Summary
Sumantra, the minister continues his narration to his king Dasharatha, about Rishyashringa's arrival at Anga kingdom of King Romapaada and his marriage with Princess Santa, the daughter of Romapaada.
Chapter [Sarga] 10 in Detail
suma.ntrah codito raajnaa provaaca idam vacah tadaa |
yathaa risyashringah tu aaniito yena upaayena ma.ntribhih
tanme nigaditam sarvam shrinu me ma.ntribhih saha || 1-10-1
Sumantra thus motivated by King Dasharatha, said these words to king "Oh! King, how and with which idea Sage Rishyasringa is brought by the ministers of Romapaada, all that will be spoken... that may please be listened from me along with ministers... [1-10-1]
romapaadam uvaaca idam saha amaatyah purohitah |
upaayo nirapaayo ayam asmaabhih abhicintitah || 1-10-2
"The ministers along with clergyman have spoken this way to King Romapaada, ‘this is a non-harmful plan well thought over by us... [1-10-2]
risyashringo vanacarah tapah svaadhyaaya sa.myutah |
anabhijnah tu naariinaam visayaanaam sukhasya ca || 1-10-3
"Rishyasringa is a forest-dweller absorbed in asceticism [practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline] and self-study of Vedic scriptures, and he is not aware of women, or of worldly-matters or of even worldly-pleasures...[1-10-3]
indriyaarthaih abhimataih naracitta pramaathibhi |
puram aanaayayisyaamah ksipram ca adhyavasiiyataam ||1-10-4
"With much desired sense-pleasing objects that will be disquieting [to take away the peace or tranquility of] the minds of men, we wish bring him to the city... Let it be decided quickly... [1-10-4]
gaNikaah tatra gacChantu ruupavatyaH svala.nkRitaaH |
pralobhya vividha upaayaih aaneSyanti iha satkRitaaH || 1-10-5
"Beautiful and well decorated courtesans [prostitutes with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele] will go there to bring him hither [to this place] by tempting with many a feint [trick], and let the courtesans be given ample [plentiful] gifts... [1-10-5]
shrutvaa tathaa iti raajaa ca pratyuvaaca purohitam |
purohito ma.ntrinah ca tathaa cakruh ca te tathaa || 1-10-6
"Hearing that the King replied the priest, "Let it be so..." and then the priests and ministers have carried out the plan that way... [1-10-6]
vaaramukhyaah tu tat shrutvaa vanam pravivishuh mahat |
aashramasya aviduure asmin yatnam kurvanti da.rshane || 1-10-7
riseh putrasya dhirasya nityam aashrama vaasinah |
"On hearing that order of the king those best courtesans have entered that great forest, and they camped not very far from that hermitage, making all the trials for showing themselves off to a glance of that sage. [1-10-7]
pituh sa nitya sa.ntusto na aticakraama ca aashramaat || 1-10-8
na tena janma prabhriti drista puurvam tapasvinaa |
strii vaa pumaan vaa yaccha anyat sattvam nagara raastrajam || 1-10-9
"Always satisfied is sage Rishyasringa to be in hermitage, thus he never stirred out of that hermitage, and thus he has not seen any female, or a male, or even any others objects of pleasure, either of city or of countryside from the time of birth onwards... [1-10-8b, 9]
tatah kadaacit tam desham aajagaama yadricchayaa |
vibhaandaka sutah tatra taah ca apashyat varaa.nganaah || 1-10-10
"Then at one time Rishyasringa casually arrived at that place, and has seen those comely [beautiful] females. [1-10-10]
taah citra vesaah pramadaa gaaya.ntyo madhura svaram |
risi putram upaagamya sarvaa vacanam abruvan || 1-10-11
"They the lustful [exited by sexual desire] women are amazingly attired and singing melodious tunes; all of them neared the sage's son and spoke these words... [1-10-11]
kah tvam kim vartase brahman jnaatum icchaamahe vayam |
ekah tvam vijane duure vane carasi sha.msa nah || 1-10-12
"Who you are? Why you move lonely in these deep and desolate [deserted] forests, why you conduct yourself like this? Oh! Brahman, we are interested to know... please tell us..." [1-10-12]
adrista ruupaah taah tena kaamya ruupaa vane striyah |
haardaat tasya matih jaataa akhyaatum pitaram svakam || 1-10-13
"Those women are in most desirable form and hitherto [up to this or that time] he has not seen such forms in that forest, hence a kind of friendship spouted [to gush forth], with which he is inclined to tell them details about his father... [1-10-13]
pitaa vibhaandako asmaakam tasya aham suta aurasah |
risyashringa iti khyaatam naama karma ca me bhuvi || 1-10-14
"My father is Sage Vibhaandaka and I am his true descent son. I am known as Rishyasringa, by my name and by an event on my birth, and thus renowned on earth..."
iha aashrama pado.asmaakam samiipe shubha darshanaah |
karisye vo.atra puujaam vai sarvesaam vidhi puurvakam || 1-10-15
"Our hermitage is here only, oh, august [marked by majestic dignity or grandeur] ones, I wish to perform scripturally [according to a sacred writing] worship to you all verily [in truth] there...” thus said the sage to the courtesans. [1-10-15]
risi putra vacah shrutvaa sarvaasaam matiraasa vai |
tat aashrama padam drastum jagmuh sarvaah tato a.nganah || 1-10-16
"On hearing the words of sage's son, all those courtesans are verily inclined to see the threshold of that hermitage, and then all the women went to hermitage. [1-10-16]
gataanaam tu tatah puujaam risi putrah cakaara ha |
idam arghyam idam paadyam idam muulam phalam ca nah || 1-10-17
"On going there, then the Sage's son performed worship saying "Here is our hand-wash, here is our feet-wash, here are our tuber fruits, and here are the juicy fruits of ours... " [1-10-17]
pratigrihya tu taam puujaam sarvaa eva samutsukaah |
riser bhiitaah ca shiighram tu gamanaaya matim dadhuh || 1-10-18
"All of them have received that kind of worship much enthusiastically, but dread at the arrival of the sage Vibhaandaka, they quickly made-up their mind to make away from there. [1-10-18]
asmaakam api mukhyaani phalaani imaani he dvija |
grihaana vipra bhadram te bhaksayasva ca maa aciram || 1-10-19
“‘Take these important fruits of ours, oh, Brahman, you be safe, oh, holy one... eat them before long....' Said courtesans to Rishyasringa.] [1-10-19]
tatah taah tam samaali.ngya sarvaa harsa samanvitaah |
modakaan pradaduh tasmai bhaksyaam ca vividhaan shubhaan || 1-10-20
"Then all of the courtesans have embraced him and all of them with a kind of mirthfulness [gladness or gaiety] in the offing [the near or foreseeable future], presented sweet-balls and other varieties of best sweetmeats to him. [1-10-20]
taani ca aasvaadya tejasvii phalaani iti sma manyate |
anaasvaadita puurvaani vane nitya nivaasinaam || 1-10-21
"Having relished the sweets, that resplendent [shining brilliantly] sage supposed them to be fruits only, for he did not taste sweets earlier, as he is always forest-bound. [1-10-21]
aapricchya ca tadaa vipram vrata caryaam nivedya ca |
gacchanti sma apadeshaat taa bhiitaah tasya pituh striyah || 1-10-22
"Taking leave of the Sage Rishyasringa on pretence [false show] that they also have to perform devotional duties, they the courtesans departed from there on the pretext of their daily worship, while they actually feared for the arrival of Rishyashringa’s father who may hurl curses on his arrival...] [1-10-22]
gataasu taasu sarvaasu kaashyapasya aatmajo dvijah |
asvastha hridayah ca aasiit duhkhaat cha parivartate || 1-10-23
"After the departure of all them the courtesans, that Brahman Rishyasringa, the grandson of Sage Kashyapa, is disturbed at heart and even behaved sadly... [1-10-23]
tatoapare dyuh tam desham aajagaama sa viiryavaan |
vibhaandaka sutah shriimaan manasaa vichintayan muhuh || 1-10-24
manojnaa yatra taa dristaa vaaramukhyaah svala.mkritaah |
"Then on the next day Rishyasringa, son of Vibhaandaka and the prosperous sage with ascetic power has arrived at that place where he saw well-decorated and delightful courtesans recollecting in mind repetitively about them alone. [1-10-24, 25a]
dristvaa eva ca tato vipram aayaantam hrista maanasaah || 1-10-25
upasritya tatah sarvaah taah tam uucur idam vacah |
ehi aashrama padam saumya asmaakam iti ca abruvan || 1-10-26
" Then on seeing the arrival of that Brahman, the courtesans felt happy at heart, and all of those courtesans on surrounding him said, "oh, gentle one, welcome to the threshold of our hermitage... [1-10-25b, 26]
chitraani atra bahuuni syuh muulaani ca phalani ca |
tatra api esa vishesena vidhih hi bhavitaa dhruvam || 1-10-27
"There are excellent tuber fruits and fruits and there will be a very distinctive hospitality... definitely indeed...” So said the courtesans. [1-10-27]
shrutvaa tu vacanam taasaam sarvaasaam hridayam gamam |
gamanaaya matim cakre tam ca ninyuh tathaa striyah || 1-10-28
"On hearing the heart-pleasing words of all those courtesans, Rishyasringa made up his mind to go over there, and then those women took him away [to their place in Anga Kingdom.] [1-10-28]
tatra ca aaniiyamaane tu vipre tasmin mahaatmani |
vavarsa sahasaa devo jagat prahlaadayan tadaa || 1-10-29
"While that great soul and Brahman Rishyasringa while being brought into Anga Kingdom, then the Rain-god quickly showered rain in Anga kingdom to the delight of the world. [1-10-29]
varsena eva aagatam vipram taapasam sa naraadhipah |
prati udgamya munim prahvah shirasaa ca mahiim gatah || 1-10-30
arghyam ca pradadau tasmai nyaayatah susamaahitah |
vavre prasaadam vipreindraat maa vipram manyuh aavishet || 1-10-31
"Towards that Brahman Rishyasringa who is coming along with rains into his own kingdom Anga Kingdom, the king Romapaada has gone towards that sage and bowed his head down, and paid respects touching the ground, and offered water customarily with dedication and the king besought beneficence of the best one, Rishyasringa to save from the fury of his father Sage Vibhaandaka, even after knowing the king's pursuit in bringing Rishyasringa to this country... [1-10-30, 31]
antahpuram praveshya asmai kanyaam dattvaa yathaavidhi |
shaantaam shaantena manasaa raajaa harsam avaapa sah || 1-10-32
"On entering the palace princess Shanta is given to Rishyasringa in customary marriage, and then that King Romapaada obtained rejoice with a peaceful mind. [1-10-32]
evam sa nyavasat tatra sarva kaamaih supuujitah |
risyashrngo mahaatejaa shantaayaa saha bhaaryayaa || 1-10-33
"Thus that great fulgent [radiant] Rishyasringa lived 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.] [1-10-33]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane adi kaavye baala kaande dashamah sargah
Thus, this is the 10th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate