Individual verses with meanings
Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirty fourth sarga of the bAlakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
In this sarga, sage viSwAmitra continues the narration of the evolution of the kuSIka clan and how he was born.
O rAghava (rAma), having offered his hundred daughters in marriage to king brahmadatta, kuSanAbha wanted a heir for this throne and started performing the putrakAmEshTi yajna (son-bestowing yajna). As the yajna proceeded, kuSa the magnanimous son of brahma and the father of kuSanAbha foretold him that a highly illustrious son will be born to him. The son will be akin to father in every way, be righteous and bring lasting fame to him. With that soothsaying kuSa left for the eternal brahmalOka through the skies. After sometime, a righteous son by name gAdhi was born to the wise kuSanAbha. O rAma, know that the pious gAdhi is my father and being born in the clan of kuSikas, I am known as kauSika.
I had an elder sister by name satyavati who was a stickler to vows and was given in marriage to RchIka. My sister ascended bodily to the heavens along with her husband and flowed down generously from there in the form a river. She took refuge with her waters in the himavAth mountain and flowed down from there for the good of the world. My sister kauSiki (aka satyavati), is ever established in truth and righteousness, of splendid character and the best among rivers. I dwell near the himavath mountain in the warm company of my sister. In order to perform the yajna, I left her behind and came to sidhhASrama. Through your splendid valor I fulfilled my desire. O rAma, these are the details of my birth, my clan and this place which you inquired about.
O kAkutstha (another name for rAma being the descendant of king kakutstha of the ikshvAku clan), night is upon us as I kept narrating my stories. Please go to sleep now and let there be no obstacles on our way. Birds and beasts have gone silent while the trees are motionless, darkness has pervaded all the directions. Evening has disappeared gently and given way to a sky filled with shining stars that feel like the eyes of the sky! The moon is rising and spreading its cool darkness dispelling moonlight over the world delighting the minds of all beings. The nocturnals such as the demons, yakshas and the dreadful flesh-eaters have come out and roaming hither and thither.
With these words, sage viSwAmitra retired for the night. The sages who were listening to this account all hailed the brahmarshi viSwAmitra, his lineage and their commitment to dharma. They worshiped the sage saying “O lord, you’re verily like lord brahma and kauSiki, your generous sister brightens up the reputation of your lineage”. Thus adored by the accompanying sages, viSwAmitra retired which was akin to the setting of the bright Sun.
Princes rAma and lakshmaNa also were amazed to the learn about the history of viSwAmitra and slipped in to sleep as they were filled with admiration.
Jai Sri Ram
Here we conclude the thirtyfourth sarga of the bAla kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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