Bengali Ramayana - Rishyashringa

[Guest guest]

"Vibhabuk the rishi was praying on the banks of

Narmada. He saw the apsara, Urvashi there. Both fell in

love with each other. Angry with her, the Gods cursed

Urvashi to become a doe. Urvashi, in the form of a doe,

gave birth to a beautiful looking boy. Born of a doe,

the boy had a horn of a deer growing out of his

forehead. After giving birth to the boy, Urvashi was

relieved of her curse. She went off to the heavens.

Vibhabuk brought up the boy. The boy grew up to be a

handsome young man. He was called Rishyashingra as he had

an antler growing out of his forehead. He is the

person you want to perform your yagna. You will be

blessed with children." <br>After Vashishta finished

telling about Rishyashingra's birth, Sumantra,

Dasharatha's friend and charioteer said, "Rishyashringa stays

with Lomapada, the foster father of your daughter, oh

king. Lompada's kingdom was facing a massive drought.

On consulting priests, the king learnt that if

Rishyashringa came to his kingdom it would rain. The king then

proclaimed that who ever would get Rishyashringa would get

half his kingdom. An old lady said that she would do

the job. She knew where Rishyashringa stayed. She

also knew that Rishyashringa who had grown up in the

forests had never seen a human except his father so he

did not know any difference between a man and a

woman. She told the king to get a boat ready. The boat

would like a hut and would also have fruit trees around

it."<br>"The king got a golden boat ready. It was wonderful to

look at. It was studded with gems, which resembled the

stars in the sky. In water jugs, the lady filled honey

and sugar syrup. The fruit trees had fruits made of

sweets. Beautiful courtesans sang and danced in the boat.

The boat sailed off on the river Narmada. They

reached the spot where Vibhabuk was meditating. They

waited for Vibhabuk to leave, and then they stepped off

the boat. <br>Rishyashringa saw ladies singing,

dancing and playing musical instruments. He thought they

were people from the heaven. He then saw the old lady.

Thinking her to be a hermit, the young man welcomed her.

Offering prasada to the young hermit, the old lady gave

him the sweets and honey telling him they were fruits

and water. <br>The muni wanted to know where he could

get such fruits. The old lady told him to wait till

evening saying she would take him there. <br>When

Vibhabuk returned Rishyashringa told him about the

happenings of the day. Vibhabuk realized what was in store

for the future. He set off his tapasya. <br>The old

lady told him to come with her to her hut. Once inside

the boat shaped like a hut, they set sail for

Lompada's kingdom. The muni never realized this. The boat

reached the kingdom of Lompada. As soon as Rishyashringa

set foot on the ground, it started

raining."<br>Dasharatha then asked Sumantra "How did Vibhabuk survive the

loss of his son?"<br>Sumantra said "The old lady

approached the king and said that though she had got the

rishi, he was not aware as to where he was. The king

decided to please Vibhabuk."<br>"When Vibhabuk returned

home, his son was missing. He learnt that Rishyashingra

had been made the king of a small kingdom and Lompada

had given your daughter in marriage to him. Learning

that his son was happy, Vibhabuk returned to his

tapasya".