Shloka 17

ऋश्यशृङ्गानयनकथा — The Account of Bringing Ṛśyaśṛṅga

and the Remedy for Drought

Devanagari script

एवमङ्गाधिपेनैव गणिकाभि: ऋषेस्सुत:।आनीतोऽवर्षयद्देवश्शान्ता चास्मै प्रदीयते।।।।

Transliteration

evam aṅgādhipenaiva gaṇikābhiḥ ṛṣes sutaḥ | ānīto 'varṣayad devaḥ śāntā cāsmai pradīyate ||

Translation

یوں انگ دیش کے راجا نے گنیکاؤں کو وسیلہ بنا کر اُس رِشی کے پُتر کو بلوایا؛ تب دیوتا نے بارش برسائی، اور شانتَا اُسے (ویواہ میں) سونپ دی گئی۔

Word by Word

• evam: thus/in this way
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• aṅga-adhipena: by the king of Aṅga
• aṅga-adhipena: Karta (कर्ता) (agent in passive sense with 'ānītaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (ṣaṣṭhī): 'lord of Aṅga'; Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया) Singular

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• gaṇikābhiḥ: by/with courtesans
• gaṇikābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण) (means/agency-assistance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental Plural

• ṛṣeḥ: of the sage
• ṛṣeḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive Singular

• sutaḥ: son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of passive predicate 'ānītaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• ānītaḥ: was brought
• ānītaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√nī (धातु) → ānīta (क्त/PPP)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative Singular; passive sense 'was brought'

• avarṣayat: caused to rain / rained down
• avarṣayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√vṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, imperfect/past), Parasmaipada, 3rd person Singular

• devaḥ: the god (Indra)
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of 'avarṣayat')
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative Singular

• śāntā: Śāntā
• śāntā: Karta (कर्ता) (subject of 'pradīyate')
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāntā (प्रातिपदिक) (proper noun)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• asmai: to him
• asmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक) (pronoun)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी) Singular

• pradīyate: is given/offered
• pradīyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person Singular; passive-like sense 'is given/being offered'

Context

Thus with the help of courtesans of the king of Anga, when the son of the sage (Rsyasringa) was brought rains followed. The king offered his daughter Santa (in marriage to the sage).

Characters & Entities

• Ṛśyaśṛṅga
• Vibhaṇḍaka (implied as the sage-father)
• Indra (deva causing rain, by context)
• Śāntā

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse highlights the link between spiritual purity/ritual power and public welfare (rain, prosperity). It also raises ethical tension about expedient means, inviting reflection on dharma versus mere strategy.

What is the narrative situation?

Aṅga’s king successfully brings Ṛśyaśṛṅga through a planned lure; as a result rains come, and Śāntā is given in marriage to the sage.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s ascetic potency (tapas) is foregrounded through the immediate boon of rainfall, symbolizing beneficence arising from spiritual discipline.