvabhūtāni pracaraṃti tatastataḥ | yakṣarākṣasasaṃghāśca raudrāśca piśitāśanāḥ || 34.18 ||

"All the creatures of the night now roam about here and there, along with hosts of yakshas and rakshasas, and ferocious flesh-eating ogres."

Shloka 19 (bala.34.19)

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विरराम महामुनिः । साधु साध्विति ते सर्वे मुनयो ह्यभ्यपूजयन् ।। ३४.१९ ।।

evamuktvā mahātejā virarāma mahāmuniḥ | sādhu sādhviti te sarve munayo hyabhyapūjayan || 34.19 ||

Having spoken thus, the greatly resplendent sage fell silent; and all the other sages honoured him, exclaiming, "Well said, well said!"

Shloka 20 (bala.34.20)

कुशिकानामयं वंशो महान् धर्मपरः सदा । ब्रह्मोपमा महात्मानः कुशवंश्या नरोत्तम ।। ३४.२० ।।

kuśikānāmayaṃ vaṃśo mahān dharmaparaḥ sadā | brahmopamā mahātmānaḥ kuśavaṃśyā narottama || 34.20 ||

"This lineage of Kushika is a great one, ever devoted to righteousness; O best of men, those born of Kusha's line are great souls comparable to Brahma."

Shloka 21 (bala.34.21)

विशेषेण भवानेव विश्वामित्रो महायशाः । कौशिकी सरितां श्रेष्ठा कुलोद्योतकरी तव ।। ३४.२१ ।।

viśeṣeṇa bhavāneva viśvāmitro mahāyaśāḥ | kauśikī saritāṃ śreṣṭhā kulodyotakarī tava || 34.21 ||

"You especially, O greatly renowned Vishwamitra, are exemplary; and the river Kaushiki, foremost among rivers, is the one who illumines your family's glory."

Shloka 22 (bala.34.22)

मुदितैर्मुनिशार्दूलैः प्रशस्तः कुशिकात्मजः । निद्रामुपागमच्छ्रीमानस्तं गत इवांशुमान् ।। ३४.२२ ।।

muditairmuniśārdūlaiḥ praśastaḥ kuśikātmajaḥ | nidrāmupāgamacchrīmānastaṃ gata ivāṃśumān || 34.22 ||

Praised thus by the delighted tigers among sages, the illustrious son of Kushika then gave himself to sleep, like the radiant sun sinking to its rest.

Shloka 23 (bala.34.23)

रामोऽपि सहसौमित्रिः किंचिदागतविस्मयः । प्रशस्य मुनिशार्दूलं निद्रां समुपसेवते ।। ३४.२३ ।।

rāmo'pi sahasaumitriḥ kiṃcidāgatavismayaḥ | praśasya muniśārdūlaṃ nidrāṃ samupasevate || 34.23 ||

Rama too, together with Lakshmana, somewhat filled with wonder, praised that tiger among sages and then gave himself over to sleep.