महाह्रदं समासाद्य काश्यपस्तपसि स्थितः। दीर्घकालं रिश्रान्त ऋषिर्देवर्षिसंमितः
Having reached a great lake, the sage of the Kāśyapa line, steadfast in austerity, remained there for a long time, tireless, a seer esteemed as equal to the divine sages.
तस्य रेतः प्रचस्कन्द दृष्ट्वाऽप्सरसमुर्वशीम्। अप्सूपस्पृशतो राजन्मृगी तच्चापिबत्तदा। सह तोयेन तृषिता गर्भिणी चाभवत्ततः
There, his seed was released when he beheld the apsaras Urvaśī, O King, as he touched the water; a doe, thirsty, drank that water, and thus became pregnant.
सा पुरोक्ता भगवता ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा। देवकन्या मृगी भूत्वा मुनिं सूय विमोक्ष्यसे
That celestial maiden, having been told beforehand by the blessed Brahmā, creator of the worlds, 'You will be born as a doe and release the sage’s offspring.'
अमोघत्वाद्विधेश्चैव भावित्वाद्दैवनिर्मितात्। तस्यां मृग्यां समभवत्तस्व पुत्रो महानृषिः। ऋश्यशृङ्गस्तपोनित्यो वन एवाभ्यवर्धत
Because of the infallibility of fate, and since she was divinely fashioned, from that doe was born a great sage, Ṛśyaśṛṅga, ever devoted to austerity, who grew up in the forest.
तस्य शृङ्गं शिरसि वै राजन्नासीन्महात्मनः। तेनर्श्यशृङ्ग इत्येवं तदा स प्रथितोऽभवत्
On his head, O King, there was a horn; thus, he became known as Ṛśyaśṛṅga, and by that name he was renowned.
न तेन दृष्टपूर्वोऽन्यः पितुरन्यत्रमानुषः। तस्मात्तस्य मनो नित्यं ब्रह्मचर्येऽभवन्नृप
He had never seen any human other than his father; therefore, his mind was always fixed on celibacy, O King.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सखा दशरशस्य वै। कलोमपाद इतिख्यातो ह्यङ्गानामीश्वरोऽभवत्
At that very time, the friend of Daśaratha, known as Kalmaṣapāda, became the ruler of the Aṅgas.
तेन कामः कृतो मिथ्या ब्राह्मणेभ्य इति श्रुतिः। `दैवोपहतसत्त्वेन धर्मज्ञेनापि भारत'। स ब्राह्मणैः परित्यक्तस्तदा भरतसत्तम
It is heard that, under the influence of fate, though he knew righteousness, he committed a wrongful act against the Brāhmaṇas; thus, he was abandoned by them, O best of the Bharatas.
पुरोहितापचाराच्च तस्य राज्ञो यदच्छया। न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षस्ततोऽपीड्यन्त वै प्रजाः
Because of the king’s offense against his priest, O King, Indra withheld the rain, and the people suffered greatly.
स ब्राह्मणान्पर्यपृच्छत्तपोयुक्तान्मनीषिणः। प्रवर्षणे सुरेन्द्रस्य समर्थान्पृथिवीपते
Then the king questioned the Brāhmaṇas, who were engaged in austerities and wise, asking those capable of bringing rain from the lord of the gods.
कथं प्रवर्षेत्पर्जन्य उपायः परिमृश्यताम्। तमूचुश्चोदितास्ते तु स्वमतानि मनीषिणः
'How might the clouds bring rain? Let a method be considered.' Thus urged, the wise men spoke their opinions.
तत्र त्वेको रमुनिवरस्तं राजानमुवाच ह। कुपितास्तव राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणा निष्कृतिं चर
Then, among them, one eminent sage said to the king, 'O king of kings, the Brāhmaṇas are angry with you; perform atonement.'
ऋश्यशृङ्गं मुनिसुतमानयस्व च पार्थिव। ऐणेयमनभिज्ञं च नारीणामार्जवे रतम्
'Bring Ṛśyaśṛṅga, the sage’s son, O ruler, the one with antelope features, unacquainted with women, devoted to innocence.'
स चेदवतरेद्राजन्विषयं ते महातपाः। सद्यः प्रवर्षेत्पर्जन्य इति मे नास्ति संशयः
'If that great ascetic enters your realm, O King, the clouds will immediately bring rain—of this I have no doubt.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो राजन्कृत्वा निष्कृतिमात्मनः। स गत्वा पुनरागच्छत्प्रसन्नेषु द्विजातिषु
Hearing these words, the king performed atonement for himself, and, having gone, returned once more when the Brāhmaṇas were appeased.
राजानमागतं ज्ञात्वा प्रतिसंजगृहुः प्रजाः। `स च ता प्रतिजग्राह पितेव हितकृत्सदा
When the people learned that the king had returned, they welcomed him; and he, in turn, accepted them, always acting for their welfare like a father.
ततोऽङ्गपतिराहूय सचिवान्मन्त्रकोविदान्। ऋश्यशृङ्गागमे यत्नमकरोन्मन्त्रनिश्चये
Then the lord of Anga summoned his ministers, skilled in counsel, and made every effort to determine the proper course upon the arrival of Rishyasringa.
सोऽध्यगच्छदुपायं तु तैरमात्यैः सहाच्युतः। शास्त्रज्ञैरलमर्थज्ञौर्नीत्यां च परिनिष्ठितैः
He, accompanied by those wise and accomplished ministers—versed in scripture, well-versed in matters, and firmly established in policy—found a means.
ततश्चानाययामास वारमुख्या महीपतिः। वेश्याः सर्वत्रनिष्णातास्ता उवाच स पार्थिवः
Afterwards, the king brought together the chief courtesans, all thoroughly skilled, and addressed them.
ऋश्यशृङ्गमृषेः पुत्रमानयध्वमुपायतः। लोभयित्वाऽभिविश्चास्य विषयं मम शोभनाः
Bring the son of the sage Rishyasringa here by some means; entice him, and show him the delights of my realm.
ता राजभयभीताश्च शापभीताश्च योषितः। अशक्यमूचुस्तत्कार्यं विषण्णा गतचेतसः
Those women, fearful of the king and of a curse, replied, disheartened and with troubled minds, that the task was impossible.
तत्र त्वेका जरद्योषा राजानमिदमब्रवीत्। प्रयतिष्ये महाराज तमानेतुं तपोधनम्
Then one aged woman spoke to the king: 'O great king, I will strive to bring that ascetic here.'
अभिप्रेतांस्तु मे कामांस्त्वमनुज्ञातुमर्हसि। ततः शक्ष्याम्यानयितुमृश्यशृङ्गमृषेः सुतम्
'You should grant me my desired wishes; then I will be able to bring the son of the sage Rishyasringa.'
तस्याः सर्वमभिप्रेतमन्वजानात्स पार्थिवः। धनं च प्रददौ भूरि रत्नानि विविधानि च
The king granted all her wishes and gave her abundant wealth and various jewels.
ततो रूपेण सपन्ना वयसा च महीपते। स्त्रिय आदाय काश्चित्सा जगाम वनमञ्जसा
Then, adorned with beauty and youth, she took some women and went straight to the forest.
सा तु नाव्याश्रमं चक्रे राजकार्यार्थसिद्धये। संदेशाच्चैव नृपतेः स्वबुद्ध्या चैव भारत
She constructed a boat hermitage for the accomplishment of the king's purpose, both by his instruction and by her own intelligence, O Bharata.
नानापुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैः कृत्रिमैरुपशोभितैः। नानागुल्मलतोपेतैः स्वादुकामफलप्रदैः
It was adorned with artificial trees bearing various flowers and fruits, surrounded by diverse shrubs and vines, yielding sweet and desirable fruits.
अतीव रमणीयं तदतीव च मनोहरम्। चक्रे नाव्याश्रमं रम्यमद्भुतोपमदेर्शनम्
That boat hermitage was exceedingly delightful and captivating, made beautiful and wondrous to behold.
ततो निवध्य सा नावमदूरे काश्यपाश्रमात्। चारयामास पुरुषैर्विहारं तस्य वै मुनेः
Then she anchored the boat not far from Kashyapa's hermitage and had her attendants create amusements for the sage.
ततो दुहितरं वेश्यां समाधायेतिकार्यताम्। दृष्ट्वाऽन्तरं काशय्पस्य प्राहिणोद्बुद्धिसंमताम्
Then, having instructed a courtesan to carry out the task, and perceiving an opportunity with Kashyapa, she sent the clever one.