After speaking his words, the illustrious sage Kauśika, renowned for his austerity and revered as a tiger among sages, set forth toward the northern direction. As the great sage departed, he was accompanied by a host of followers—devotees of the Vedas—who walked with him for a distance equal to a hundred carts. Alongside them, groups of deer and birds, residents of the sacred Siddhāśrama, followed the great-souled, austere Viśvāmitra on his journey. Eventually, after traveling a considerable distance and as the sun began to set, the assembly of seers and the birds turned back, leaving Viśvāmitra and his companions to continue onward. With the day’s end, they performed their ritual baths and made offerings into the sacred fire. Then, led by Viśvāmitra, those of immeasurable energy sat down to rest. Rāma, together with Saumitri, respectfully honored the sages and sat before the wise Viśvāmitra. Filled with curiosity and radiant with might, Rāma addressed the sage, asking, “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 amidst the gathering of seers, the virtuous Viśvāmitra began to narrate the history of the land. He spoke: “There was a great ascetic named Kuśa, born from Brahma himself. Steadfast in his vows, a knower of righteousness, and honored by the virtuous, Kuśa was endowed with immense strength. With a noble and virtuous woman from Vidarbha, he begot four worthy sons: Kuśāmba, Kuśanābha, Asūrtarajas, and Vasu. Each was 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, these four noble princes each established their own cities. Kuśāmba, of great splendor, founded the city of Kauśāmbī. Kuśanābha, righteous in soul, established Mahodaya. Asūrtarajas founded Dharmāraṇya, and Vasu, the ruler, founded the excellent city of Girivraja. O Rāma, this land here belongs to Vasu, the great soul, and these five excellent mountains shine all around. The delightful river Sumāgadhī, famed among the Māgadhas, flows here, gracing the midst of these five chief mountains like a garland. This is the Māgadhī river of the great Vasu, long frequented, fertile, and abundant with crops. Kuśanābha, the royal sage and righteous 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. 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 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 the wind-god’s words, 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 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 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.’ Hearing their words, the god Hari, greatly enraged, entered all their bodies and broke them, reducing their forms 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, the king, greatly 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.’ 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. Because he did not accept our words, bound to sin, and as we spoke thus, we were all struck harshly by the wind.