Adorned with the freshness of youth and radiant beauty, the hundred daughters of King Kuśanābha entered the palace gardens, their splendor rivaling the brilliance of a hundred rivers swelling in the rains. Their laughter mingled with the melodies of song and the rhythms of dance, and the air was alive with the music of their instruments. Decked in exquisite ornaments, they moved gracefully through the groves, their hearts overflowing with delight. Each maiden, flawless in every limb and unmatched in loveliness upon the earth, shone among her companions like stars scattered across drifting clouds. As they wandered, the mighty wind-god, lord of all beings, beheld them—so virtuous, so beautiful, so youthful—and addressed them with these words: "I desire you all. Become my wives. Give up your human condition, and you shall enjoy long life. Among mortals, youth is fleeting, but with me, you will possess unfading youth and immortality." The hundred maidens, hearing these words of the wind-god—whose power is effortless—burst into laughter and replied, "O best of the gods, you move within all beings, and all are aware of your might. Why, then, do you disregard us? We are the daughters of Kuśanābha, O divine one. Through our austerities, we protect ourselves and our place in the world. Do not bring dishonor to our truthful father. We follow our duty, and it is he who will choose a husband for us. Our father is our lord and our highest deity; whomever he gives us to, that one shall be our husband." Hearing their steadfast words, the wind-god, Hari, was overcome with anger. In his wrath, he entered the bodies of the hundred maidens and twisted them, breaking their forms so that they shrank to the size of a finger. Terrified and afflicted, the once-radiant daughters hurried to their father's palace, their modesty and sorrow plain on their tear-filled faces. When King Kuśanābha saw his beloved daughters thus broken and distressed, his heart filled with anguish. He asked them, "What has happened, my daughters? Who has acted unrighteously? Who has caused you all to be thus deformed? You move about, but do not speak." Gathering themselves, the hundred maidens bowed at their father's feet and spoke: "O king, the wind, who pervades all, sought to violate us, turning from the path of righteousness. We are under your authority, blessed one, not independent. We told him to seek your permission; if you gave us to him, then we would be his. But he did not heed our words and, bound to sin, struck us all with his power." Hearing their account, the wise and illustrious king replied with great compassion, "Patience is the highest duty of the forbearing, my daughters. You have acted together and preserved our family’s honor. Adornment is the ornament of women, but patience is the ornament of men; yet such steadfastness is rare even among the gods. The patience you have shown is itself charity, truth, and sacrifice. It is the foundation of fame and righteousness, and indeed, the world rests upon patience." Having thus comforted his daughters, the king, mighty and wise, consulted with his ministers about finding worthy husbands for them, considering the right time, place, and suitor. At that time, a radiant sage named Cūlī, steadfast in his vows and renowned for his virtue, was performing intense austerities. In his service was Somadā, a Gandharva maiden and daughter of Ūrmilā, who attended him with devotion. Pleased by her dedication, the sage said, "I am satisfied with you. Tell me, what can I do to bring you happiness?" With gentle words, Somadā replied, "O sage, blessed with Brahmanical splendor, I desire a righteous son endowed with your penance. I am without a husband and have approached you in purity; grant me a son through your Brahmanical power." The sage, pleased with her request, granted her a son born of his mind—Brahmadatta, son of Cūlī, who would become a king of great splendor and reside in the city of Kāmpilya, shining like the lord of the gods in heaven. King Kuśanābha, learning of this virtuous and illustrious king, resolved to give his hundred daughters to Brahmadatta. Summoning him, Kuśanābha joyfully offered all his daughters in marriage. Brahmadatta, in due order, accepted their hands, as the lord of the gods would accept his consorts. At the very touch of Brahmadatta’s hand, the deformity and affliction left the maidens. Their beauty was restored, surpassing even its former brilliance, and they shone with supreme radiance. Seeing his daughters thus freed from their suffering and restored to grace, King Kuśanābha was filled with immense joy, his heart rejoicing again and again.