सुमंत्रश्चोदितोराज्ञा प्रोवाचेदं वचः तथा ।
यथर्श्यशृंगस्त्वानीतः शृणु मे मंत्रिभिः सह ॥

With the encouragement from the King, Sumantra started to elaborate . " O King , I will tell you how the Ministers of Romapada brought Rishyasrumga to their kingdom"

Balakanda
Tenth canto

With the encouragement from the King, Sumantra then started to elaborate on how Romapada's ministers brought Rishyasrumga to his kingdom. He said " O King , I will tell you how the Ministers of Romapada brought Rishyasrumga to their kingdom"

Sumantra elaborated

'The priest of Romapada told Romapada and his ministers about his plan and said , " Oh king there is no danger of mishap with the plan thought about by us"

"Rishyasrumga lives in the forest . He is immersed in the study of Vedas and penance . He is not aware of pleasing things of life or the women. Through activities that please the senses and mind we will attract him towards the city. We will send pleasingly dressed women to that place. They will entice him with a variety of gifts using their tricks and bring him here".

Having heard the plan the king said to the priest " Let it be so!". Then the ministers and the priest proceeded as described above. Receiving those instructions those beautiful women entered the forest. Then they approached the hermitage and were trying to get the attention of the ascetic.

That great Rishyasrumga was always staying in the hermitage. Being busy in serving his parents and elders he never left the hermitage. From the time he was born he never saw women or other men from the cities or villages.

Then one day Rishyasrumga, the son of Vibhandaka accidentally came to the place where the beautiful women were waiting and saw them wearing variety of attractive clothes . Then the women approached him and spoke to him ." Oh the best of Brahman's ! Who are you ? Why are you here ? Why are you moving about alone in this deep forests ? We would like to hear from you !

That ascetic having never seen such beautiful women of forest felt an urge to tell them about his father. He said " Vibhandaka is my father and I am his own son. My name is Rishyasrumga. This forest is celebrated for austerities. Oh Lovely ones ! My hermitage is nearby. Please come there. There I shall certainly offer worship to all of you as is due".

Hearing those words of the Rishyasrumga, all of them had a desire to see the hermitage and followed him. Welcoming them he offered traditional worship and fruits welcoming saying, " Here is the water to wash your feet. Here are the fruits and roots"etc.

Having accepted his welcome, though very much excited , they wanted to leave immediately being afraid of the arrival of Sage Vibhandaka .They said " Oh the best of Brahmins ! Please accept these excellent fruits , they will be good for you . Please eat them immediately". Saying so they embraced him and offered him various kinds sweetmeats.

That ascetic having partaken in those sweetmeats realized that that kind of sweetmeats were never partaken in the forest before. Those women too being afraid of his father left on the pretext of a sacred observance they are involved with.

When they had all left Rishyasrumga felt uneasy at heart and was restless through agony. Thinking of them in his mind the hermit came to the same place where he saw those beautiful women previously. The moment they saw the Brahmin arriving at that place, delighted the women went forth and spoke to him.

"O Great One! Please please pay a visit to our hermitage . There you will be received with even more special welcome". Hearing those touching words of welcome he went along with them.

As soon as the great one arrived in that kingdom the Lord Varuna showered rain at that time bringing joy to the whole world. Going forth to meet the ascetic the ruler of the land bowed low and prostrated before him on the ground. The king then offered the ascetic due worship and begged the ascetic not to be angry for bringing him to his kingdom through the ruse of the women.

Then the king entered the harem and gave away his daughter Shanta in marriage in delight. The illustrious Rishyasrumga having been entertained thus lived with wife Santa happily there after.

So ends the tenth canto of Balakanda

om tat sat

एवं स न्यवसत् तत्र सर्वकामैः सुपूजितः ।
ऋष्यशृंगो महातेजा शांतया सह भार्यया ॥

Then the king entered the harem and gave away his daughter Shanta in marriage with delight. The illustrious Rishyasrumga having been entertained thus lived with wife Santa happily there after.

|| om tat sat ||