Kuśāmba, radiant in his splendor, established the city of Kauśāmbī, while the noble-hearted Kuśanābha founded Mahodaya, a city renowned for its righteousness. Asūrtarajas, a great king, created Dharmāraṇya, and Vasu, a ruler of distinction, gave rise to the excellent city of Girivraja. O Rāma, this very land before you is the domain of the illustrious Vasu, and surrounding it shine five magnificent mountains. Through their midst flows the delightful river Sumāgadhī, celebrated among the Māgadhas, gracing the landscape like a garland woven by nature. This river, O Rāma, is the Māgadhī, cherished by Vasu, long frequented and abundant, nurturing fertile fields rich with crops. Kuśanābha, the royal sage, righteous in soul, was blessed with a hundred incomparable daughters by Ghṛtācī, O descendant of Raghu. These maidens, adorned with youth and beauty, splendidly decorated, entered the lush garden grounds together, resembling a hundred rivers swelling in the rainy season. Singing, dancing, and playing instruments, they delighted in supreme joy, their bodies adorned with fine ornaments. Like stars among clouds, these maidens, unmatched in form and beauty, entered the gardens, their radiance captivating all who beheld them. As they wandered, the wind-god, lord of all beings, beheld their virtue, beauty, and youth, and spoke: "I desire you all; you shall become my wives. Abandon your human state, and you will attain long life. Youth is fleeting among humans, but with me you will have unfading youth and immortality." Hearing these words from the wind-god, whose actions are effortless, the hundred maidens laughed gently and replied: "O best of the gods, you move within all beings; all are aware of your power. Why, then, do you disregard us? We are daughters of Kuśanābha, O divine one. We practice austerity to protect ourselves from being removed from our proper place. Let not such a time come, O misguided one, when you would dishonor our truthful father. We ourselves, following our duty, seek a husband through him. Our father is our lord and our highest deity; whoever he gives us to, he shall be our husband." Upon hearing this, the god Hari, greatly enraged, entered all their bodies and broke them, reducing their forms to the size of a finger. Terrified, the maidens returned to their father's house, agitated and modest, their eyes filled with tears. Seeing his beloved daughters broken and distressed, Kuśanābha, troubled, asked: "What is this? Tell me, daughters. Who has disregarded righteousness? By whom have you all been made crooked? You move about but do not speak." He sighed deeply, then composed himself. Hearing their father's words, the hundred maidens touched his feet with their heads and spoke: "O king, the wind, who pervades all, sought to violate us, following an unrighteous path, disregarding righteousness. We are under our father's authority; we are not independent. Choose our father; if he gives us to you, then we are yours. Because he did not accept our words and was bound to sin, we were all struck harshly by the wind." Kuśanābha, supremely righteous and radiant, replied: "Patience is the greatest duty of those who are forbearing, my daughters. You have acted in unity and preserved our lineage. Adornment is for women, but patience is for men; yet such forbearance is difficult even for the gods. Such patience as you all have shown, without exception—patience is charity, patience is truth, patience is sacrifice. Patience is fame, patience is righteousness, the world rests upon patience." Having thus addressed his daughters, the mighty king let them go. He then deliberated with his ministers about their marriages, considering the proper place, time, and suitable recipient. At that very time, a radiant sage named Cūlī, steadfast in celibacy and virtuous conduct, practiced Brahmanical austerity. Attending upon him was Somadā, a Gandharva maiden and daughter of Ūrmilā. She devoted herself to his service, dwelling righteously for a time, and her teacher became pleased with her. In due course, the sage spoke to her: "I am pleased with you. May good be yours; what shall I do to please you?" Recognizing his satisfaction, Somadā, delighted and skilled in speech, replied sweetly: "Blessed with Brahmanical splendor and austerity, O great ascetic, I desire a righteous son endowed with Brahmanical penance. I am without a husband, and not anyone's wife; having approached you through Brahmanical means, you are worthy to grant me a son." Pleased with her, the Brahmarṣi granted her an excellent Brahmanical son, born of his mind, known as Brahmadatta, son of Cūlī.