Rusyasrung (Ekalshrungi) Rishi defeated by the sense of taste.
Rusyasrung (Ekalshrungi) Rishi defeated by the sense of taste.
Sri Narayan Muni said:-
O Brahmin, now I will tell you in brief, the story of the sage Rusyasrung, (Ekalshungi) and how he had to face misfortune because of his excessive interest and affection in worldly pleasures. 1.
Long ago, there lived an ascetic named Vibhandaka on the bank of river Kaushiki. He had a son named Rsyasrng who practiced great penance. 2.
Staying in the forest since childhood, he had never seen or known any other human being, man or woman, except his father. 3.
As did his father, he abandoned all worldly pleasures covetable by the five organs and observed perfect celibacy. Hence he was respected even by the gods. Although he was young, due to his penance, he could destroy the ego of great sages and they respectfully served him. 4 -5.
Ekalshungi seduced by a prostitute sent by Lomapad
At that time there lived a king called Lomapad who ruled over the country named Ang. He was the friend of King Dasarath. 6.
He promised to give the Brahmins whatever they asked for. But being prohibited by his family priest, the King said ‘No’ to
one of the Brahmins. Hence all of them expressed solidarity by
disregarding him. 7.
Because of the violation of the promise given to the Brahmins, Indra the ruler of the heavens (Pakashasan) withheld rains in that country and hence the subjects suffered miserably. 8.
Then King Lompad along with his elderly ministers went to the forest to enquire with the great sages and get to know the cause of the drought. 9.
A sage told him that consequent to the breach of promise given to the Brahmins, Indra has caused draught in the country. It was necessary to perform rituals in atonement thereof and placate the Brahmins by inviting them to stay in the capital, honour them and worship them as before. 10 - 11.
‘Rusyasrung is known to be a master ascetic. You somehow invite him to your town. The moment he treads there, it will rain copiously and your citizens will be happy’. The King became pleased and, saluting the sage, returned to the town. 12 - 13.
Bent on atonement, he made arrangements for the stay of the Brahmins in the city. He sent a prostitute to respectfully cajole the sage Rsyasrng into visiting the kingdom. 14.
On the bank of the river Kaushiki, she erected a wonderful hermitage and set sail a boat decorated with artificial flowers and
other embellishments. 15.
When she came to know from the secret messengers that the sage Vibhandaka was out of place and Rsyasrng was alone in his hermitage, she came there to win him over. 16.
She of the charming looks and captivating physique, adorned herself with beautiful clothes and precious ornaments. Bowing to him, she enquired about his well-being, penance etc. 17.
He being ignorant about the difference between a man and a woman, took her to be a celibate like himself and welcomed ‘him’ by offering the seat of Darbha grass. 18.
He asked: ‘O ascetic, who are you whose complexion is so lustrous like a flaming fire from severe penance? O anchorite! Where is your hermitage? Who is your meritorious father?’ 19.
The prostitute replied, ‘On the other bank of the river Kaushiki, reachable by boat, is my beautiful hermitage. It is three Yojanas (about four kms) away from your place. I am not worthy of respect from you; you are the one whom I should honour. In expression of my veneration, I aspire to embrace you.’ 20 - 21.
Rusyasrung said:-
‘Please have these Bhallatak (acardium) and inguda fruits. And have some water from the Alabu pot (made from a kind of gourd).’ 22
The woman gracefully placed those fruits away and instead gave him drinks. He relished the drinks and also the sweets in pots bedecked with gold and diamonds. 23 - 24.
He whose senses were agitated and unsteady due to the effect of those juices began to laugh. He enjoyed the fragrance of the flowers around and he behaved like an ordinary man. 25
An expert knave, she knew that he was fully intoxicated, and embraced him again and again and praised him in enchanting words. 26.
Now that he was completely assailed by passion, she again embraced him and finding him fully under her influence, greatly rejoiced at her achievement. 27.
Fearing the wrath of sage Vibhandaka, the whore departed from the place well before his arrival, offering an excuse that it was time for performing the ‘Agnihotra’ ritual. 28.
The sage who had deviated from the path of asceticism due to the influence of drinks, thought about nothing but her in his mind, and was perturbed like a man possessed. 29.
On arrival, the sage Vibhandaka saw his son restless and asked him, ‘What upsets you, my son?’ 30.
Rusyasrung said:-
‘Today, a great lotus-eyed, auspicious, black haired Brahmin having a good form had come here. He was very soft spoken. He had two lumps under the throat and had a slender waist. He wore shining dark garments and he looked like the son of gods. 31 - 32.
‘Taking me face to face, he embraced me firmly and entertained me by soft speech. He satiated me with very tasty dishes and sweet juices. He is everything to me. My body is burning in pain from his separation. 33 - 34.
So, O father, I wish to go to his hermitage just now. I will observe my penance in his company at his place.’ 35.
Listening to what his son said, Vibhandaka was shocked and thought that it must be some unknown entity in the disguise of a lady, and that was why he was mentally confused.
He admonished his son. ‘There are many demon-cheats wandering in the forest taking different forms to devour the ascetics. This could be one of them.’
For three days, the father wandered all over the forest in search of that woman but did not find her. 36 - 38.
When on another occasion sage Vibhandaka left for the forest to bring some roots etc., the woman seized the opportunity and walked in sounding her anklets and waist-band (to attract Rusyasrung). 39.
He spotted her at a distance, became much joyful, and hasten- ing towards the prostitute he embraced her with passion. 40.
Rusyasrung said:-
‘O my love, before my father returns you please take me from here to your beautiful hermitage.’ 41.
She was happy to hear this, and immediately made him sit in the boat and brought him to the harem of the king. There she said to him, ‘This is my hermitage!’ 42.
There, many ladies taught him various amorous techniques. Abandoning his religious morals, he took interest in their coaching. 43.
Because of the arrival of the Rsyasrng in the country of King Lomapad, there was heavy rainfall. The King was pleased and married off his daughter Shanta to him. 44.
O Brahmin! Thus, an honorable, chaste, devout and renowned ascetic had fallen from his own great vow of celibacy owing to the lust for worldly pleasures. 45.
There are many more kings and great sages who were condemned because of their fetish for worldly pleasures. 46
Thus I have narrated the story of great ascetic Rsyasrng and him wavering from his vow. Now I shall tell you the story of King Bharat, which is worth listening to by all men. 47.
Thus ends the thirteenth chapter entitled ‘Defeat of Rusyasrung due to undue affection for worldly pleasures’ in the second Prakarana of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan,, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 13
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