Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Rishyashrungo Vanachara: Thapa:
Swadhyaya Samyutha: |
Anabhishcha: Thu Narinam
Vishyayanam Sukhasya Cha ||
Pithu: Sa Nithya Santhushto Na
Athichakrama Cha Ashramath ||
Na Thena Janma Prabhruthi Ishta Poorvam Thapasvina |
Stri Va Puman Va Yaccha Anyatha Sathvam Nagara
Rashtrajam ||
Sumantra, one of the ministers of
the assembly of King Dasaratha narrated the arrival of Sage Rishyashrunga, a
true ascetic to the Kingdom of Anga. The
ministers of King Romapadha of Anga advised to bring Sage Rishyashrunga to his
Kingdom to get rid of the crucial famine.
They narrated Sage Rishyashrunga who is a forest dweller, immersed in
the studies of Veda and scriptures was not aware of worldly pleasures or worldly
matters or the existence of women. The courtesans
were appointed to complete the mission by the ministers of the assembly and the
priests with the permission of King Romapada.
The ministers were well aware of
the fact that the most desired sense pleasing objects would change the mind of
any ascetic, they decided to send fine attired courtesans to lure the heart of
Sage Rishyashrunga and these courtesans were offered with valuable gifts for
their work. The most excellent courtesans
were arrived in the woodland and settled near the hermitage of the Sage
Vibhandhaga, with an intention to get a fleeting look of the ascetic
Rishyashrunga, who was serene, pleased with his life was not traveled around or
out of his hermitage. He has not seen
any women or men or any sense pleasing objects, he was not undertaken any expedition
to country side or city in his life. On
one occasion, Rishyashrunga came out of his hermitage and observed the lovely courtesans;
they were extremely marvelous looking attired in fabulous clothes and singing mellifluously. The courtesans lustfully approached Sage
Rishyashrunga and spoke ‘Oh ! Brahmin Who are you? Why you have chosen to be in
the isolated woodland? We would like to hear more about you.”
The women assembled before Sage
Rishyashrunga were extremely beautiful and captivating, Sage Rishyashrunga was
never witnessed anyone like these attractive women in the forest. Immediately, he had a feeling of
companionship spurted in his heart and introduced him “I am an ascetic, I am
Rishyashrunga, son of Sage Vibhandhaga.
You all have an auspicious look; I wish to perform veneration to all of
you according to the rules prescribed in the scriptures.” All the women with a deep inclination to
witness the hermitage of the Sage accompanied him. They were received with honor, introduced to
the places of hand-wash, feet-wash and offered various fruits &
juices. All the women took great
pleasure in the company and hospitality of Sage Rishyashrunga, but all had a
fear of arrival of his father Sage Vibhandhaga at any moment, so they all bade
farewell to Sage Rishyashrunga, they embraced him affectionately and offered
him various sweets and left the hermitage.
Rishyashrunga never had the tastes of the sweets offered other than the
common fruits available in the woodland.
The courtesans abruptly took leave from the hermitage of Sage
Rishyashrunga with a fear of arrival of Sage Vibhandhaga and his curse. After consuming the sweets offered by the
courtesans, Rishyashrunga felt uneasy and restless. On the very next day, Sage Rishyashrunga with
extreme anxiety reached the place where he met the marvelous women. The courtesans were overjoyed at the presence
of Sage and received him with utmost reverence and great honor. They offered various fruits to him and spoke
in sweet words, eventually Sage Rishyashrunga decided to follow them to Anga
Kingdom. The moment Sage entered the city,
Lord Varuna set off the much awaited downpour with pleasure. King Romapadha approached the Sage
Rishyashrunga and prostrated before him and he was received with utmost
reverence and honor. King Romapadha
earnestly requested Sage Rishyashrunga to protect him and his Kingdom from the
fury of his father for bringing him to the Anga Kingdom. Shortly, King Romapadhas’s daughter princess
Shantha was offered in a customary marriage to Sage Rishyashrunga. Thus, the well respected great soul Sage
Rishyashrunga lived a blissful married life with Shantha in Anga Kingdom.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
