Rishyaśring

Also known as: Rishyasring · Role: hermit · First appears: Book I, Canto 8 · Sumantra’s Speech

In Book I, Canto 8, the summary tells that Vibháṇdak’s son Rishyaśring was to wed Śántá, daughter of Lomapád. In Canto 9, he left his forest retreat with the women who led him to the royal town, where Lomapád bestowed hamlets, cattle, and riches on him and gave him Śántá in marriage. They lived together in the town until Rishyaśring went with her to Daśaratha’s city.

In Cantos 11 and 13, Rishyaśring agreed to aid Daśaratha’s sacrifice for heirs. After the offering, the priests gave their shares to him and Vaśishṭha, and when Daśaratha asked for the increase of his race, Rishyaśring promised, “Four sons, O Monarch, shall be thine, / Upholders of thy royal line.” In Canto 17, he and Śántá set out for their hermitage, escorted by Daśaratha; Rishyaśring asked the king to return, and Daśaratha left weeping. In Canto 18, Rishyaśring returned to his father after the rites, embraced Śántá, and departed with his father to the wood.