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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कस्त्वं किं वर्तसे ब्रह्मन् ज्ञातुमिच्छामहे वयम्। एकस्त्वं विजने घोरे वने चरसि शंस न:।। 1.10.12।।
Meaning
"Who are you, O brahmin? How do you live here? We wish to know why you roam alone in this dreadful forest — tell us."
अदृष्टरूपास्तास्तेन काम्यरूपा वने स्त्रिय:। हार्दात्तस्य मतिर्जाता व्याख्यातुं पितरं स्वकम्।।1.10.13।।
Meaning
He had never before seen such charming forms in the forest; affection sprang up in him, and he felt moved to speak of his own father.
पिता विभण्डकोऽस्माकं तस्याहं सुत औरस:। ऋश्यशृङ्ग इति ख्यातं नाम कर्म च मे भुवि।।1.10.14।।
Meaning
"Vibhandaka is our father, and I am his own son. My name, known the world over on account of my birth, is Rishyasringa."
इहाश्रमपदोऽस्माकं समीपे शुभदर्शना:। करिष्ये वोऽत्र पूजां वै सर्वेषां विधिपूर्वकम्।।1.10.15।।
Meaning
"Our hermitage is nearby, O fair ones — I shall offer you due hospitality there, according to custom."
ऋषिपुत्रवचश्श्रुत्वा सर्वासां मतिरास वै। तदाश्रमपदं द्रष्टुं जग्मुस्सर्वाश्च तेन ता:।। 1.10.16।।
Meaning
On hearing the sage's son speak, all the women grew eager to see the hermitage, and they all went there with him.
आगतानां तत: पूजामृषिपुत्रश्चकार ह। इदमर्घ्यमिदं पाद्यमिदं मूलमिदं फलं च न:।।1.10.17।।
Meaning
On their arrival, the sage's son offered them hospitality, saying: "Here is water for your feet, here are roots, and here are fruits for us."
प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां सर्वा एव समुत्सुका:। ऋषेर्भीताश्च शीघ्रं ता गमनाय मतिं दधु:।।1.10.18।।
Meaning
Accepting the offering eagerly, but afraid of the return of his father, they resolved to leave at once.
अस्माकमपि मुख्यानि फलानीमानि वै द्विज । गृहाण प्रति भद्रं ते भक्षयस्व च मा चिरम्।।1.10.19।।
Meaning
"O brahmin, here are excellent fruits of ours too — accept them, may you prosper, and eat them without delay."
ततस्तास्तं समालिङ्ग्य सर्वा हर्षसमन्विता:। मोदकान्प्रददुस्तस्मै भक्ष्यांश्च विविधान् बहून्।।1.10.20।।
Meaning
Then, embracing him joyfully, all the women gave him plentiful sweetmeats and various delicacies.
तानि चास्वाद्य तेजस्वी फलानीति स्म मन्यते। अनास्वादितपूर्वाणि वने नित्यनिवासिनाम्।।1.10.21।।
Meaning
That lustrous sage tasted them and, having never tasted anything but what forest-dwellers offered, mistook them for fruits.