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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आपृच्छ्य च तदा विप्रं व्रतचर्यां निवेद्य च। गच्छन्ति स्मापदेशात्ता भीतास्तस्य पितुस्स्त्रिय:।।1.10.22।।
Meaning
Then those women, fearing his father, took their leave on the pretext of returning to their evening observances.
गतासु तासु सर्वासु काश्यपस्यात्मजो द्विज:। अस्वस्थहृदयश्चासीद्दु:खं स्म परिवर्तते।।1.10.23।।
Meaning
When they had all departed, the son of Kashyapa's line remained restless at heart, troubled and sorrowful.
ततोऽपरेद्युस्तं देशमाजगाम स वीर्यवान्। मनोज्ञा यत्र ता दृष्टा वारमुख्यास्स्वलङ्कृताः।।1.10.24।।
Meaning
The next day, that powerful ascetic returned to the place where he had seen those lovely, well-adorned courtesans.
दृष्ट्वैव च तास्तदा विप्रमायान्तं हृष्टमानसा:। उपसृत्य ततस्सर्वास्तास्तमूचुरिदं वच:।।1.10.25।।
Meaning
On seeing the brahmin approaching, they rejoiced, came near him, and spoke these words.
उपसृत्य ततस्सर्वास्तास्तमूचुरिदं वच:। एह्याश्रमपदं सौम्य ह्यस्माकमिति चाब्रुवन्।।1.10.26।।
Meaning
On seeing the brahmin approaching, they surrounded him joyfully and said: "Come, gentle one, to our hermitage."
चित्राण्यत्र बहूनि स्युर्मूलानि च फलानि च। तत्राप्येष विशेषेण विधिर्हि भविता ध्रुवम्।।1.10.27।।
Meaning
"There are excellent roots and fruits there too, and a special hospitality awaits you, without doubt."
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तासां सर्वासां हृदयङ्गमम्। गमनाय मतिं चक्रे तं च निन्युस्तदा स्त्रिय:।।1.10.27।।
Meaning
Hearing their pleasing words, he resolved to go with them, and the women led him away.
तत्र चानीयमाने तु विप्रे तस्मिन्महात्मनि। ववर्ष सहसा देवो जगत्प्रह्लादयंस्तदा।।1.10.28।।
Meaning
As that great soul, the brahmin, was being brought there, the rain-god suddenly poured down rain, gladdening the whole earth.
वर्षेणैवागतं विप्रं विषयं स्वं नराधिप:। प्रत्युद्गम्य मुनिं प्रह्वश्शिरसा च महीं गत:।।1.10.29।।
Meaning
Sensing that the sage had arrived with the rain, King Romapada went out to receive him, bowing his head humbly to the ground.
अर्घ्यं च प्रददौ तस्मै न्यायतस्सुसमाहित:। वव्रे प्रसादं विप्रेन्द्रान्मा विप्रं मन्युराविशेत्।।1.10.30।।
Meaning
With devoted attention he offered him proper honors, and sought his favor, that his father's anger might never fall upon him.