Upon successfully completing their task, Rama and Lakshmana retired for the night at Siddhashram, their hearts filled with deep satisfaction. At dawn, after performing the morning rites, they approached Sage Vishvamitra and, with folded hands, spoke, “We stand ready to serve you. Command us with whatever task you see fit, and we shall fulfill it without delay.”
At that moment, the sages of the ashram gathered around Vishvamitra. Pleased by the reverent and harmonious atmosphere, they sought his permission to speak. They said, “O revered sage, there is a sacred ritual, a Mahayaga, being conducted by King Janaka of Mithila. We have all decided to attend this holy event and also wish for your presence.”
Vishvamitra then addressed Rama, “O Rama, in the land of Mithila, there exists a great divine bow of unmatched strength and grandeur. Neither gods, demons, nor giants have managed to wield it. It is a relic from the many Yajnas conducted by King Devaratha, who received it as a boon from the gods. It now resides with King Janaka, revered by him and his people. You will have the opportunity to witness this magnificent artifact.”
Expressing his readiness, Vishvamitra led the gathering, and they all set forth enthusiastically. He walked thrice around the ashram in circumambulation and, with folded hands, offered prayers to the goddess of the forest, expressing his gratitude. “This sacred Siddhashram has been the fulfillment of my life’s ambition, where I completed the rarest Yajna. May it always flourish.”
Vishvamitra then led the entourage northward, accompanied by Rama, Lakshmana, and over a hundred sages in carts. As they traveled, Vishvamitra noticed with astonishment a gathering of animals and birds silently following the procession. Rising, he commanded them to return to their natural habitats, reminding them that aimless migration goes against the principles of nature. Obediently, they yielded to his words and returned to Siddhashram.
By evening, they reached the banks of the Sona River. After completing their evening rituals, Rama sat before Vishvamitra and expressed, “O sage, every tale you share is a celebration for our minds and ears. This place abounds with life, offering a rare beauty and tranquility. Please tell us how it attained such splendor.”
Vishvamitra, pleased with Rama’s inquisitive and humble nature, began his narration. “O Rama, once there was a divine sage, Brahma Kumara Kusa, celebrated for his virtues. He married a princess from Vidarbha, and together they had four illustrious sons—Kusamba, Kusanabha, Adhurtharajas, and Vasu. Entrusting each with the duty of virtuous governance, Kusa bade them to establish their kingdoms.
“Kusamba built Kausambi; Kusanabha founded Mahodaya; Adhurtharajas established Dharmaranya; and Vasu built Mahabhudaya. Each kingdom flourished with wealth and glory. This very land we stand upon is the kingdom of Vasu, rich with fertile plains fed by the Sona River, which flows from Magadha, encircling five mountains like a garland. It supports a diverse array of flora and fauna, reflecting nature’s magnificence.”
As Vishvamitra continued, he narrated the story of Kusanabha’s daughters. “Rajarshi Kusanabha, the king of Mahodaya, married a celestial beauty and was blessed with a hundred daughters, each a miniature goddess, brimming with beauty and skill. One day, while they frolicked in the royal gardens, the God of Wind appeared and, enchanted by their beauty, addressed them, ‘O fair ones, beauty and youth are fleeting. Marry me, and I shall bestow upon you eternal youth and divine joy.’
“The maidens replied with grace, ‘O Lord of Wind, we honor you as an inner presence within all beings, yet it is unseemly for you to address us thus. We are daughters of King Kusanabha, and only he has the right to choose our husbands. We refrain from acting against our father’s wishes.’ Offended, the Wind God unleashed his power upon them, cursing them with hunchbacks.
“When they returned to the palace and explained their plight, their father reassured them, ‘You acted wisely, my daughters. Patience and restraint are virtues that underpin the universe itself. It is as noble as kindness, sacrifice, truth, and glory. Worry not; your virtue shall be your salvation.’ Soon after, Kusanabha received a proposal from King Brahmadatta of Kampilya, born of divine lineage from the sage Chuli and the celestial Urmila’s daughter, Somada.”
As Vishvamitra narrated, he continued, “King Kusanabha offered his daughters in marriage to Brahmadatta. The moment he touched their hands during the ritual, their natural beauty returned, and they were freed from the curse. Married with grandeur, the daughters left for Kampilya, blessed by both their father and his royal counselors to live splendid lives.”
As the night descended, the travelers rested along the banks of the Sona, their hearts filled with the stories of wisdom and virtue, in the gentle embrace of nature’s beauty.
