The brothers Kusha and Lava started the ballad by describing the capital viz. Ayodhya of Emperor Dasharatha. The pomp and glory of his capital was depicted along with its town planning and grandeur of the city, and its residents. The riches and happiness enjoyed by the people, under the rein of Emperor Dasharatha, along with the details of its valiant heroes, elephants, horses and the town planning were narrated.
The truthful and upright characters of the ministers of Dasharatha, who made the rulership meaningful with their virtuous, skilful and efficient administration were portrayed. Along with the political ministers, the religious ministry was also portrayed.
King Dasharatha had everything except children; he did not have a single child, male or female. He started wondering whether he would get a child by performing an Aswametha Yagam.
King Dasharatha was a very able, learned, very intelligent, etc. king, but he was not an autocrat. As such he collected his ministers and eminent and knowledgeable clerics like Suyajna, Vaama Deva, Jaabala, Kashyapa, and of course his rajaguru Sage Vashishta, and also many other eminent Brahmans who were Vedic scholars.
He asked their opinion about his performing Aswametha Vedic Horse Ritual for progeny. All agreed that it was an excellent idea. On hearing their agreement with his idea, he then ordered his ministers to make arrangements in the northern banks of the River Sarayu which would be the ritual ground.
One Sumantra was one of the ministers of King Dasharatha. He was said to be very knowledgeable and highly devoted to the King Dasharatha. Because of this he became a confidant to the King. He generally acted as a charioteer to the king and the members of the royal family. He approached the king and told him in confidence that he wanted to tell something to him (i.e. the king). He naturally got the 'go ahead' signal. He then said "Your Majesty, I want you to listen to this legend I heard quite a long time ago.
"Do you remember that as a part of your education, highly renowned vedic, erudite and godly persons were invited to give you advice. What I am going to tell you is a part of the advice given to you by Sage Sanatkumara.
"Sage Sanatkumara has once narrated in the presence of other sages an account about the arrival of your sons. He said 'Sage Kashyapa has a son known as Vibhaandaka, and his son will be the renowned Sage Rishyasringa, and that Sage Rishyasringa will grow up in forests, and will always be dwelling in forest...'".
Sage Rishyasringa got the name by the very fact that he was born with a horn on the crown of his head. In sanskrit 'Rishi' means Sage and 'Sringa' means horn.
Sumantra (in Valmiki Ramayana) was telling the King about Rishyasinga in the 'future tense', since the same thing was told as a prediction by Sage Sanatkumara long back. But as the prediction had already come true at that point of time when Sumantra was telling Dasharatha about it, I have changed it to 'past tense'; I thought that to say something that has already happened, in 'future tense' may confuse the reader.
Sumantra continued "Rishyasringa was truly his papa's most obedient son. Whatever his dad said, Rishyasringa followed it implicitly. In the hermitage where Rishyasringa was living did not have any female. In fact, there was no female around the place/hermitage where he was living. He, therefore did not know that there were two sexes. He became renowned for his celibacy; but he did not know that he was observing celibacy!
"During this period there was a famous, very strong and valiant king called Romapaada in Anga country. But due to some wrong doing by that king, there was a shocking and devastating famine in that country. While the famine was besetting, the king Roamapaada was afflicted with grimness. He, therefore summoned wise Brahmans and learned scholars and sought their advice in this regard.
"The scholarly Brahmans and Vedic scholars, after consulting per se, told the king that the son of Sage Vibhaandaka, namely Rishyasringa, should be brought to the kingdom, somehow. If the Sage Rishyasringa was honoured well with good care, and his (i.e. King's) daughter, Shanta, married to him, the problem would surely automatically be solved.
"On listening them the king, in consultation with his able and wise ministers, ordered a few selected clergymen and ministers to get the Sage. But they were utterly scared of sage Vibhaandaka, father of Rishyasringa. After discussing the matter per se, they got an idea as to how to bring that sage without any problem (at least for them).
"According to that idea, sage Rishyasringa was brought to the kingdom and the presiding deity for rains started showering rains, and Shanta was given in marriage to that sage...
"Sage Rishyasringa, son-in-law of the King of Anga, Romapaada and as well as to you, if invited to our kingdom he will bless you to beget sons."
Comment: Sage Rishyasringa was also said to be a son-in-law to King Dasharatha. Princess Shanta, in a distant way was a daughter to King Dasharatha in relation and the adopted daughter of Romapaada, the King of Anga. Thus Sumantra's saying son-in-law 'as well as to you' means Dasharatha's son-in-law also, besides Romapada’s.
End Comment.
King Dasharatha, after hearing Sumantra, wanted to know as to how Rishyasringa was brought to the Anga kingdom.
Sumantra continued his tale "The ministers along with clergymen approached the King Romapaada and told him that instead of them, it would be better that some very beautiful court-dancers were sent for bringing Sage Rishyasringa. They explained that Sage Rishyasringa was all along living in a forest and had never seen any female; and as a matter of fact he was not aware of the existence of women, or of worldly-matters or of even worldly-pleasures... They added that beautiful and well decorated courtesans would definitely achieve the objective of bringing the Sage to the Kingdom by tempting with many a feint, and the courtesans be tempted with ample gifts...
"The king thought over their suggestion and agreed to it.
"Sage Rishyasringa was absolutely satified to be in the hermitage; he never had the desire nor inclination to explore and probe out of that hermitage. Therefore, he had not seen any female, or a male, or even any other objects of pleasure, either of city or of countryside from the time of birth onwards...
"Then at one time Rishyasringa came out of his hermitage to get some flowers for offering to Gods, saw those comely females. Those lustful court dancers were amazingly attired and singing melodious tunes. They were waiting for the Sage Rishyasringa to come out and see them. They approached the Sage and cooed to him coyly with very sweet and melodious voices 'Who you are? Why you move lonely in these deep and desolate forests; why you conduct yourself like this? Oh! Brahman, we are interested to know... please tell us...'
"Those women were in most desirable form and hitherto he had not seen such forms in that forest. Consequently a kind of friendship spouted, with which he was inclined to detail about his father... 'My father is Sage Vibhaandaka. I am known as Rishyasringa. Our hermitage is here only, oh, august ones, I wish to perform scripturally worship to you all verily there..'
"The women were waiting for this and therefore, all of them accompanied him to his hermitage. On going there, the Sage's son performed worship saying 'Here is our hand-wash, here is our feet-wash, here are our tuber fruits, here are the juicy fruits of ours... '
[This portrays the exclusion of the sage's son from the rest of the world by his father. He worshipped the courtesans, as he would worship some super-natural deities by saying the above words, which will usually be used in ritual worship of Hindu deities. He being a fruitarian had offered the courtesans the tuber fruits like sweet potatoes etc., which were ridiculous to urbanites, that too to the pleasure-taking courtesans.]
"All of them accepted that kind of worship much enthusiastically, but dread at the arrival of the sage Vibhaandaka. They made-up their mind to leave the place as early as possibe. 'Take these important fruits of ours, oh, Brahman, you be safe, oh, holy one... eat them before long....' said the courtesans to Rishyasringa. Then all the courtesans embraced him with a kind of mirthfulness in the offing, presented sweet-balls and other varieties of best sweetmeats to him.
"The resplendent sage accepted them as he supposed them to be fruits only. As he was always forest-bound he had not tasted sweets earlier. He relished the fruits(sweets).
"On the pretence that they also had to perform devotional duties, the courtesans departed, while they were actually afraid of the arrival of Rishyasringa's father who may hurl curses on them on his arrival... After the departure of all the courtesans, Rishyasringa, the grandson of Sage Kashyapa, was disturbed at heart and behaved sadly...
"On the next day Rishyasringa, the prosperous sage with ascetic power could not help going to the place where he met the court dancers on the previous day, saw the well-decorated and delightful courtesans. On seeing him, all the courtesans welcomed him very enthusiastically to their hermitage.
"He obliged them. He didn't know what happened, but he was entering the Anga Kingdom with the women.
"On his very first step into Anga Kingdom, the Rain-god quickly showered rain in Anga kingdom to the delight of all. He was welcomed most warmly by the King himself with all the customary dedication and formalities. The king, then almost begged Rishyasringa to save him from the fury of his father, Sage Vibhaandaka.
"On entering the palace, princess Shanta was given to Rishyasringa in customary marriage.
"Now the great fulgent Rishyasringa lives in Anga kingdom along with his wife Shanta, and with all his desires fulfilled and also well worshipped".
Thus Sumantra said the legend of Rishyasringa to King Dasharatha.
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