King Kuśanābha, seeing his hundred daughters moving about in silence, was deeply troubled. He sighed and asked them with concern, “What is this, my daughters? Tell me—who has disregarded righteousness and caused you all to be afflicted like this? You move about but do not speak.” Gathering his composure, the king awaited their reply. The hundred maidens, wise and gentle, touched their father’s feet with their heads and spoke with reverence: “O king, the wind, who pervades all, sought to violate us, acting unrighteously and disregarding dharma. We are under our father’s authority and not independent, O blessed one. We told him to seek your permission, saying, ‘If our father gives us to you, then we are yours.’ But the wind did not accept our words and, bound by sin, struck us all harshly as we spoke thus.” Hearing their words, King Kuśanābha, radiant with righteousness, addressed his daughters with gentle wisdom: “Patience, my daughters, is the greatest duty of those who are forbearing. You have acted in unity and preserved our lineage. While adornment is for women, patience is for men; yet such forbearance is difficult even for the gods. The patience you have shown, without exception, is itself charity, truth, sacrifice, and righteousness. Patience is fame, patience is the very foundation of the world.” Having thus comforted his daughters, the king, wise in counsel, deliberated with his ministers about giving his daughters in marriage, carefully considering the right place, time, and worthy recipient. At that very time, a radiant sage named Cūlī, steadfast in celibacy and virtue, was engaged in deep austerity. Attending upon him was Somadā, a Gandharva maiden and daughter of Ūrmilā. She served the sage devotedly, and in time, her humble service pleased him. The sage said to her, “I am pleased with you. May good be yours—what shall I do for you?” Delighted, Somadā 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 am not anyone’s wife; approaching you through Brahmanical means, you alone are worthy to grant me a son.” Pleased with her request, the sage granted her a son born of his mind—a son of great virtue and Brahmanical power, named Brahmadatta. Brahmadatta grew up to be a splendid king, ruling the city of Kāmpilya with the radiance of the lord of gods. King Kuśanābha, recognizing Brahmadatta’s worth, resolved to give his hundred daughters to him. Summoning the illustrious Brahmadatta, the king joyfully gave him his daughters in marriage. Brahmadatta, in due order, took their hands, and at his touch, the hundred maidens were instantly freed from their deformity and affliction, shining forth with supreme beauty. Seeing his daughters restored, King Kuśanābha was overwhelmed with delight and rejoiced again and again. The king then sent Brahmadatta, together with his wives and accompanied by teachers, on their way. Somadā, the Gandharva maiden, joyfully welcomed her daughters-in-law, touching them and praising Kuśanābha for his virtue. After Brahmadatta and his wives had departed, King Kuśanābha, who had no son, performed a great sacrifice to obtain one and thus a grandson for the continuation of his line. As the sacrifice was underway, the supremely noble sage Kuśa, son of Brahmā, appeared and spoke to Kuśanābha: “O son, a righteous son, equal to yourself, will be born to you. Through him you will obtain Gādhi and everlasting fame in the world.” Having spoken, Kuśa ascended to the heavens and entered the eternal world of Brahmā. In due time, a supremely righteous son was born to Kuśanābha, named Gādhi. O Rāghava, that Gādhi is my father—I am Kauśika, born in the lineage of Kuśa. My elder sister, steadfast in virtue, is Satyavatī, who was given in marriage to the sage Ṛcīka. Satyavatī, noble and devoted, ascended to heaven in her own body and became the great river Kauśikī, pure and divine, flowing from the Himalaya for the welfare of the world. Thus, I dwell happily beside the Himalaya, united in affection with my sister Kauśikī, the best of rivers, who is established in truth and righteousness and devoted to her husband.