Vishwamithra and Rambha
“ Rambha! There is a major task to be accomplished by you in the interest of Devas. You should create Desire in the heart of Kaushika who is doing penance, you should Lure and entice him.” Said Indra the King of Celestials ..Knowing it is not possible ,Rambha was ashamed and with Folded hands pleaded “ Hey King ! This Rishi is one of Extreeme Anger. If I try to divert his penance then he will curse me in a cruel way. , thinking of this I am really scared. Please pardon me for not undertaking this dauting Task.” Prayed Rambha to Lord Indra.Devarajha(King of celestials) called the shivering Rambha and spoke to her comforting her saying “Rambha! Do not fear. There won’t be any danger to you.Please do what I say. When during Spring all the trees spring out flowers blossoming and spread happiness in that Vasantharuthu, I will become the Nightingale which endears the hearts of all the Living beings will be near you along with Manmadha(Venus God of Love) and help you..You should disguise as the most Beauiful woman enchanting every one and the Rishi should swoon over you and thus poil his Penance.
Accordingly Rambha went to Kaushika, she drew his intellect from the penance, tried to entice him many ways. The honey flowing Nightingale’s lilting music fell on Sage Kaushika’s ears. Smelling the Aroma of Flowers and assimilating same the tender Breeze was pleasantly and softly blew over him soothingly. Sage Vishwamithra’s Penance got disturbed. He opened his eyes. He saw Rambha who was embodiment of Beauty with all Dazzling physical features thinkable.With bewitching smile, Luring eyes , Tanatalizing body movements, swaying steps, used all her energy and Charm to lure Vishwamithra’s Mind. Vishwamithra saw this keenly and thought to himself “ has she come like Menaka coming to entice me or has indra sent her to spoil my Penance?”
Extreemly pleasant Lilting music and breeze with Spring environtment made it clear that this was Indra’s making. and became furious towards Ramabha “ hey wicked! I have been doing penance to overcome Kama Krodha (Lust and Anger), this way you are trying to Lure me and trying to spoil my penance you will become stone for many thousands of years.” Cursed Vishwamithra. Then he realized that after all she was only a servant who was obeying command of her master and this was not justified. and told her the path for the removal of Curse.But immediately he felt repentant that he could not control his Anger and cursed Ramabha which in turn reduced his Penance. By the time Rambha became stone.When Kaushika became angry Indra and Manmadha ran away.
Because of Anger his Penance was wasted and realized that his senses have not come and control was simmering with sorrow. Fear gripped his Mind. “ hereafter I will not give room for Anger. Only if I speak it is bad,so I will not open my mouth at all. To speak I have to breathe So I will control Khumbhaka and and control Praana(Life Force), For any no of years I will not breathe, I will control my Sensory organs, without food,breathe, Speech,shrink the body, till I achieve Brahma Rishi will do penance. Because of my prowess of penance my body,Limbs,Praana, intellect will not lose it’s strength” thus he vowed to do penance which no one had undertaken so far. (Slokas 20)
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