Having joyfully married his daughters, the noble king arranged for Brahmadatta, accompanied by his new wives and guided by revered teachers, to set forth on his journey. Somadā, witnessing her son’s virtuous conduct, and the Gandharva maiden, following the proper customs, warmly welcomed their daughters-in-law with affection, touching them and offering praises to Kuśanābha for his wisdom and righteousness. Now, listen to the next part of the tale. After Brahmadatta’s marriage and departure, O Rāghava, King Kuśanābha, who was yet without a son, performed a grand sacrifice, yearning for a child and a grandson to continue his line. As the sacred rites proceeded, the supremely noble sage Kuśa, son of Brahmā, appeared before Kuśanābha and spoke graciously: “O son, a righteous child, equal to yourself in virtue, will be born to you. Through him, you shall have Gādhi and your fame will be everlasting in this world.” Having thus blessed Kuśanābha, Kuśa ascended into the sky and returned to the eternal realm of Brahmā. In due course, to the wise Kuśanābha was born a supremely righteous son, Gādhi by name. O scion of Kakutstha, that Gādhi, noble and virtuous, is my father; I am Kauśika, born in the illustrious lineage of Kuśa, O joy of the Raghu race. My elder sister, steadfast in virtue, is called Satyavatī. She was given in marriage to the sage Ṛcīka. That supremely noble Satyavatī, following her husband with unwavering devotion, ascended bodily to heaven and became the great river Kauśikī. Divine, pure, and beautiful, she graces the Himalayas, flowing for the welfare of the world. Thus, I dwell contentedly beside the Himalayas, united in affection with my sister Kauśikī, O delight of the Raghus. Satyavatī, established in truth and righteousness, devoted to her husband and greatly fortunate, became Kauśikī, the foremost of rivers. Indeed, O Rāma, through my vows I left her side and came here to Siddhāśrama, perfected by your own energy. O Rāma, this is the account of my birth, my lineage, and this land, as you have asked, mighty one. Now, O descendant of Kakutstha, the night has passed as I have shared these stories with you; seek your rest now, may good fortune be yours, and may nothing hinder our journey. All the trees stand motionless, the wild animals and birds have retreated, and the quarters of the sky are shrouded in darkness. Twilight fades away, and the heavens, adorned with stars and constellations, shine softly. The cool-rayed moon rises, dispelling the world’s darkness and delighting all creatures with its gentle light. Night-dwelling beings move about, as do hosts of yakṣas, rākṣasas, and fierce, flesh-eating spirits. Having thus spoken, the great sage of immense brilliance fell silent. All the sages honored him, exclaiming, “Excellent, excellent!” They praised the greatness of the Kuśika lineage, ever devoted to righteousness, and the noble descendants of Kuśa, foremost among men, comparable to Brahmā. Especially you, illustrious Viśvāmitra, are renowned, and Kauśikī, the best of rivers, brings glory to your line. Praised by the delighted sages, the glorious son of Kuśika entered into sleep, like the sun setting at day’s end. Rāma, together with Saumitri, marveled at the sage, praised him, and then also took rest. When the night had passed, and the dawn grew bright on the banks of the Śoṇa, Viśvāmitra addressed them: “The night is over, Rāma; the early dawn is here. Rise, rise, may all be well with you—prepare for our journey.” Hearing his words, and having performed their morning rites, Rāma was eager to depart and asked, “This Śoṇa river is beautiful, with pure, deep waters and sandy banks. By which path, O sage, shall we cross?” Viśvāmitra replied, “This is the path I have shown, the way the great sages travel.” So, guided by the wise Viśvāmitra, the company of sages proceeded, observing the various forests along their way. After traveling a great distance, when half the day had passed, they beheld the Jāhnavī, the foremost of rivers, frequented by sages. Seeing that sacred river, home to swans and cranes, all the sages, along with Rāghava, were filled with joy. On its banks, they arranged their lodging, bathed according to custom, and offered oblations to their ancestors and the deities. Having performed the fire rituals and partaken of offerings as sweet as nectar, they settled contentedly on the auspicious bank of the Jāhnavī. Surrounding the great-souled Viśvāmitra, the sages and the Rāghavas sat properly. Rāma, his mind delighted, addressed Viśvāmitra: “Revered one, I wish to hear about Gaṅgā, the river that traverses three realms. How did she, after conquering the three worlds, become the lord of rivers?” Thus prompted by Rāma’s words, the great sage Viśvāmitra began to recount the sacred origin and birth of Gaṅgā.