Ramayanam Balakanda 32nd Sarga

[Guest guest]

SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaha!

 

Visvamitra started narrating - "There was a great rishi called kuSa who was the

son of chaturmukha brahma. He was entrusted by his father with ruling the people

on earth justly. He performed many vratas without any obstacles and he ruled

honorably and advantaged good people. He married the princess of vidarbha

kingdom and had four sons who were equal to their father in virtue and valor.

Their names were kuSAmba, kuSanAbha, aadhoortarajasa, and vasuvu. They always

used to speak truth, very enthusiastic and radiated brightly with a glow. kuSa

directed them to rule the kingdom and keep dharma (righteous rule) intact in

their rule.

 

They chose four different cities as their capitals and started ruling different

regions of the kingdom. kuSAmba's capital was called kauSAmbi, kuSanAbha's

capital was called mahOdayam, aadhoortarajasa's capital was dharmaaraNyam and

Vasuvu's capital was called girivrajam. The place we are in now is ruled by

Vasuvu. Since this place is surrounded by five mountains around, it is called

girivrajam. This SONA River that flows from east to west like a garland amidst

these hills is also called as maagadhi. The land around this river is rich and

very fertile.

 

kuSanAbha married an apsarasa (divine being) called "Ghrutaachi" and had hundred

daughters. They grew up to be very beautiful. One day, they adorned themselves

beautifully and went into the gardens for a stroll. They were all decorated in

exquisite ornaments and were shining like lightening. While they were engaged in

singing and dancing and having a good time like a bunch of divine children that

accidentally come down to earth from heavens, the air-god (vaayudEva) saw them

and fell in love with them. He appeared before them and said to them - "I am in

love with you all. Because you are mortals, you can't stay young and beautiful

for a very long time. If you all marry me, you will become divine beings (deva

kaanthaas) and will stay young and beautiful forever."

 

kuSanAbha's daughters said to him - "You travel everywhere and are spread in all

the living beings. We know your power. Why do you insult us and invite trouble?

We can make you lose all your power and position, using the strength of our

thapam. But we don't want to do it. Our father is the person who always speaks

the truth (satyavaadi). We will never marry without his consent. May we never

befall the misfortune of ignoring our father's commands and marry at our wish.

We will get our husbands in swayamvaram that is lawful and right. Our father is

our ruler and our god. Whoever he brings for us will be our husband."

 

When vaayudEva heard these words, he got very angry. Because they refused him,

he removed all the air from their body and rendered them short and ugly with

crooked limbs. They all went to their father and wept out with humiliation and

fear. The king saw his beloved daughters and their plight. He got very disturbed

and asked them - "Who did this to you ? Who is the one who insulted

righteousness (dharma ) ?" The king spoke thus and waited for their response.

 

(To be continued)

 

JET Prajna.