बालकांड
चतुस्त्रिंश सर्गः

कृतोद्वाहे गते तस्मिन् ब्रह्मदत्ते च राघव ।
अपुत्रः पुत्रलाभाय पौत्रीं इष्टिमकल्पयत् ॥

Oh Rama! when Brahmadatta left after marriage , Sukanaabha who has no sons performed a sacrifice by name "Putrakameshti" to obtain sons.

इष्त्यांतु वर्तमानायां कुशनाभ महीपतिम् ।
उवाच परामोदारः कुशो ब्रह्मसुतस्तदा ॥
पुत्रस्ते सदृशः पुत्त्र भविष्यति सुधार्मिकः ।
गाधिं प्राप्यसि तेन त्वं कीर्तिं लोके च शाश्वतीम् ॥
एवमुक्त्वा कुशो राम कुशनाभं महीपतिम् ।
जगामाकाशमाविश्य ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम् ॥

When the sacrificial rites were going on , Kusa the great soul and the son of Brahma told Kusanabha as follows." You will have a son by the name Gadhi who is a follower of Dharma and who is equal to you. Because of him your fame will be permanent". O Rama ! having told this to Kusanabha Kusa then went away to ancient Brahmaloka'.

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कुशनाभस्य धीमतः ।
जज्ञे परम धर्मिष्ठो गाधिरित्येव नामतः ॥
स पिता मम काकुत् स्थ गाधिः परमधार्मिकः ।
कुशवंश प्रसूतोsस्मि कौशिको रघुनंदन ॥

After some time a son by name "Gadhi" who is a strict follower of Dharma was born to Kusanabha the enlightened one . O Raghunandana ! That Gadhi belongs to the lineage of Kakutstha , and is a strict follower of Dharma. He is my father. I was born in the line of Kusa and so I am also called "Kausika".

पूर्वजा भगिनी चापि मम राघव सुव्रता ।
नाम्ना सत्यवती नाम ऋचीके प्रतिपादिता ॥
स शरीरा गता स्वर्गं भर्तारं अनुवर्तिनी ।
कौशिकी परमोदारा प्रवृत्ता च महानदी ॥
दिव्या पुण्योदका रम्या हिमवंतं उपाश्रिता ।
लोकस्य हितकामार्थं प्रवृता भगिनी मम ॥
ततोsहं हिमत्पार्श्वे वसामि निरतः सुखम् ।
भगिन्यां स्नेहसंयुक्तः कौशिक्यां रघुनंदन ॥

O Raghava ! My sister is named Satyavati. She is married to "Ruchi". Called as Kausiki and being a follower of her husband she reached heaven with her physical body. Selfless as ever she flowed on earth as a river by name "Kausiki". Celestial , beautiful and auspicious waters of Kausiki were flowing around Himalayas. For the benefit of the world my sister took the form of a river and is flowing here. O Raghunandana ! Because of my affection for my sister, I am living in this area of Himalayas happily'`

सा तु सत्यवती पुण्या सत्ये धर्मे प्रतिष्ठिता ।
पतिव्रता महाभागा कौशिकी सरितां वर ॥
अहं हि नियमद्राम हित्वा तां समुपागतः ।
सिद्धाश्रममनुप्राप्य सिद्दोs स्मि तव तेजसा ॥
एषा राम ममोत्पत्तिः स्वस्य वंशस्य कीर्तिता ।
देशस्य च महाबाहो यन्मां त्वं परिपृछ्छसि ॥
गतोsर्धरात्रः काकुत् स्थ कथाः कथयतो मम ।
निद्रामभ्येहि भद्रं ते माभूद्विघ्नोsध्वनीह नः ॥

'That Satyavati is very pious. Truth and righteous conduct are very important to her. She is pious and great . That Kausiki river is the best among all rivers. I have come to this place to perform that sacrifice. Coming to Siddhasrama I have achieved the life purpose because of your prowess. Since you asked me I told you about this land , the fame of my lineage , and about my birth etc. During this discussion half the night has passed. You may go to sleep now So that we travel without obstructions . May you be blessed'.

निष्पंदाः तरवस्सर्वे निलीना मृगपक्षिणः ।
नैशेन तमसा व्याप्ता दिशश्च रघुनंदन ॥
शनैर्वियुज्यते संध्या नभो नेत्रैरिवावृतम् ।
नक्षत्र तारागहनं ज्योतिर्भिरवभासते ॥
उत्तिष्ठति च शीतांशुः शशी लोकतमोनुदः ।
ह्लादयन् प्राणीनां लोके मवांसि प्रभयाविभो ॥
नैशानि सर्वभूतानि प्रचरंति ततस्ततः ।
यक्षराक्षस संघाश्च रौद्राश्च पिशिताशनाः ॥

' O Raghunandana ! The trees are still. The birds and animals are asleep. The sky brightened with stars is shining brightly. O Rama ! The moon with his cool rays having removed the darkness is giving pleasure to the whole world. The night beings are moving hither and thither in the darkness of the night.

एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा विरराम महामुनिः।
साधु साद्विति तं सर्वे मनयो ह्यभ्यपूजयन् ॥
कुशिकानाम् अयं वंशो महान् धर्मपर स्सदा ।
ब्रह्मोपमा महात्मानः कुशवंश्या नरोत्तमाः ॥
विशेषेण भवानेन विश्वामित्रो महायशाः ।
कौशिकी सरितां श्रेष्ठा कुलोद्योतकरी तव ॥
इतितैर्मुनिशार्दूलैः प्रशस्तः कुशिकात्मजः ।
निद्रामुपागमत् श्रीमान् अस्तं गत इवांशुमान् ॥

Having said this that great venerable sage became silent. Then the other sages saying "well said", "well said" praised the sage Viswamitra." O great one ! the Lineage of Kusa's is great. It is support for Dharma. The persons of this lineage are all best of men , great souls who are equal to Brahman. Oh Viswamitra of great fame ! You are great in your own respect, the Kausika river too is the best among all rivers". Having thus been praised the venerable sage was delighted and got ready to sleep like the Sun which rests after reaching the western shores.

रामोs पि सह सौमित्रिः किंचिदागत विस्मयः ।
प्रशस्त्य मुनिशार्दूलं निद्रां तमुपसेवते ॥

The two brothers Rama Lakshmana too were surprised , then praising Viswamitra they also moved on to sleep.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये
बालकांडे चतुस्त्रिंशस्सर्गः ॥
समाप्तं ॥

|| Thus the thirty fourth Sarga of Balakanda in Valmiki Ramayana comes to an end ||
|| om tat sat ||

|| Om tat sat ||