वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः प्रयातः कौन्तेयः क्रमेण भरतर्षभ। नन्दामपरनन्दां च नद्यौ पापभयापहे॥
Vaishampayana said : O best of the Bharata race, then slowly did the son of Kunti to the two rivers Nanda and Aparananda which destroys the dread of fear.
पर्वतं स समासाद्य हेमकूटमनामयम्। अचिन्त्यानद्भुतान् भावान् ददर्श सुबहून् नृपः॥
Then going to the healthy mountain called Hemakuta, that king saw there many wonderful and inconceivable sights.
वाताबद्धा भवन्मेघा उपलाश्च सहस्रशः। नाशक्नुवंस्तमारोढुं विषण्णमनसो जनाः॥
From the wind there were created clouds and showers of thousands of stones for which the people becoming sad could not ascend it.
वायुर्नित्यं ववौ तत्र नित्यं देवश्च वर्षति। स्वाध्यायघोषश्च तथा श्रूयते न च दृश्यते॥
The wind always blew there and the celestials always poured showers. The sounds of the recitation of sacred scripture were heard, but none was seen.
सायं प्रातश्च भगवान् दृश्यते हव्यवाहनः। मक्षिकाश्चादशंस्तत्र तपसः प्रतिघातिकाः॥
In the evening and in the morning the exalted carrier of libation (fire) was seen and flies bit men, thus obstructing the practice of austerities.
निर्वेदो जायते तत्र गृहाणि स्मरते जनः। एवं बहुविधान् भावानद्भुतान् वीक्ष्य पाण्डवः। लोमशं पुनरेवाथ पर्यपृच्छत् तदद्भुतम्॥
Men would become sick there and a sadness would overtake their minds. The son of Pandu (Yudhishthira), seeing these various wonderful things, asked Lomasha about those astonishing sights.
लोमश उवाच यथाश्रुतमिदं पूर्वमस्माभिररिकर्शन। तदेकाग्रमना राजन् निबोध गदतो मम॥
Lomasha said : O chastiser of foes, O king, I shall tell detail all that we heard about them before. Hear them with all attention.
अस्मिन्नृषभकूटेऽभूदृषभो नाम तापसः। अनेकशतवर्षायुस्तपस्वी कोपनो भृशम्॥
Here on this Rishava Kuta (hill) there lived for many hundred years, an ascetic of great wrath, named Rishava engaged in asceticism. you in
स वै सम्भाष्यमाणोऽन्यैः कोपाद् गिरिमुवाच ह। य इह व्याहरेत् कश्चिदुपलानुत्सृजेस्तथा॥
He, being addressed by others, spoke thus to the hill in anger, who ever will utter words hero (O hill) throw stones at him."
वातं चाहूय मा शब्दमित्युवाच स तापसः। व्याहरंश्चेह पुरुषो मेघशब्देन वार्यते॥
That ascetic said, “Call the wind, so that no sound is made. Thus if a man utters a word here, he is prevented by the roarings of the clouds.
एवमेतानि कर्माणि राजंस्तेन महर्षिणा। कृतानि कानिचित् क्रोधात् प्रतिषिद्धानि कानिचित्।।
O king, these were the acts of that great Rishi; some acts he performed from anger and some again he prevented from being done (from anger).
नन्दां त्वभिगता देवाः : पुरा राजनिति श्रुतिः। अन्वपद्यन्त सहसा पुरुषा देवदर्शिनः॥
O king, tradition says that when in the days of yore the celestials came to the Nanda men suddenly appeared there with the desire of seeing the immortals.
ते दर्शनं त्वनिच्छन्तो देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः। दुर्ग चक्रुरिमं देशं गिरि प्रत्यूहरूपकम्॥
The celestials with Sakra (Indra) at their head did not like to be seen and therefore they made this place inaccessible by raising up hills.
तदाप्रभृति कौन्तेय नरा गिरिमिमं सदा। नाशक्नुवन्नभिद्रष्टुं कुत एवाधिरोहितुम्॥
O sons of Kunti, from that day men could not even look at these hill, what to speak of ascending them.
नातप्ततपसा शक्यो द्रष्टुमेष महागिरिः। आरोढुं वापि कौन्तेय तस्मानियतवाग भव॥
O son of Kunti, none can look at or ascend this great hill except he who has performed asceticism. Therefore be silent.
इह देवास्तदा सर्वे यज्ञानाजहरुत्तमान्। तेषामेतानि लिङ्गानि दृश्यन्तेऽद्यापि भारत॥
O descendant of Bharata, here did the celestials perform those best of sacrifices, their marks are seen even to this day.
कुशाकारेव दुर्वेयं संस्तीर्णेव च भूरियम्। यूपप्रकारा बहवो वृक्षाश्चेमे विशाम्पते॥
O king, this grass is like the Kusha (grass), the whole ground is over-spread with the sacred grass. Many trees here look like the sacrificial stakes.
देवाश्च ऋषयश्चैव वसन्त्यद्यापि भारत। तेषां सायं तथा प्रातर्दृश्यते हव्यवाहनः॥
O descendant of Bharata, the celestials and the Rishis still live here and both in the morning and the evening their carrying of libations (Agni) is to be seen here.
इहाप्लुतानां कौन्तेय सद्यः पाप्माभिहन्यते। कुरुश्रेष्ठाभिषेकं वै तस्मात् कुरु सहानुजः॥
O son of Kunti, if one bathes here his sins are immediately destroyed. O foremost of the Kurus, therefore perform your oblations here with your younger brothers.
ततो नन्दाप्लुताङ्गस्त्वं कौशिकीमभियास्यसि। विश्वामित्रेण यत्रोग्रं तपस्तप्तमनुत्तमम्॥
Then washing your body in the Nanda, you will go to the Kaushiki where the excellent and severe asceticism was performed by Vishvamitra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततस्तत्र समाप्लुत्य गात्राणि सगणो नृपः। जगाम कौशिकी पुण्यां रम्यां शीतजलां शुभाम्॥
O king, washing his there with all his men, he went to the sacred, charming and blessed Kaushiki of cool water,
लोमश उवाच एषा देवनदी पुण्या कौशिकी भरतर्षभ। विश्वामित्राश्रमो रम्य एष चात्र प्रकाशते॥
O best of the Bharata race, this is the sacred and celestials river Kaushiki. Here stands the charming hermitage of Vishvamitra.
आश्रमश्चैव पुण्याख्य: काश्यपस्य महात्मनः। ऋष्यशृङ्गः सुतो यस्य तपस्वी संयतेन्द्रियः॥
This is the hermitage belonging to the illustrious son of Kashyapa, whose son was the ascetic Rishyashringa of subdued passions.
तपसो यः प्रभावेण वर्षयामास वासवम्। अनावृष्ट्यां भयाद् यस्य ववर्ष बलवृत्रहा॥
By his ascetic prowess he made Asava (Indra) to pour rains and from whose fear the destroyer of Bala and Vitra poured down rains during a draught.
मृग्यां जातः स तेजस्वी काश्यपस्य सुतः प्रभुः। विषये लोमपादस्य यश्चकाराद्भुतं महत्॥
That powerful lord, the son of Kashyapa, was born of a hind; he performed a great wonder in the kingdom of Lomapada.
निर्वर्तितेषु सस्येषु यस्मै शान्तं ददौ नृपः। लोमपादो दुहितरं सावित्री सविता यथा।॥
When the crops were restored (by the Rishi who made Indra rain) the king Lomapada bestowed his daughter Shanta on him, as Savita (once) bestowed (his daughter) Savitri.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच ऋष्यशृङ्गः कथं मृग्यामुत्पन्नः काश्यपात्मजः। विरुद्धे योनिसंसर्गे कथं च तपसा युतः॥
Yudhishthira said: How was the son of Kashyapa, i Rishyashringa born of a hind? Being born of an irregular intercourse, how was he endued with ascetic merits?
किमर्थं च भयाच्छक्रस्तस्य बालस्यधीमतः। अनावृष्ट्यां प्रवृत्तायां ववर्ष बलवृत्रहा।॥
Why from the fear of that intelligent boy the destroyer of Bala and Vritra Sakra (Indra) poured down rain when a draught was raging? ।
कथंरूपा च सा शान्ता राजपुत्री यतव्रता। लोभयामास या चेतो मृगभूतस्य तस्य वै॥ लोमपादश्च राजर्षिर्यदाश्रूयतधार्मिकः। कथं वै विषये तस्य नावर्षत् पाकशासनः॥
What sort of a princess that vow-observing Shanta was, who tempted his heart by becoming at nd? Why did not the chastiser of . foes (Indra) pour rain in the kingdom of the royal sage Lomapada when it is heard that he was very virtuous.
एतन्मे भगवन् सर्वं विस्तरेण यथातथम्। वक्तुमर्हसि शुश्रूषोर्ऋष्यशृङ्गस्य चेष्टितम्॥
O exalted one, you should narrate to me all this in detail, the incidents of Rishyashringa's life as they happened.
लोमश उवाच विभाण्डकस्य विप्रस्तपसा भावितात्मनः। अमोघवीर्यस्य सतः प्रजापतिसमद्युतेः॥ शृणु पुत्रो यथा जात ऋष्यशृङ्गः प्रतापवान्। महार्हस्य महातेजा बालः स्थविरसम्मतः॥
Lomasha said: Hear how the powerful Rishyashringa was born as a son of the Brahmana Rishi Vibhandaka whose soul had been subdued by asceticism, whose seed never failed, who was learned and who was as effulgent as the Creator. He (Rishyashringa) was highly honoured, greatly effulgent and was regarded by old men, though he was but a boy.
महाह्रदं समासाद्य काश्यपस्तपसि स्थितः। दीर्घकालं परिश्रान्त ऋषिः स देवसम्मितः॥
Going to the great lake, the son of Kashyapa engaged himself in great austerities. And that celestials-like Rishi became fatigued after a long period of time.
तस्य रेतः प्रचस्कन्द दृष्ट्वाप्सरसमुर्वशीम्। अप्सूपस्पृशतो राजन् मृगी तच्चापिबत् तदा॥ सह तोयेन तृषिता गर्भिणी चाभवत् ततः। सा पुरोक्ता भगवता ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा॥ देवकन्या मृगी भूत्वा मुनि सूय विमोक्ष्यसे। अमोघत्वाद् विधेश्चैव भावित्वाद् दैवनिर्मितात्॥ तस्यां मृग्यां समभवत् तस्य पुत्रो महानृषिः। ऋष्यशृङ्गस्तपोनित्यो वन एवाभ्यवर्तत॥
O king, when he was washing his face, he saw the Apsara Urvashi and his seed fell. A hind drank it up, thirsty as she was, with the water (she had been drinking). She thus conceived. As she was formerly told by the exalted creator of the world, (Brahma), that celestials damsel became a hind and was freed by begetting a Rishi. As the words of the creator could not be false. in that hind was born his (Vibhandaka's) son, a great Rishi, named Rishyashringa, who was always devoted to asceticism and who passed his time in the forest.
तस्यर्षेः शृङ्गं शिरसि राजन्नासीन्महात्मनः। तेनर्ण्यशृङ्ग इत्येवं तदा स प्रथितोऽभवत्॥
O king, on the head of that illustrious Rishi there was a born; he therefore became known as Rishyashringa.
न तेन दृष्टपूर्वोऽन्यः पितुरन्यत्र मानुषः। तस्मात् तस्य मनो नित्यं ब्रह्मचर्येऽभवन्नृप॥
O king, excepting his father, he did not ever see anybody else, therefore his mind was fully devoted to the duties of a continent life (Brahmacharya).
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सखा दशरथस्य लोमपाद इति ख्यातो ह्यङ्गानामीश्वरोऽभवत्॥
At this time there was a king of Anga, known by the name of Lomapada, who was the friend of Dasharatha.
तेन कामात् कृतं मिथ्या बाह्मणस्येति नः श्रुतिः। स ब्राह्मणैः परित्यक्तस्ततो वै जगतः पतिः॥ पुरोहितापचाराच्च तस्य राज्ञो यदृच्छया। न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षास्ततोऽपीड्यन्त वै प्रजाः॥
We have heard that he wantonly told a falsehood to a Brahmana. That ruler of earth was therefore abandoned by all the Brahmanas. Thus without having had a priest, the king became sinful and therefore the deity of one thousand eyes (Indra) stopped to shower rain; and thus his subjects began to suffer.
स ब्राह्मणान् पर्यपृच्छत् तपोयुक्तान् मनीषिणः। प्रवर्षणे सुरेन्द्रस्य समर्थान् पृथिवीपते॥
O ruler of earth, he asked the Brahmanas who were intelligent, able and fit how rain might be poured by the lord of the celestials.
कथं प्रवर्षेत् पर्जन्य उपायः परिदृश्यताम्। तमूचुश्चोदितास्ते तु स्वमतानि मनीषिणः॥
(He said), “How can the clouds pour rain, find out a means." Those intelligent men assembling together, gave out each their own opinions.
तत्र त्वेको मुनिवरस्तं राजानमुवाच ह। कुपितास्तव राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणा निष्कृतिं चर॥
son Thereupon one great Rishi thus spoke to the king, “O king of kings, the Brahmanas are angry with you. Do something to appease them.
ऋष्यशृङ्गं मुनिसुतमानयस्व च पार्थिव। वानेयमनभिज्ञं च नारीणामार्जवे रतम्॥ स चेदवतरेद् राजन् विषयं ते महातपाः। सद्यः प्रवर्षेत् पर्जन्य इति मे नात्र संशयः॥
O king, send for the Rishi's Rishyashringa who knows nothing of the female sex, who dwells in the forest and who takes delight in simplicity. If that great ascetic, O king, come to your kingdom, there is not the least doubt that the clouds will instantly pour rains."
एतच्छु त्वा वचो राजन् कृत्वा निष्कृतिमात्मनः। स गत्वा पुनरागच्छत् प्रसन्नेषु द्विजातिषु॥
O king, having heard these words and resolving to make atonement (for his past misdeeds) he went and came back when the Brahmanas had become appeased.
राजानमागतं श्रुत्वा प्रतिसंजहषुः प्रजाः। ततोऽङ्गपतिराहूय सचिवान् मन्त्रकोविदान्॥
Having heard of the arrival of the being, the subjects became exceedingly glad. Then the ruler of Anga summoned his ministers, proficient in giving counsel.
ऋष्यशृङ्गागमे यत्नमकरोन्मन्त्रनिश्चये। सोऽध्यगच्छदुपायं तु तैरमात्यैः सहाच्युतः॥
He made great efforts to bring Rishyashringa to his kingdom. O undeteriorating one, he at last found out a means in consultation with his ministers.
शास्त्रज्ञैरलमर्थज्ञैर्नीत्यां च परिनिष्ठितः। ततश्चानाययामास वारमुख्या महीपतिः॥ वेश्याः सर्वत्र निष्णातास्ता उवाच स पार्थिवः। ऋष्यशृङ्गमषेः पुत्रमानयध्वमुपायतः॥
Who were all versed in the Shastras, who were all exceedingly proficient in worldly matters and ever able in practical matters. That ruler of earth then brought some courtesans, women of the two, clever in everything. To them the king said, “Find out some means to bring the Rishi's son Rishyashringa.
लोभयित्वाभिविश्वास्य विषयं मम शोभनाः। ता राजभयभीताश्च शापभीताश्च योषितः॥ अशक्यमूचुस्तत् कार्यं विवर्णा गतचेतसः। तत्र त्वेका जरद्योषा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्॥
To my kingdom, O beautiful ones, by tempting him and by securing his confidence. Those women were afraid of the king and afraid as well of (the Rishi's) curse. They becamc pale and confounded; and they said that the business was beyond their power (to accomplish). Thereupon one among them, an old woman thus spoke to the king.
प्रयतिष्ये महाराज तमानेतुं तपोधनम्। अभिप्रेतांस्तु मे कामांस्त्वमनुज्ञातुमर्हसि॥ ततः शक्ष्याम्यानयितुमृष्यशृङ्गमृषेः सुतम्। तस्याः सर्वमभिप्रेतमन्वजानात् स पार्थिवः॥
"O great king, I shall try to bring here that great ascetic. You should however order to procure for me certain things in connection with it. I shall then be able to bring the Rishi's son Rishyashringa here." The king ordered that everything she wanted should be procured.
धनं च प्रददौ भूरि रत्नानि विविधानि च। ततो रूपेण सम्पन्ना वयसा च महीपते। स्त्रिय आदाय काश्चित् सा जगाम वनमञ्जसा॥
He gave her much wealth and various gems and jewels. O ruler of earth, taking with her some young and beautiful women, she then went soon to the forest.