03.110
The story of Ṛśyaśṛṅga.
Lomaśa said.
O best of the Bharatas, this is the divine and holy river Kauśikī. Also, here the pleasant hermitage of Viśvāmitra appears. (03-110-1)
There is the hermitage named Puṇya of the great-souled Kāśyapa; whose son is Ṛśyaśṛṅga, an ascetic with controlled senses. (03-110-2)
By the power of his penance, he caused Indra to bring rain; during drought, out of fear of him, the mighty Vṛtra-slayer (Indra) made it rain. (03-110-3)
He, the brilliant lord, son of Kaśyapa, who was born from a female deer, performed a great wonder in the kingdom of Lomapāda. (03-110-4)
After the harvest, King Lomapada gave his daughter Śāntā to him, just as Savitṛ (the Sun god) gave his daughter Savitri. (03-110-5)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
How was Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the son of Kāśyapa, born from a female deer? How was he endowed with austerity in such a contrary union of birth? (03-110-6)
And for what reason, out of fear, did Śakra (Indra), the slayer of Bali and Vṛtra, cause it to rain during the drought for that wise boy? (03-110-7)
Of what appearance and tranquil disposition was that princess, devoted to vows, who indeed enticed the mind of him who had become a deer? (03-110-8)
How was it that Indra did not rain in the territory of Lomapāda the righteous royal sage, as it was heard? (03-110-9)
O venerable one, you ought to recount in detail all this—the acts of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga—as it happened, for one who desires to listen. (03-110-10)
Lomaśa said.
Of Vibhāṇḍaka, the Brahmarṣi, whose self has been purified by austerity, whose energy is unfailing, who is virtuous, and who possesses a splendour equal to Prajāpati. (03-110-11)
Listen, O son, to how the powerful Ṛśyaśṛṅga, a boy of great energy, born in a great lake, was respected by the elders. (03-110-12)
Kashyapa, having reached the great lake, remained there in austerity. The sage, esteemed by the divine sages, grew exhausted over a long period. (03-110-13)
His semen flowed when he saw the Apsaras Urvaśī; as he was bathing in the waters, O king, a female deer then drank it. (03-110-14)
O king, together with the water, the thirsty woman became pregnant due to the unfailing and inevitable force of destiny, ordained by the divine. (03-110-15)
In her, the doe, his son, the great sage Ṛśyaśṛṅga, was born. Ṛśyaśṛṅga, always devoted to penance, grew up in the forest. (03-110-16)
O king, of that great-souled one, a deer-horn was on his head. Therefore he then became known as Ṛṣyaśṛṅga. (03-110-17)
He had not seen any other human apart from his father; therefore, O king, his mind was always devoted to celibacy. (03-110-18)
At this very time, however, Daśaratha's friend Lomapāda, famed as such, became the lord of the people of Aṅga. (03-110-19)
Therefore, it is stated that desire was wrongly committed with respect to the Brāhmaṇas. Then, the lord of the earth was indeed abandoned by the Brāhmaṇas. (03-110-20)
Because of the king's offence against the priest and his arbitrary will, the thousand-eyed Indra did not send rain, and so the people were indeed afflicted. (03-110-21)
The king, devoted to austerity, asked the wise Brāhmaṇas who were capable of causing Indra, the lord of gods, to bring rain. (03-110-22)
“How should the cloud rain? Let a method be considered.” Then, impelled by him, the wise men spoke their own opinions. (03-110-23)
But there, one excellent sage indeed said to the king: O Rajendra, as your brāhmaṇas are angered, perform atonement. (03-110-24)
O king, bring Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the sage's son, who is a forest-dweller, unacquainted with women, and delights in simplicity. (03-110-25)
O king, if that great ascetic were to descend into your territory, the rain-cloud would immediately begin to pour; of this I have no doubt at all. (03-110-26)
O king, after hearing this word and making atonement for himself, he went away and again returned when the twice-born were pleased. Seeing the king having arrived, his subjects welcomed him back. (03-110-27)
Then the lord of Aṅga, having called his ministers who were skilled in counsel, made efforts to decide the course of action regarding Ṛśyaśṛṅga's arrival. (03-110-28)
He understood the proper means, but only after consulting with those ministers and Acyuta, who were well-versed in the scriptures, proficient in practical wisdom, and fully accomplished in matters of policy. (03-110-29)
Then the king summoned the chief courtesans. The king spoke to those prostitutes, skilled everywhere. (03-110-30)
O beautiful women, by using some means, after winning the trust of and enticing the son of the sage Ṛśyaśṛṅga, bring him to my country. (03-110-31)
The women, terrified both of the king and of a curse, said with pale faces and bewildered minds that the task was impossible. (03-110-32)
There, however, one old woman said this to the king: "O great king, I shall try to bring that ascetic here." (03-110-33)
But you should grant my desires; then I will be able to entice Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the son of the sage. (03-110-34)
The king knew all her wishes; he gave wealth and many various jewels. (03-110-35)
Then, O king, she, endowed with beauty and youth, taking some women with her, went directly to the forest. (03-110-36)
