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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 9: Story of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga: Courtesans, rain and marriage

Summary. Courtesans lure Ṛṣyaśṛṅga from his father’s forest hermitage, rain ends Aṅga’s drought and Romapāda gives him Śāntā in marriage

Sequence

  1. Sumantra now tells the episode in detail: Romapāda's advisers explain that Ṛṣyaśṛṅga knows nothing of women or sensual pleasures → they propose sending richly adorned courtesans to attract him through experiences unfamiliar to him → the King approves, and the women go into the forest near his hermitage (1.9.1–7)
  2. Ṛṣyaśṛṅga normally stays close to his father, but one day encounters them → singing sweetly, they approach and ask his identity and way of life (1.9.8–12)
  3. attracted by their unfamiliar appearance, he names himself and his father and invites them home (1.9.13–16)
  4. he offers arghya (guest-water), pādya (foot-water), roots, and fruit → they accept but fear Vibhāṇḍaka's return (1.9.17–18)
  5. they embrace Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and give him sweets and delicacies, which he mistakes for unusual fruits → claiming that their observances require them to leave, they hurry away. Distressed by their absence, Ṛṣyaśṛṅga returns to the meeting place the next day (1.9.19–24)
  6. the women welcome him and invite him to their own supposed hermitage, promising still better hospitality → he agrees and goes with them (1.9.25–27)
  7. as he is brought into the Kingdom, rain suddenly falls (1.9.28)
  8. Romapāda comes out, bows to the ground, offers hospitality, and begs that the brāhmaṇa feel no anger → he gives Śāntā to him in marriage → Ṛṣyaśṛṅga remains with her, honored and comfortably provided for. (1.9.29–32)

Verses 1.9.1–32

1.9.1

sumantraś codito rājñā provācedaṃ vacas tadā
yatharṣyaśṛṅgas tv ānītaḥ śṛṇu me mantribhiḥ saha

Urged on by the king, Sumantra then spoke these words: “Hear from me, together with your ministers, how Ṛṣyaśṛṅga was brought.

Words: sumantraś — Sumantra; codito — urged, prompted; rājñā — by the king; provācedaṃ — spoke this; vacas — words; tadā — then; yatharṣyaśṛṅgas — how Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; tv — indeed; ānītaḥ — was brought; śṛṇu — hear; me — from me; mantribhiḥ — with your ministers; saha — together

1.9.2

romapādam uvācedaṃ sahāmātyaḥ purohitaḥ
upāyo nirapāyo 'yam asmābhir abhicintitaḥ

The family priest, together with the counsellors, said this to Romapāda: “Here is a foolproof plan devised by us.

Words: romapādam — to Romapāda; uvācedaṃ — said this; sahāmātyaḥ — together with the counsellors; purohitaḥ — the family priest; upāyo — a plan, expedient; nirapāyo — foolproof, without risk of failure; 'yam — this; asmābhir — by us; abhicintitaḥ — devised, thought out

1.9.3

ṛṣyaśṛṅgo vanacaras tapaḥsvādhyāyane rataḥ
anabhijñaḥ sa nārīṇāṃ viṣayāṇāṃ sukhasya ca

Ṛṣyaśṛṅga is a forest-dweller, devoted to austerity and Vedic study; he is a stranger to women, to the objects of sense, and to pleasure.

Words: ṛṣyaśṛṅgo — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; vanacaras — a forest-dweller; tapaḥsvādhyāyane — in austerity and Vedic study; rataḥ — devoted to; anabhijñaḥ — unacquainted, a stranger to; sa — he; nārīṇāṃ — of women; viṣayāṇāṃ — of the objects of sense; sukhasya — of pleasure; ca — and

1.9.4

indriyārthair abhimatair naracitta pramāthibhiḥ
puram ānāyayiṣyāmaḥ kṣipraṃ cādhyavasīyatām

By means of desirable sense-objects that stir the minds of men, we shall have him brought to the city; and let this be decided upon at once.

Words: indriyārthair — by objects of the senses; abhimatair — desirable, agreeable; naracitta — the minds of men; pramāthibhiḥ — that stir, agitate; puram — to the city; ānāyayiṣyāmaḥ — we shall have (him) brought; kṣipraṃ — quickly, at once; cādhyavasīyatām — and let it be resolved upon

1.9.5

gaṇikās tatra gacchantu rūpavatyaḥ svalaṃkṛtāḥ
pralobhya vividhopāyair āneṣyantīha satkṛtāḥ

Let courtesans, beautiful and richly adorned, go there; having enticed him by various devices, well rewarded, they will bring him here.

Words: gaṇikās — courtesans; tatra — there; gacchantu — let them go; rūpavatyaḥ — beautiful; svalaṃkṛtāḥ — richly adorned; pralobhya — having enticed, allured; vividhopāyair — by various devices; āneṣyantīha — they will bring here; satkṛtāḥ — well rewarded, honoured

1.9.6

śrutvā tatheti rājā ca pratyuvāca purohitam
purohito mantriṇaś ca tathā cakruś ca te tadā

Hearing this, the king said “So be it” and replied to the priest; and the priest and the ministers then acted accordingly.

Words: śrutvā — having heard; tatheti — ‘so be it’; rājā — the king; ca — and; pratyuvāca — replied; purohitam — to the priest; purohito — the priest; mantriṇaś — the ministers; ca — and; tathā — accordingly, so; cakruś — did, acted; ca — and; te — they; tadā — then

1.9.7

vāramukhyās tu tac chrutvā vanaṃ praviviśur mahat
āśramasyāvidūre 'smin yatnaṃ kurvanti darśane

The chief courtesans, hearing this, entered the great forest, and not far from that hermitage they set about contriving to see him,

Words: vāramukhyās — the chief courtesans; tu — and; tac — this; chrutvā — having heard; vanaṃ — the forest; praviviśur — entered; mahat — great; āśramasyāvidūre — not far from the hermitage; 'smin — in this; yatnaṃ — effort; kurvanti — they make; darśane — for seeing (him)

1.9.8

ṛṣiputrasya ghorasya nityam āśramavāsinaḥ
pituḥ sa nityasaṃtuṣṭo nāticakrāma cāśramāt

— the seer's son, austere, ever dwelling in the hermitage; for he, always content, never strayed far from his father's hermitage.

Words: ṛṣiputrasya — of the seer's son; ghorasya — austere, of severe penance; nityam — always; āśramavāsinaḥ — dwelling in the hermitage; pituḥ — of his father; sa — he; nityasaṃtuṣṭo — ever content; nāticakrāma — did not stray beyond; cāśramāt — and from the hermitage

1.9.9

na tena janmaprabhṛti dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ tapasvinā
strī vā pumān vā yac cānyat sattvaṃ nagara rāṣṭrajam

By that ascetic, from his birth onward, no woman or man had ever before been seen, nor any other creature born of town or country.

Words: na — not; tena — by him; janmaprabhṛti — from birth onward; dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ — seen before; tapasvinā — by the ascetic; strī — a woman; vā — or; pumān — a man; vā — or; yac — which; cānyat — and other; sattvaṃ — creature, living being; nagara — of the town; rāṣṭrajam — born of the country

1.9.10

tataḥ kadā cit taṃ deśam ājagāma yadṛcchayā
vibhāṇḍakasutas tatra tāś cāpaśyad varāṅganāḥ

Then once, by chance, the son of Vibhāṇḍaka came to that spot, and there he saw those lovely women.

Words: tataḥ — then; kadā cit — once, at some time; taṃ — that; deśam — place, spot; ājagāma — came; yadṛcchayā — by chance; vibhāṇḍakasutas — the son of Vibhāṇḍaka; tatra — there; tāś — those; cāpaśyad — and saw; varāṅganāḥ — lovely women

1.9.11

tāś citraveṣāḥ pramadā gāyantyo madhurasvaraiḥ
ṛṣiputram upāgamya sarvā vacanam abruvan

Those women, in gay attire, singing with sweet voices, approached the seer's son, and all spoke these words:

Words: tāś — those; citraveṣāḥ — in gay, colourful attire; pramadā — women; gāyantyo — singing; madhurasvaraiḥ — with sweet voices; ṛṣiputram — the seer's son; upāgamya — having approached; sarvā — all; vacanam — words; abruvan — spoke

1.9.12

kas tvaṃ kiṃ vartase brahmañ jñātum icchāmahe vayam
ekas tvaṃ vijane ghore vane carasi śaṃsa naḥ

“Who are you? What is your way of life, O brahmin? We wish to know. Alone you wander in this desolate and dreadful forest — tell us.”

Words: kas — who; tvaṃ — you; kiṃ — what; vartase — do you do, occupy yourself with; brahmañ — O brahmin; jñātum — to know; icchāmahe — we wish; vayam — we; ekas — alone; tvaṃ — you; vijane — in a solitary place; ghore — dreadful; vane — forest; carasi — you wander; śaṃsa — tell; naḥ — us

1.9.13

adṛṣṭarūpās tās tena kāmyarūpā vane striyaḥ
hārdāt tasya matir jātā ākhyātuṃ pitaraṃ svakam

Those women in the forest, of a form never seen by him, of alluring beauty — out of the warmth of his heart a wish arose in him to tell of his own father:

Words: adṛṣṭarūpās — of a form never seen; tās — those; tena — by him; kāmyarūpā — of alluring beauty; vane — in the forest; striyaḥ — women; hārdāt — out of the warmth of the heart, affection; tasya — in him, his; matir — a wish, thought; jātā — arose; ākhyātuṃ — to tell, describe; pitaraṃ — the father; svakam — his own

1.9.14

pitā vibhāṇḍako 'smākaṃ tasyāhaṃ suta aurasaḥ
ṛṣyaśṛṅga iti khyātaṃ nāma karma ca me bhuvi

“Our father is Vibhāṇḍaka; I am his own true-born son. On earth my name and my repute are known as Ṛṣyaśṛṅga.

Words: pitā — the father; vibhāṇḍako — Vibhāṇḍaka; 'smākaṃ — our; tasyāhaṃ — of him I; suta — son; aurasaḥ — own-begotten, true-born; ṛṣyaśṛṅga — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; iti — thus, by name; khyātaṃ — renowned, known; nāma — name; karma — deeds, repute; ca — and; me — my; bhuvi — on earth

1.9.15

ihāśramapado 'smākaṃ samīpe śubhadarśanāḥ
kariṣye vo 'tra pūjāṃ vai sarveṣāṃ vidhipūrvakam

Here nearby is our hermitage-site, O fair-faced ones; there I shall do honour to you all, according to due rule.”

Words: ihāśramapado — here (is) the hermitage-site; 'smākaṃ — our; samīpe — nearby, close; śubhadarśanāḥ — O fair-faced ones; kariṣye — I shall do, make; vo — to you; 'tra — here; pūjāṃ — honour, hospitality; vai — indeed; sarveṣāṃ — to all; vidhipūrvakam — according to due rule

1.9.16

ṛṣiputravacaḥ śrutvā sarvāsāṃ matir āsa vai
tad āśramapadaṃ draṣṭuṃ jagmuḥ sarvāś ca tena ha

Hearing the seer's son's words, a desire arose in all of them, and all of them went with him indeed to see that hermitage.

Words: ṛṣiputravacaḥ — the words of the seer's son; śrutvā — having heard; sarvāsāṃ — of all (of them); matir — a desire, inclination; āsa — arose, was; vai — indeed; tad — that; āśramapadaṃ — hermitage-site; draṣṭuṃ — to see; jagmuḥ — went; sarvāś — all; ca — and; tena — with him; ha — indeed

1.9.17

gatānāṃ tu tataḥ pūjām ṛṣiputraś cakāra ha
idam arghyam idaṃ pādyam idaṃ mūlaṃ phalaṃ ca naḥ

Then the seer's son did honour to them as they arrived: “This is the guest-water, this the foot-water, and here are our roots and fruit.”

Words: gatānāṃ — to those who had come; tu — and; tataḥ — then; pūjām — honour, hospitality; ṛṣiputraś — the seer's son; cakāra — did, made; ha — indeed; idam — this; arghyam — the guest-water offering; idaṃ — this; pādyam — the foot-water; idaṃ — this; mūlaṃ — root; phalaṃ — fruit; ca — and; naḥ — our

1.9.18

pratigṛhya tu tāṃ pūjāṃ sarvā eva samutsukāḥ
ṛṣer bhītāś ca śīghraṃ tu gamanāya matiṃ dadhuḥ

Accepting that hospitality, all of them, eager yet afraid of the seer (his father), quickly resolved to depart.

Words: pratigṛhya — having accepted; tu — and; tāṃ — that; pūjāṃ — hospitality, honour; sarvā — all; eva — indeed; samutsukāḥ — eager, anxious; ṛṣer — of the seer; bhītāś — afraid; ca — and; śīghraṃ — quickly; tu — but; gamanāya — for departure; matiṃ — mind, resolve; dadhuḥ — they set, made up

1.9.19

asmākam api mukhyāni phalānīmāni vai dvija
gṛhāṇa prati bhadraṃ te bhakṣayasva ca mā ciram

“These too are choice fruits of ours, O brahmin; take and accept them — blessings on you — and eat, do not delay.”

Words: asmākam — our; api — also, too; mukhyāni — choice, chief; phalānīmāni — these fruits; vai — indeed; dvija — O brahmin (twice-born); gṛhāṇa — take; prati — (preverb, with gṛhāṇa) accept in return; bhadraṃ — blessings, good fortune; te — to you; bhakṣayasva — eat; ca — and; mā — do not; ciram — (delay) long, tarry

1.9.20

tatas tās taṃ samāliṅgya sarvā harṣasamanvitāḥ
modakān pradadus tasmai bhakṣyāṃś ca vividhāñ śubhān

Then all those women, filled with joy, embracing him, gave him sweetmeats and various fine delicacies.

Words: tatas — then; tās — those; taṃ — him; samāliṅgya — having embraced; sarvā — all; harṣasamanvitāḥ — filled with joy; modakān — sweetmeats, sweets; pradadus — gave; tasmai — to him; bhakṣyāṃś — eatables, delicacies; ca — and; vividhāñ — various; śubhān — fine, good

1.9.21

tāni cāsvādya tejasvī phalānīti sma manyate
anāsvāditapūrvāṇi vane nityanivāsinām

And having tasted them, the radiant one took them for fruits — things never before tasted by those who dwell forever in the forest.

Words: tāni — those (things); cāsvādya — and having tasted; tejasvī — the radiant one; phalānīti — ‘these are fruits’; sma — (marks past sense); manyate — thought, supposed; anāsvāditapūrvāṇi — never tasted before; vane — in the forest; nityanivāsinām — of those dwelling forever

1.9.22

āpṛcchya ca tadā vipraṃ vratacaryāṃ nivedya ca
gacchanti smāpadeśāt tā bhītās tasya pituḥ striyaḥ

Then, taking their leave of the brahmin and pleading the excuse of their vow-observances, those women departed on a pretext, in fear of his father.

Words: āpṛcchya — having taken leave; ca — and; tadā — then; vipraṃ — of the brahmin; vratacaryāṃ — their vow-observance; nivedya — having announced, pleaded; ca — and; gacchanti — they go, departed; smāpadeśāt — then, on a pretext; tā — those; bhītās — afraid; tasya — his; pituḥ — of his father; striyaḥ — the women

1.9.23

gatāsu tāsu sarvāsu kāśyapasyātmajo dvijaḥ
asvasthahṛdayaś cāsīd duḥkhaṃ sma parivartate

When all of them had gone, the brahmin, the descendant of Kāśyapa, grew sick at heart and moved about in distress.

Words: gatāsu — having gone (loc. abs.); tāsu — those; sarvāsu — all; kāśyapasyātmajo — the descendant of Kāśyapa; dvijaḥ — the brahmin (twice-born); asvasthahṛdayaś — sick, uneasy at heart; cāsīd — and became; duḥkhaṃ — in distress, sorrowfully; sma — (marks past sense); parivartate — moved about, tossed to and fro

1.9.24

tato 'paredyus taṃ deśam ājagāma sa vīryavān
manojñā yatra tā dṛṣṭā vāramukhyāḥ svalaṃkṛtāḥ

Then, the next day, that vigorous one came to that spot where those charming, richly adorned chief courtesans had been seen.

Words: tato — then; 'paredyus — the next day; taṃ — that; deśam — place, spot; ājagāma — came; sa — he; vīryavān — the vigorous, heroic one; manojñā — charming, lovely; yatra — where; tā — those; dṛṣṭā — (had been) seen; vāramukhyāḥ — the chief courtesans; svalaṃkṛtāḥ — richly adorned

1.9.25

dṛṣṭvaiva ca tadā vipram āyāntaṃ hṛṣṭa mānasāḥ
upasṛtya tataḥ sarvās tās tam ūcur idaṃ vacaḥ

And as soon as they saw the brahmin coming, glad at heart, all those women drew near and then spoke these words to him:

Words: dṛṣṭvaiva — as soon as (they) saw; ca — and; tadā — then; vipram — the brahmin; āyāntaṃ — coming, approaching; hṛṣṭa — glad, delighted; mānasāḥ — at heart, in mind; upasṛtya — having drawn near; tataḥ — then; sarvās — all; tās — those; tam — to him; ūcur — spoke; idaṃ — this; vacaḥ — words

1.9.26

ehy āśramapadaṃ saumya asmākam iti cābruvan
tatrāpy eṣa vidhiḥ śrīmān viśeṣeṇa bhaviṣyati

“Come to our hermitage, gentle one,” they said; “there too this splendid hospitality will be found, and in fuller measure.”

Words: ehy — come; āśramapadaṃ — to the hermitage-site; saumya — O gentle one; asmākam — our; iti — thus; cābruvan — and they said; tatrāpy — there too; eṣa — this; vidhiḥ — ceremony, hospitality; śrīmān — splendid, glorious; viśeṣeṇa — especially, in fuller measure; bhaviṣyati — will be

1.9.27

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tāsāṃ sarvāsāṃ hṛdayaṃgamam
gamanāya matiṃ cakre taṃ ca ninyus tadā striyaḥ

Hearing the heart-winning speech of them all, he made up his mind to go; and the women then led him away.

Words: śrutvā — having heard; tu — and; vacanaṃ — the speech; tāsāṃ — of them; sarvāsāṃ — of all; hṛdayaṃgamam — heart-winning, touching the heart; gamanāya — for going; matiṃ — mind, resolve; cakre — made; taṃ — him; ca — and; ninyus — led away; tadā — then; striyaḥ — the women

1.9.28

tatra cānīyamāne tu vipre tasmin mahātmani
vavarṣa sahasā devo jagat prahlādayaṃs tadā

And while that great-souled brahmin was being brought there, the god suddenly sent down rain, gladdening the world.

Words: tatra — there; cānīyamāne — and (while) being brought; tu — and; vipre — the brahmin (loc. abs.); tasmin — that; mahātmani — great-souled; vavarṣa — rained; sahasā — suddenly; devo — the god (the rain-god); jagat — the world; prahlādayaṃs — gladdening; tadā — then

1.9.29

varṣeṇaivāgataṃ vipraṃ viṣayaṃ svaṃ narādhipaḥ
pratyudgamya muniṃ prahvaḥ śirasā ca mahīṃ gataḥ

Going forth to meet the sage, the brahmin who had come to his realm along with the rain, the king bowed low and touched the ground with his head.

Words: varṣeṇaivāgataṃ — come along with the very rain; vipraṃ — the brahmin; viṣayaṃ — to the realm, territory; svaṃ — his own; narādhipaḥ — the king; pratyudgamya — having gone forth to meet; muniṃ — the sage; prahvaḥ — bowing low, humbly; śirasā — with his head; ca — and; mahīṃ — the earth, ground; gataḥ — went to, touched

1.9.30

arghyaṃ ca pradadau tasmai nyāyataḥ susamāhitaḥ
vavre prasādaṃ viprendrān mā vipraṃ manyur āviśet

Duly and with full attention he gave him the guest-offering; he begged a favour of the best of brahmins, that no wrath might enter the brahmin.

Words: arghyaṃ — the guest-offering; ca — and; pradadau — gave; tasmai — to him; nyāyataḥ — duly, according to rule; susamāhitaḥ — with full attention; vavre — begged, sought; prasādaṃ — a favour, grace; viprendrān — from the best of brahmins; mā — lest, that not; vipraṃ — the brahmin; manyur — wrath; āviśet — might enter

1.9.31

antaḥpuraṃ praviśyāsmai kanyāṃ dattvā yathāvidhi
śāntāṃ śāntena manasā rājā harṣam avāpa saḥ

Entering the inner apartments and giving him his daughter Śāntā according to rule, the king, with a mind now at peace, attained joy.

Words: antaḥpuraṃ — the inner apartments; praviśyāsmai — having entered, to him; kanyāṃ — the daughter, maiden; dattvā — having given; yathāvidhi — according to rule; śāntāṃ — Śāntā; śāntena — with a peaceful; manasā — mind; rājā — the king; harṣam — joy; avāpa — attained; saḥ — he

1.9.32

evaṃ sa nyavasat tatra sarvakāmaiḥ supūjitaḥ
ṛṣyaśṛṅgo mahātejāḥ śāntayā saha bhāryayā

Thus Ṛṣyaśṛṅga of great splendour dwelt there, honoured well with every desirable thing, together with Śāntā his wife.

Words: evaṃ — thus; sa — he; nyavasat — dwelt; tatra — there; sarvakāmaiḥ — with every desirable thing; supūjitaḥ — well honoured; ṛṣyaśṛṅgo — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; śāntayā — with Śāntā; saha — together; bhāryayā — wife

← 1.8 Daśaratha seeks sons: Sumantra’s prophecy · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.10 Daśaratha brings Ṛṣyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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