Sarga 10: How Rishyasringa Was Brought to Anga
Rishyasringa Anayanam
Sumantra narrates in full how courtesans lured the innocent sage Rishyasringa out of his forest hermitage to Anga, ending the kingdom's drought and winning him marriage to Princess Shanta.
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सुमन्त्रश्चोदितो राज्ञा प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा। यथर्श्यशृङ्गस्त्वानीत श्श्रुणु मे मन्त्रिभिस्सह।।1.10.1।।
Meaning
Thus prompted by the king, Sumantra said: "Listen, along with your ministers, to how Rishyasringa was brought here."
रोमपादमुवाचेदं सहामात्य: पुरोहित:। उपायो निरपायोऽयमस्माभिरभिचिन्तित:।। 1.10.2।।
Meaning
The priest, together with the ministers, said to Romapada: "We have devised a plan that will not fail."
ऋश्यशृङ्गो वनचरस्तपस्स्वाध्ययने रत:। अनभिज्ञस्स नारीणां विषयाणां सुखस्य च।१।१०।३॥
Meaning
"Rishyasringa dwells in the forest, absorbed in penance and study of the Vedas; he knows nothing of women or the pleasures of the senses."
इन्द्रियार्थैरभिमतैर्नरचित्तप्रमाथिभि: । पुरमानाययिष्याम: क्षिप्रं चाध्यवसीयताम्।। 1.10.4।।
Meaning
"With sensuous objects that overpower the minds of men, we shall induce him to come to the city — let this be decided at once."
गणिकास्तत्र गच्छन्तु रूपवत्यस्स्वलङ्कृता:। प्रलोभ्य विविधोपायैरानेष्यन्तीह सत्कृता:।।1.10.5।।
Meaning
"Let beautiful, richly adorned courtesans go there; tempting him by various means, let them respectfully bring him back."
श्रुत्वा तथेति राजा च प्रत्युवाच पुरोहितम्। पुरोहितो मन्त्रिणश्च तथा चक्रुश्च ते तदा।।1.10.6।।
Meaning
On hearing this, the king approved, telling the priest "Let it be so," and the priest and ministers acted accordingly.
वारमुख्याश्च तच्छ्रुत्वा वनं प्रविविशुर्महत्। आश्रमस्याविदूरेऽस्मिन् यत्नं कुर्वन्ति दर्शने।।1.10.7।। ऋषिपुत्रस्य धीरस्य नित्यमाश्रमवासिन:।
Meaning
On hearing this, the finest courtesans entered the great forest and, camping not far from the hermitage, sought a glimpse of that self-controlled hermit's son who always dwelt there.
पितुस्सनित्यसन्तुष्टो नातिचक्राम चाश्रमात्।।1.10.8।। न तेन जन्मप्रभृति दृष्टपूर्वं तपस्विना। स्त्री वा पुमान्वा यच्चान्यत्सर्वं नगरराष्ट्रजम्।। 1.10.9।।
Meaning
Always content, he never strayed from his father's hermitage; absorbed in penance, he had never from birth seen a woman, a man, or anything else born of towns or kingdoms.
तत: कदाचित्तं देशमाजगाम यदृच्छया। विभण्डकसुतस्तत्र ताश्चापश्यद्वराङ्गना:।।1.10.10।।
Meaning
One day, by chance, the son of Vibhandaka wandered to that spot and saw those beautiful women.
ताश्चित्रवेषा: प्रमदा गायन्त्यो मधुरस्वरा:। ऋषिपुत्रमुपागम्य सर्वा वचनमब्रुवन्।। 1.10.11।।
Meaning
Those women, wondrously attired and singing in sweet voices, approached the sage's son and spoke to him.