Bala Kanda: Chapter 34

कृतोद्वाहे गते तस्मिन् ब्रह्मदत्ते च राघव। अपुत्रः पुत्रलाभाय पौत्रीमिष्टिमकल्पयत्॥
And, O Raghava, when Brahmadatta was married, that sonless one, (Kušanābha), with the intention of obtaining male offspring, took in hand a son-conferring sacrifice.

इष्टयां तु वर्तमानायां कुशनाभं महीपतिम्। उवाच परमोदारैः कुशो ब्रह्मसुतस्तदा॥
And when the sacrifice had commenced, that son of Brahmā, the exceedingly noble Kusa, spoke to king Kusanābha, saying,

पुत्रस्ते सदृशः पुत्र भविष्यति सुधार्मिकः। गाधि प्राप्स्यसि तेन त्वं कीर्तिं लोके च शाश्वतीम्॥
O son, there will be born to you a virtuous son like to thyself: you will obtain even Gādhi, and through him enduring fame in this world.

एवमुक्त्वा कुशो राम कुशनाभं महीपतिम्। जगामाकाशमाविश्य ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम् ॥
Having said this to king Kusanabha, Kusa, O Rāma, entering the welkin, went to the eternal regions of Brahmā.

कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य कुशनाभस्य धीमतः। जज्ञे परमधर्मिष्ठो गाधिरित्येव नामतः॥
Then after sometime, an eminently virtuous son, named Gadhi, was born to the intelligent Kusanabha.

स पिता मम काकुत्स्थ गाधिः परमधार्मिकः। कुशवंशप्रसूतोऽस्मि कौशिको रघुनन्दन॥
O Kākutstha, even that highly pious Gadhi is my sire. And, O descendant of Raghu, I, called Kausika, am sprung from Kusa's line.

पूर्वजा भगिनी चापि मम राघव सुव्रता। नाम्ना सत्यवती नाम ऋचीके प्रतिपादिता।७।।
O Rāghava, I had a sister of noble vows born before me. And her name was Satyavatī; and she was bestowed upon Rcīkā.

सशरीरा गता स्वर्ग भर्तारमनुवर्तिनी। कौशिका परमोदारा प्रवृत्ता च महानदी॥
And following her lord, she ascended heaven in her own proper person. And my highly generous sister, Kausikī, has finally assumed the form of a mighty river.

दिव्या पुण्योदका रम्या हिमवन्तमुपाश्रिता। लोकस्य हितकार्यार्थं प्रवृत्ता भगिनी मम॥
And in order to compass the welfare of all creatures, my sister is now a noble and charming river of sacred waters, issuing from the Himavat mountains.

ततोऽहं हिमवत्पार्वे वसामि नियतः सुखम्। भगिन्यां स्नेहसंयुक्तः कौशिक्यां रघुनन्दन ॥
And thenceforth, out of affection for my sister, Kausiki, I ever dwell happily in the vicinity of the Himavat, O Raghava.

सा तु सत्यवती पुण्या सत्ये धर्मे प्रतिष्ठिता। पतिव्रता महाभागा कौशिकी सरितां वरा॥
And that virtuous Kausiki, Satyavati, as well established in religion as truth, and chaste, and eminently pious, is now the foremost of streams.

अहं हि नियमाद् राम हित्वा तां समुपागतः। सिद्धाश्रममनुप्राप्तः सिद्धोऽस्मि तव तेजसा ॥
And, O Rama, it is only for the purpose of completing my sacrifice that leaving her behind, I have come to Siddhāśrama. And now by virtue of your energy, have I attained fruition.

एषा राम ममोत्पत्तिः स्वस्य वंशस्य कीर्तिता। देशस्य हि महाबाहो यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि॥
Now, O Rāma, I have narrated to you the circumstances connected with the history of my line and myself, as also of this place, O mightyarmed one, which you had asked me to relate.

गतोऽर्धरात्रः काकुत्स्थ कथाः कथयतो मम। निद्रामभ्येहि भद्रं ते मा भूद् विघ्नोऽध्वनीह नः॥
But, O Kākutstha, while I was speaking, half the night has been spent. Do you now sleep, good betide you, so that you may not feel any difficulty while on the journey.

निष्पन्दास्तरवः सर्वे निलीना मृगपक्षिणः। नैशेन तमसा व्याप्ता दिशश्च रघुनन्दन॥
The trees stand motionless, and the beasts and birds are silent, and, O descendant of Raghu, all sides have become enveloped in nocturnal gloom.

शनैर्विसृज्यते संध्या नभो नेरिवावृतम्। नक्षत्रतारागहनं ज्योतिर्भिरवभासते॥
The noon of night is gradually passing away; and the firmament thick-studded with stars resembling eyes, is illumined up with their light.

उत्तिष्ठते च शीतांशुः शशी लोकतमोनुदः। ह्लादयन् प्राणिनां लोके मनांसि प्रभया स्वया॥
And that dispeller of darkness, the mildbeaming moon is rising, gladdening the hearts of all creatures with his splendour.

नैशानि सर्वभूतानि प्रचरन्ति ततस्ततः। यक्षराक्षससङ्घाश्च रौद्राश्च पिशिताशनाः॥
And night-ranging being terrible carnivorous Yaksas and Rākşasas—walk here and there,

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विरराम महामुनिः। साधुसाध्वति ते सर्वे मुनयो ह्मभ्यपूजयन्॥
Having said this the mighty ascetic of exceeding energy paused. And those ascetics honouring him, said, Excellent! Excellent!

कुशिकानामयं वंशो महान् धर्मपरः सदा। ब्रह्मोपमा महात्मानः कुशवंश्या नरोत्तमाः॥
This line belonging to the Kuśikas is exalted and devoted to virtue. And those foremost of men sprung in the Kuśa race are high-souled and like to Brahmarsis.

विशेषेण भवानेव विश्वामित्र महायशः। कौशिकी सरितां श्रेष्ठा कुलोद्योतकरी तव॥
And specially you, O illustrious Viśvāmitra, art so. And that best of streams, Kausiki, has added lustre to your lien.

मुदितैर्मुनिशार्दूलैः प्रशस्त: कुशिकात्मजः। निद्रामुपागमच्छीमानस्तंगत इवांशुमान्॥
And the auspicious son of Kuśika having been extolled by those delighted ascetic, the foremost of their order-slept, like to the sun, when setting

रामोऽपि सहसौमित्रिः किंचिदागतविस्मयः। प्रशस्य मुनिशार्दूलं निद्रां समुपसेवते॥
Rāma too along with Sumitrā's son having in admiration praised that tiger among ascetics, enjoyed the luxury of slumber.