# Bāla Kāṇḍa 33 — Story of Kuśanābha: Gādhi’s birth and Viśvāmitra’s lineage *Kuśanābha obtains Gādhi through sacrifice, Viśvāmitra identifies Gādhi as his father and recounts Satyavatī’s transformation into the river Kauśikī* Portion: Story of Kuśanābha · Verses: 20 · Ref format: 1.33. ## Sequence - After the daughters' marriage, the still-sonless Kuśanābha performs a rite for offspring (33.1) - his father Kuśa appears during the sacrifice and promises him a righteous son named Gādhi, then returns to Brahmā's world (33.2–4) - Gādhi is born → Viśvāmitra identifies him as his own father and explains that descent from Kuśa makes him a Kauśika (33.5–6) - he describes his elder sister Satyavatī, wife of Ṛcīka, who followed her husband bodily to heaven and became the sacred river Kauśikī (33.7–9) - affection for her leads him to dwell near the Himālaya → he left that region for his observance at Siddhāśrama, now successfully completed through Rāma's help (33.10–13). Viśvāmitra closes the family history and urges sleep so the journey will not be delayed (33.14) - he describes the still trees, resting animals, dark quarters, star-filled sky, rising moon, and roaming creatures of the night (33.15–18) - the ṛṣis praise his account → Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, filled with wonder, also praise him and settle to sleep (33.19–20). ## Verses **1.33.1** kṛtodvāhe gate tasmin brahmadatte ca rāghava aputraḥ putralābhāya pautrīm iṣṭim akalpayat When that Brahmadatta, his marriage accomplished, had departed, O Rāghava, Kuśanābha, being sonless, arranged an offspring-producing sacrifice to obtain a son. **1.33.2** iṣṭyāṃ tu vartamānāyāṃ kuśanābhaṃ mahīpatim uvāca paramaprītaḥ kuśo brahmasutas tadā As the sacrifice was proceeding, Kuśa, the son of Brahmā, then, exceedingly pleased, said to King Kuśanābha, lord of the earth: **1.33.3** putras te sadṛśaḥ putra bhaviṣyati sudhārmikaḥ gādhiṃ prāpsyasi tena tvaṃ kīrtiṃ loke ca śāśvatīm “A son like yourself, most righteous, shall be born to you, my son; you shall obtain Gādhi, and through him everlasting fame in the world.” **1.33.4** evam uktvā kuśo rāma kuśanābhaṃ mahīpatim jagāmākāśam āviśya brahmalokaṃ sanātanam Having spoken thus to King Kuśanābha, O Rāma, Kuśa entered the sky and went to the eternal world of Brahmā. **1.33.5** kasya cit tv atha kālasya kuśanābhasya dhīmataḥ jajñe paramadharmiṣṭho gādhir ity eva nāmataḥ Then, after some time, to the wise Kuśanābha was born a most righteous son, Gādhi by name. **1.33.6** sa pitā mama kākutstha gādhiḥ paramadhārmikaḥ kuśavaṃśaprasūto 'smi kauśiko raghunandana That most righteous Gādhi was my father, O Kākutstha; I am born of the line of Kuśa, a Kauśika, O delight of the Raghus. **1.33.7** pūrvajā bhaginī cāpi mama rāghava suvratā nāmnā satyavatī nāma ṛcīke pratipāditā And I have an elder sister, O Rāghava, of firm vows, Satyavatī by name; she was given in marriage to Ṛcīka. **1.33.8** saśarīrā gatā svargaṃ bhartāram anuvartinī kauśikī paramodārā sā pravṛttā mahānadī Following her husband, she went to heaven in her very body; and that most noble one flowed forth as the great river Kauśikī. **1.33.9** divyā puṇyodakā ramyā himavantam upāśritā lokasya hitakāmārthaṃ pravṛttā bhaginī mama Divine, of holy waters, lovely, resting against the Himālaya, my sister flowed forth for the welfare and good of the world. **1.33.10** tato 'haṃ himavatpārśve vasāmi niyataḥ sukham bhaginyāḥ snehasaṃyuktaḥ kauśikyā raghunandana Therefore I dwell contentedly and self-controlled on the flank of the Himālaya, bound by affection for my sister Kauśikī, O delight of the Raghus. **1.33.11** sā tu satyavatī puṇyā satye dharme pratiṣṭhitā pativratā mahābhāgā kauśikī saritāṃ varā And that holy Satyavatī, established in truth and dharma, devoted to her husband, greatly blessed, became Kauśikī, the best of rivers. **1.33.12** ahaṃ hi niyamād rāma hitvā tāṃ samupāgataḥ siddhāśramam anuprāpya siddho 'smi tava tejasā For I, O Rāma, out of my discipline, left her and came here; and having reached Siddhāśrama, I have attained my end through your might. **1.33.13** eṣā rāma mamotpattiḥ svasya vaṃśasya kīrtitā deśasya ca mahābāho yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi This, Rāma, is the account I have given of my own origin and lineage, and of the region, O mighty-armed one, about which you asked me. **1.33.14** gato 'rdharātraḥ kākutstha kathāḥ kathayato mama nidrām abhyehi bhadraṃ te mā bhūd vighno 'dhvanīha naḥ Midnight has passed, O Kākutstha, as I have been telling these tales; go to sleep — blessings on you — let there be no hindrance to our journey here. **1.33.15** niṣpandās taravaḥ sarve nilīnā mṛgapakṣiṇaḥ naiśena tamasā vyāptā diśaś ca raghunandana All the trees are motionless, the beasts and birds have settled to rest, and the quarters are wrapped in the darkness of night, O delight of the Raghus. **1.33.16** śanair viyujyate saṃdhyā nabho netrair ivāvṛtam nakṣatratārāgahanaṃ jyotirbhir avabhāsate Slowly the twilight fades; the sky, as if covered with eyes, dense with constellations and stars, shines with its lights. **1.33.17** uttiṣṭhati ca śītāṃśuḥ śaśī lokatamonudaḥ hlādayan prāṇināṃ loke manāṃsi prabhayā vibho And the cool-rayed moon rises, dispeller of the world's darkness, gladdening with its light the hearts of living beings in the world, O lord. **1.33.18** naiśāni sarvabhūtāni pracaranti tatas tataḥ yakṣarākṣasasaṃghāś ca raudrāś ca piśitāśanāḥ All the creatures of the night roam here and there, and the throngs of yakṣas and rākṣasas, fierce and flesh-eating. **1.33.19** evam uktvā mahātejā virarāma mahāmuniḥ sādhu sādhv iti taṃ sarve munayo hy abhyapūjayan Having spoken thus, the great sage of great splendour fell silent; and all the sages honoured him, crying “Well done, well done!” **1.33.20** rāmo 'pi saha saumitriḥ kiṃ cid āgatavismayaḥ praśasya muniśārdūlaṃ nidrāṃ samupasevate Rāma too, together with Saumitri, somewhat wonder-struck, having praised the tiger among sages, gave himself to sleep.