Summary
Sage Vishvamitra starts to narrate Kusha's legend. Vishvamitra is the offspring of Kusha's dynasty. Brahma gives boon to Kusha to beget four sons and one among them is Kushanaabha. Kushanaabha begets a hundred daughters of excellent beauty. When Vayu, Air-God cherishes [shows affection for] them all, those girls refuse him, as they prefer an arranged marriage by their father. Then Air-God in his indignation [anger] disfigures them all.
Chapter [Sarga] 32 in Detail
brahma yonir mahaan aasiit kusho naama mahaatapaah |
aklista vrata dharmajnah sajjana prati puujakah || 1-32-1
"Once there was a highly righteous kingly sage who is the brainchild of Brahma, whose asceticism is of higher order, who has never flouted [to treat with disregard] the rules of rituals or his vows, and who revered the knower of virtue by name Kusha." Thus Sage Vishvamitra commenced narration. [1-32-1]
sa mahaatmaa kuliinaayaam yuktaayaam sumahaabalaan |
vaidarbhyaam janayaam aasa caturah sadrishaan sutaan || 1-32-2
kushaambam kushanaabham ca aasuurtarajasam vasum |
"That great-souled Kusha begot [got] four selfsame [identical] and mighty sons, namely Kusumba, Kushanaabha, Asuurtarajasa, or also called Adhuurtarajasa, and Vasu through the princess of Vidarbha, which princess is of noble birth and an eligible wife of Kusha. [1-32-2, 3a]
diipti yuktaan mahotsaahaan ksatradharma cikiirsayaa || 1-32-3
taan uvaaca kushah putraan dharmisthaan satyavaadinah |
kriyataam paalanam putraa dharma praapyatha puskalam || 1-32-4
"With an aspiration that his sons shall uphold the principles of Kshatriya-s, Kusha spoke to them who are brilliant, highly enthusiastic, virtue abiding [obeying], and the advocators of truth saying, 'establish your ruler-ship, sons, and achieve righteousness abundantly.' [1-32-3b, 4a]
kushasya vacanam shrutvaa catvaaro loka sattamaah |
nivesham cakrire sarve puraanaam nri varaah tadaa || 1-32-5
"On hearing the words of Kusha those four sons that are the formidable [impressive] ones in the world and the best men among people initiated to build four cities. [1-32-5]
kushaambah tu mahaatejaah kaushaa.mbiim akarot puriim |
kushanaabhah tu dharmaatmaa puram cakre mahodayam || 1-32-6
"Great-resplendent [shining brilliantly] Kushanaabha built the city named Kaushambii for his part, and for his part the virtue-souled Kushanaabha built a city named Mahodaya. [1-32-6]
asuurtarajaso raama dharmaaranyam mahaamatih |
cakre puravaram raajaa vasur naama girivrajam || 1-32-7
"Oh, Rama, noble-minded Asuurtarajasa built a city named Dharmaaranya, and king Vasu built a city in the name of Girivraja. [1-32-7]
esaa vasumatii naama vasoh tasya mahaatmanah |
ete shailavaraah pa.nca prakaashante sama.ntatah || 1-32-8
"This land on which we are presently staying is known as the land of virtue-souled Vasu, all around which these five best mountains are standing high. [1-32-8]
sumaagadhii nadii ramyaa maagadhaan vishrutaa aayayau |
pa.ncaanaam shaila mukhyaanaam madhye maalaa iva shobhate || 1-32-9
"This charming river that enters and exits Magadha province is well known as the worthy River Maagadhi, and flowing amid [in or into the middle] the five of these elevated mountains it shines forth like a garland enwreathing [encircling] them. [1-32-9]
saa esaa hi maagadhii raama vasoh tasya mahaatmanah |
puurva abhicaritaa raama suksetraa sasya maalinii || 1-32-10
"This Maagadhi is that river which pertains to the developmental works of the great-souled king Vasu and oh, Rama, flowing towards east to its confluence [gathering at one point] in Ganga, this river garlands best farmlands and their crops on its way. [1-32-10]
kushanaabhah tu raajarsih kanyaa shatam anuttamam |
janayaamaasa dharmaatmaa ghritaacyaam raghu na.ndana || 1-32-11
"The virtue-souled kingly saint Kushanaabha gave birth to a hundred daughters with unexcelled beauty through a celestial female called Ghritaachi. [1-32-11]
taah tu yauvana shaalinyo ruupavatyah svala.mkritaah |
udyaana bhuumim aagamya praavrisi iva shatahradaah || 1-32-12
gaaya.ntyo nrityamaanaah ca vaadaya.ntyah ca raaghava |
aamodam paramam jagmur vara aabharana bhuusitaah || 1-32-13
"Those girls when attained youthfulness they are lovely and on an occasion they have gone to gardens and moved there about like one lightning with a hundred streaks [stripes] during rainy season, and while those girls that are decorated with select ornaments are singing, dancing and playing musical instruments, they got into a fantastic felicity [something that causes happiness]. [1-32-12, 13]
atha taah caaru sarva a.ngyo ruupena apratimaa bhuvi |
udyaana bhuumim aagamya taaraa iva ghana antare || 1-32-14
"On their coming to parklands those girls whose all limbs are pretty and whose looks are unparalleled on earth, they looked like stars amid clouds within the cloudy thickets of garden bushes. [1-32-14]
taah sarvaguna sa.mpannaa ruupa yauvana sa.myutaah |
dristvaa sarvaatmako vaayur idam vacanam abraviit || 1-32-15
"On seeing them who are flourishing with all their aspects together with comeliness [having a pleasing appearance] and ripeness [fully grown and developed], the all pervading Air-God, Vayu, spoke this word to them. [1-32-15]
aham vah kaamaye sarvaa bhaaryaa mama bhavisyatha |
maanusah tyajyataam bhaavo diirgham aayur avaapsyatha || 1-32-16
“‘I have a desire for you all, hence leaving off the notions pertaining to human beings you all become my wives, thereby you too will acquire longevity like divinities. [1-32-16]
calam hi yauvanam nityam maanusesu vishesatah |
akshayam yauvanam praaptaa amaryah ca bhavisytha || 1-32-17
“‘Teenage is always transitory [of brief duration], expressly in humans, but on marrying me you will achieve undiminished youthfulness and forever you can be youthful like immortal females.' Thus Air-God said to those girls. [1-32-17]
tasya tad vacanam shrutvaa vaayoh aklista karmanah |
apahaasya tato vaakyam kanyaa shatam atha abraviit || 1-32-18
"On hearing that proposal of Vayu, the Air-God whose strives [attempts] are unimpeded, then those hundred girls spoke this sentence laughing off his proposal. [1-32-18]
antah carasi bhuutaanaam sarvesaam tvam sura sattama |
prabhaavajnaah ca te sarvaah kim artham avamanyase || 1-32-19
“‘we are aware that you inspirit all the living beings from inside, oh, the ablest [marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence] divinity, we are also aware of your uniqueness. But, what for you are dishonoring all of us. [1-32-19]
kushanaabha sutaah devam samastaa sura sattama |
sthaanaat cyaavayitum devam raksaamah tu tapo vayam || 1-32-20
“‘We are the daughters of Kushanaabha, oh, best divinity, and we are all capable of displacing you from your realm [kingdom], but oh, God, we are restraining [controlling] ourselves in doing so only to conserve our ascetic values. [1-32-20]
maa bhuut sa kaalo durmedhah pitaram satya vaadinam |
avamanyasva sva dharmena svayam varam upaasmahe || 1-32-21
‘That time shall never come, oh, God with sordid [dirty] thinking, when we, at our liberty, may look up for our grooms overlooking our veracious [truthful or honest] father.' [1-32-21]
pitaa hi prabhur asmaakam daivatam paramam ca sah |
yasya no daasyati pitaa sa no bhartaa bhavisyati || 1-32-22
‘Our father is indeed our lord and for us he is the ultimate God too. To whomever we are offered by our father in marriage he alone becomes our husband.' So said hundred girls to Air-God. [1-32-22]
taasaam tu vacanam shrutvaa harih parama kopanah |
pravishya sarva gaatraani babha.nja bhagavaan prabhuh || 1-32-23
On hearing their sentence of rejection, Vayu, the Air-God whose impact is powerful, very angrily entered into all of the limbs of those girls only to disfigure them. [1-32-23]
taah kanyaa vaayunaa bhagnaa vivishur nripateh griham |
pravishya ca susa.mbhraantaah sa lajjaah sa asra locana || 1-32-24
"Those girls whom Air-God disfigured in that way have entered palace-chambers of the king, but they have entered diffidently [shy], embarrassedly [confusion or disturbance of mind], and tearfully. [1-32-24]
sa ca taa dayitaa bhagnaah kanyaah parama shobhanaah |
dristvaa diinaah tadaa raajaa sa.mbhraa.nta idam abraviit || 1-32-25
"That king on seeing his dear and attractive daughters as disfigured and despondent girls he is highly perturbed [confused] and said this. [1-32-25]
kim idam kathyataam putryah ko dharmam avamanyate |
kub.hjaah kena kritaah sarvaah cestantyo na abhibhaasatha |
evam raajaa vinihshvasya samaadhim sa.mdadhe tatah || 1-32-26
“‘Oh, daughters, what all is this? Who disregarded probity [adherence to the highest principles and ideals]? Who disfigured you all? Let it be said! Why you gesticulate [to make gestures especially when speaking] saying nothing.' asking thus that king sighed [grieved] and quietened down waiting for a reply." Thus Sage Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-32-26]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande dvi tri.mshah sargah
Thus, this is the 32nd chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate