Vibhandaka

Vibhandaka, a sage of immense austerity, sees the apsara Urvashi while bathing and spills his semen. A thirsty doe drinks it and conceives, giving birth to Rishyashringa — a boy with a horn on his head who knows nothing of the world beyond his father. Meanwhile, King Lomapada of Anga, abandoned by brahmanas for his falsehoods, suffers a drought. The brahmanas tell him that only Rishyashringa can bring rain — and the king turns to courtesans to lure the innocent sage from the forest.

Vibhandaka returns to the hermitage and finds his son Rishyashringa alone, sighing repeatedly, his mind disturbed, his duties neglected. He asks what happened — and who came while he was away.

Vibhandaka decides to burn up the king of Anga and all his possessions. He travels to Champa, exhausted and hungry — but along the way, he is honoured by herdsmen who claim all riches belong to his son. Region after region, he hears the same words. His anger is appeased. When he reaches the king's city, he sees his son and daughter-in-law Shanta, and his fury dissolves entirely.

Vibhandaka leaves his hermitage again to gather fruit, giving the courtesan a second chance. She returns, and Rishyashringa, delighted and deluded, agrees to go with her. She tempts him into a boat, unmoors it, and transports him to the king of Anga — where rain suddenly falls, flooding the world.