Sarga 9: Sumantra's Tale of Rishyasringa
Rishyasringopakhyanam
Sumantra recalls Sanatkumara's ancient prophecy: how sage Rishyasringa, raised in isolation by his father Vibhandaka, would one day end a drought in Anga and, through his grace, secure Dasaratha a son.
Jump to a shloka · 20 in this sarga
एतच्छ्रुत्वा रहस्सूतो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्। ऋत्विग्भिरुपदिष्टोऽयं पुरावृत्तो मया श्रुत:।।1.9.1।।
Meaning
Having heard of this, Sumantra the charioteer privately said to the king: "This solution advised by the officiating priests is something I have heard of long ago."
सनत्कुमारो भगवान्पूर्वं कथितवान्कथाम्। ऋषीणां सन्निधौ राजन् तव पुत्रागमं प्रति।।1.9.2।।
Meaning
"O king, the divine sage Sanatkumara once narrated, in the presence of other sages, a story concerning the coming of your sons."
काश्यपस्यतु पुत्रोऽस्ति विभण्डक इति श्रुत:। ऋष्यशृङ्ग इति ख्यातस्तस्य पुत्रो भविष्यति।।1.9.3।।
Meaning
"Kashyapa has a famous son named Vibhandaka, and it was foretold that his son would be the renowned sage Rishyasringa."
स वने नित्यसंवृद्धो मुनिर्वनचरस्सदा । नान्यं जानाति विप्रेन्द्रो नित्यं पित्रनुवर्तनात् ।।1.9.4।।
Meaning
Raised always in the forest as a forest-dweller, that foremost of brahmins would know no one but his own father, ever devoted to him.
द्वैविध्यं ब्रह्मचर्यस्य भविष्यति महात्मन:। लोकेषु प्रथितं राजन्विप्रैश्च कथितं सदा।।1.9.5।।
Meaning
"O king, that great soul would become celebrated in the worlds, ever praised by brahmins for his twofold life of celibate discipline."
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य कालस्समभिवर्तत । अग्निं शुश्रूषमाणस्य पितरं च यशस्विनम्।।1.9.6।।
Meaning
Living thus, time would pass for him as he served the fire-god and attended upon his renowned father.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु रोमपाद: प्रतापवान्। अङ्गेषु प्रथितो राजा भविष्यति महाबल:।। 1.9.7।।
Meaning
At that same time, a mighty and celebrated king named Romapada would be ruling the land of Anga.
तस्य व्यतिक्रमात्तु राज्ञो भविष्यति सुदारुणा । अनावृष्टि: सुघोरा वै सर्वलोक भयावहा ।।1.9.8।।
Meaning
Owing to that king's own violation of righteousness, a drought would befall his kingdom.
तस्य व्यतिक्रमाद्राज्ञो भविष्यति सुदारुणा । अनावृष्टिस्सुघोरा वै सर्वभूतभयावहा ।।1.9.8।।
Meaning
That drought would be a terrible and dreadful drought, striking fear into every living being, already gripping the land.
अनावृष्ट्यां तु वृत्तायां राजा दु:खसमन्वित:। ब्राह्मणान्श्रुतवृद्धांश्च समानीय प्रवक्ष्यति।। 1.9.9।।
Meaning
With the drought upon his land, the grief-stricken king would summon brahmins wise with age and learning, and speak to them.