Having completed his purpose at Siddhāśrama, the illustrious sage Kauśika, renowned as Viśvāmitra and a tiger among sages, bid farewell to all assembled. With his austerities fulfilled, he declared, “Farewell to you all; I shall go, accomplished, from Siddhāśrama to the northern bank of the Jāhnavī, to the rocky heights of the Himālayas.” Thus resolved, the sage, radiant with ascetic power, began his journey northward. As Viśvāmitra departed, a great host of followers accompanied him, stretching for a distance that would fit a hundred carts. These were men deeply devoted to the Vedas, eager to walk in the company of the sage. Alongside them, groups of deer and birds—gentle inhabitants of Siddhāśrama—followed the great-souled Viśvāmitra, drawn by his purity and austerity. After traveling a long distance, as the sun began to set, the assembly of seers and the birds turned back, returning to Siddhāśrama. With twilight descending, the travelers bathed and performed sacred fire offerings. Led by Viśvāmitra, those of immeasurable energy settled down for the evening. Rāma, accompanied by his brother Saumitri, respectfully honored the sages and took his seat before the wise Viśvāmitra. Then, filled with curiosity, Rāma, radiant and mighty, addressed 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.” Viśvāmitra, surrounded by the assembly of seers, responded to Rāma’s inquiry with a detailed narration about the land. He began, “There was a great ascetic named Kuśa, born from Brahma himself. Steadfast in his vows, Kuśa was a knower of righteousness, honored by the virtuous. This great soul, 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 righteous and truthful sons: ‘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 Kauśāmbī; Kuśanābha, righteous in soul, established Mahodaya; Asūrtarajas founded Dharmāraṇya; and Vasu established the excellent city of Girivraja. O Rāma, this land before us belongs to Vasu, the great soul. Here, five excellent mountains shine all around, and the delightful river Sumāgadhī, famed among the Māgadhas, flows through these mountains like a garland. This, O Rāma, is the Māgadhī river of the great Vasu, fertile and abundant with crops, long frequented by those who dwell here. Kuśanābha, the royal sage, righteous in soul, begot a hundred incomparable daughters with Ghṛtācī, O descendant of Raghu. These maidens, adorned with youth and beauty, splendidly decorated, entered the garden grounds like a hundred rivers in the rainy season. Singing, dancing, and playing instruments, O Rāghava, adorned with fine ornaments, they experienced supreme delight. Those maidens, beautiful in every limb and unmatched in form on earth, entered the gardens like stars among the clouds. Seeing all these maidens, endowed with virtue, beauty, and youth, the wind-god, lord of all beings, approached 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 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? We are daughters of Kuśanābha, O best of the gods. 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 own duty, seek a husband through him. For our father is our lord and our highest deity; whoever our father gives us to, he shall be our husband.’ Upon hearing their words, the god Hari, greatly enraged, entered all their bodies and broke them, the blessed lord, the powerful one. Their bodies, shattered by the wind, were reduced to the size of a finger. Terrified, the maidens entered the king’s house, agitated and modest, their eyes filled with tears. Seeing his beloved daughters broken and distressed, King Kuśanābha was greatly troubled. He spoke: ‘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.’ Thus the king, sighing deeply, 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, O blessed one; we are not independent. Choose our father; if he gives us to you, then we are yours.’ Thus, Viśvāmitra narrated the story of the land, its noble lineage, and the trials of Kuśanābha’s daughters to Rāma and the assembly of sages.