The Sacrifice Begins

After hearing this from Sumantra, Dashratha left for the land of Anga. He was greeted by king Lompada. When he wanted to the reason for his visit, Dashratha said he wanted Lompada to leave for Ayodhya with Rishyasringa. He said if Rishyasringa helped, people of Ayodhya would see their prince.
Lompada took Dashratha to the place where Rishyasringa was. Dashratha greeted Rishysringa. Lompada introducing Dashratha said he wanted the sage's help in getting a son. He also added that Shanta, who the sage was married to, was in reality the daughter of Dashratha, so there was a relationship of a father-in-law and son-in-law between the two.
The sage realized that Vishnu would be born in the house of Dashratha and agreed to go.
With the sage, Shanta and Lompada, Dashratha left for Ayodhya.

Rishyasringa greeted Vashistha and asked for the fire sacrifice to start. He then asked Dashratha to invite all the great sages from all over the land. He then said to start a horse sacrifice in the name of Vishnu.
Many great sages came there, including Rishyasringa's father.
The sacrifice started with the sages reciting the Vedas. Along with the sages, their disciples joined in.
Kings from all over came to be a part of the sacrifice.
The sacrifice was taking place in a place which was eighty one yojanas long and twelve yojanas wide. Hundreds of fire sacrifices were started there.
Dashratha bowed down to all the sages and took their blessings.
Rishyasringa asked Dashratha to first bow before before his Guru, Vashistha and take his blessings.
Rice, Sesame and Butter was added in the fires.

The Gods in the heaven were anxious. Ravana, son of Vishrava, was making the Gods his slaves. Indra asked Brahma when Vishnu would be born to save them.

They all went to the cosmic ocean where Vishnu was and bowed down before him.

On the great snake Ananta, Vishnu was in a deep sleep, with Lakshmi sitting at his feet.

Rishyasringa and Vibhandak

Continuing, Sumantra said :

The old lady told the king - I hjave sneaked off the son of Vibhandak. When he comes home he will be angry and he may curse you. Please think of a way to please him.
She asked the king to line the path from his land to Vibhandak's ahrama with cows. Seeing cows, the rishi's rage would be pacified.
The king set forth. He named the villages on the way, as Sri Rishyasringa.

In the forest, when Vibhandak came home he saw his son missing. Where had his son gone? He kept searching everywhere frantically but could not see his son. He started roaming around, anxiously to see if there was any sign of his son.

He came across a village and was astonished to discover that the village belonged to his son.

He thought his son had desired to be a householder and was happy. Realizing this, Vibhandak went back. He knew he would meet hi son when Dashratha would hold a great sacrifice, and decided to wait till then.

Rishyasringa comes to Lompada

The old lady, when she saw Vibhandak leave, asked her followers to be prepared. They approached Rishyasringa, who was pleased to see them.
The lady asked the young sage to go with them to their hermitage where they could get more sweets to eat.
The hermitage which was a boat, set sail and swiftly reached the land of Lompada. As soon as the boat touched the shores, it started raining.
Lompada along with Dashratha's daughter, Shanta came to the Rishi.
Shanta was promised to the sage.

Ending his story, Sumantra said, Rishyasringa is your son in law now.Invite him to your land.

Rishysringa and the old lady

The boat set sail on Narmada and reached where Rishysringa lived. Seeing Vibhandak they were scared and waited for him to leave the hermitage.
When he left, the girls came out and started playing musical instruments and started singing.
Rishysringa was reciting the Vedas. Hearing the music he came to see what was happening. Not able to distinguish between men and women, he thought people from heaven had arrived. He welcomed them and asked them to visit his house.
The old lady and her team was offered some fruits which they refused saying they had not finished their worship. She sat down and closed her eyes. Then said she said was done and as Vishnu's prasad, she offered the sage the sweets and sweetened water.
The sage wanted to know where such fruits were available.The girls asked the sage to follow them, and took him to their boat.
Fearing that Vibhandak may approach soon, the ladies told him to go and promised a visit, the next day.
When Vibhandak came back, Rishyasringa narrated all that had happened. He said rishis from heaven had come and fed him heavenly fruits.
Vibhandak hearing descriptions said they are women, probably rakshasha women who had happened to come there.
The next day Vibhandak was in a dilemma. If stayed back to protect his son, his years of worship would be destroyed. Then he thought, life will carry on. After all these relationships are the shackles of Maya.
Saying this, he lifted his copper pot and tulsi garland and left for the forest.
The old lady was watching this. As soon as Vibhandak left, she approached Rishyasringa.

Bringing Rishyasringa

Sumantra told the king, that Rishyasringa was staying in the land of Anga, in the house of Lompada.
Dashratha wanted to know why Rishyasringa went to Anga.
Sumnatra said :
Once there was a massive drought in the land. There was no rain for twelve years. The king was told Vibhandak's son Rishysringa would be the person who be able to get rains in the land.
The king made an announcement, who ever will be able to get Rishyasringa would be give half the kingdom.
An old lady said she would bring Rishyasringa. He was fourteen years of age and he had no distinction between men and women.
She asked for a boat, which would like a house with trees on it. She said she would go with the boat and fetch the sage.
The boat was built. It had two separate huts and was surrounded by fruit bearing trees. Sweet fruits and sweets were loaded onto the boat. In barrels of water, sweeteners were mixed to make it sweet and camphor was added to keep it cool.
A few very beautiful young ladies were selected to accompany the old woman. The girls were afraid of curses, but the old lady told them not to worry. She said when she was young she had enticed many sages and she know what to do.

Birth of Rishyasringa

For years Dashratha ruled Ayodhya. He got his ministers, courtiers and priests and spoke to them. He said People shun me as I have no son. I have grown old and I have no son who will carry my line forward. Andhaka, the blind sage blessed me but I do not see that blessing taking any fruit.

Vashistha asked him to fetch Rishyasringa, who would be able to help him. He then started telling about Rishyasringa.
Vibhandak was a fiery sage. All were afraid of him. Indra was afraid the sage would take his throne. He sent Vayu to tempt the sage. Vayu observed the sage and saw that where he went and what he did. He saw that the sage ate fruits from a particular part of the forest. Pawan smeared nectar on the fruits. The sage consumed those fruits and grew in size. He went off to the banks of Narmada to pray.
One day when he was standing in the waters of Narmada, he saw Urvashi, the apsara, passing in the skies, her dresses flying in the wind.
Excited, the sage ejaculated and his semen flowed in the water. A doe drank the water with the semen and became pregnant. In time she gave birth, and seeing a human baby she was shocked and left the child in the forest and fled.
Vibhandak saw the crying infant and knowing it as his child, he took it home. He fed honey and fruits and the infant began growing up into a small boy.
A few years old, and a small horn began growing on the boy's forehead. Seeing this, the boy was named Rishyasringa.

Vashishtha said this was the person who would help Dashratha fulfil his dream.