After the sages had spoken among themselves, all the great seers, led by Vishvamitra, turned to Rama and addressed him with reverence. “O best of men,” they said, “Janaka, the king of Mithila, is about to perform a most righteous sacrifice. Let us journey there together.” They invited Rama, calling him “tiger among men,” to join them, for he was worthy to behold a wondrous and precious bow kept in Mithila. This bow, they explained, had once been presented in the divine assembly by the gods themselves—a bow of immeasurable power and terrifying strength, shining supremely at the sacrifice. No god, gandharva, asura, rākṣasa, nor any human had ever succeeded in stringing it. Many mighty princes had tried, hoping to prove their strength, but none had succeeded. The bow belonged to the great-souled king of Mithila, and the sages told Rama that there he would witness both the bow and the marvelous sacrifice. The king of Mithila had requested the bow as the fruit of his sacrifice, and he was ever praised by all the gods. This supreme bow was kept in the king’s palace as a sacred object, honored with fragrant offerings and incense of aguru wood. Having spoken thus, the great sage Vishvamitra prepared to depart, together with the assembly of seers and Rama, the descendant of Kakutstha, after bidding farewell to the forest dwellers. “Farewell to you all; I shall go, accomplished, from Siddhāśrama to the northern bank of the Jāhnavī, to the rocky heights of the Himalayas,” Vishvamitra declared. With these words, the tiger among sages, Kauśika (Vishvamitra), rich in austerity, set out toward the north. As he departed, a host of followers accompanied him—a distance of a hundred carts—those devoted to the Vedas. Groups of deer and birds, dwellers of Siddhāśrama, followed the great-souled, austere Vishvamitra. After traveling a long distance, as the sun began to set, the assembly of seers and the birds turned back. When the sun had set, the sages bathed and performed their fire offerings. Led by Vishvamitra, those of immeasurable energy sat down to rest. Rama, together with Saumitri (Lakshmana), having duly honored the sages, sat before the wise Vishvamitra. Filled with curiosity, Rama, radiant and mighty, questioned the sage: “Revered one, what is this land, adorned with flourishing forests? I wish to hear—may it be well with you—please tell me truly.” Thus addressed, the virtuous sage Vishvamitra, amidst the assembly of seers, began to narrate everything about the land. He spoke of a great ascetic named Kuśa, born from Brahma, steadfast in his vows, a knower of righteousness, and honored by the virtuous. Kuśa, endowed with immense strength, begot four worthy sons with a noble and virtuous woman from Vidarbha. Their names were Kuśāmba, Kuśanābha, Asūrtarajas, and Vasu—radiant, energetic, and intent on upholding the duties of the warrior class. Kuśa addressed his sons, who were righteous and truthful, saying, “My sons, govern well; by upholding righteousness, you will obtain great merit.” Hearing their father’s words, the four noble princes each established their own cities. Kuśāmba, of great splendor, founded the city of Kauśāmbī; Kuśanābha, righteous in soul, established the city of Mahodaya. Asūrtarajas founded the city called Dharmāraṇya, and Vasu founded the excellent city of Girivraja. Vishvamitra pointed out to Rama, “O Rama, this land of Vasu, the great soul, is here; and these five excellent mountains shine all around.” The delightful river Sumāgadhī, famed among the Māgadhas, flowed there, gracing the midst of these five chief mountains like a garland. “This, O Rama, is the Māgadhī river of the great Vasu, long frequented, fertile, and abundant with crops,” Vishvamitra explained. He continued, telling Rama that Kuśanābha, the royal sage, righteous in soul, had begot a hundred incomparable daughters with Ghṛtācī. These daughters, adorned with youth and beauty, splendidly decorated, entered the garden grounds like a hundred rivers in the rainy season. Singing, dancing, and playing instruments, adorned with fine ornaments, they enjoyed supreme delight. Beautiful in every limb and unmatched in form on earth, they entered the gardens like stars among the clouds. Seeing all these maidens, endowed with every virtue, beauty, and youth, the wind-god, lord of all beings, spoke to them: “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 you will obtain unfading youth and become immortal.” Hearing these words of the wind-god, whose actions are effortless, the hundred maidens laughed and replied, “O best of the gods, you move within all beings; all are aware of your power. Why, then, do you disregard us? O divine one, we are all daughters of Kuśanābha, O best of the gods. We practice austerity to protect ourselves from being removed from our proper place, O god.” Thus, Vishvamitra narrated the ancient history of the land, its noble rulers, and the virtues of its inhabitants to Rama, illuminating the sacred lineage and the wondrous stories of the region through which they journeyed.