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Romapada (), also known Chitraratha and Lomapada, was a king of
Anga Anga was an ancient Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan tribe of eastern South Asia whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The members of the Aṅga tribe were called the Āṅgeyas. Counted among the "sixteen great na ...
, and the adoptive father of
Shanta Shanta (), is the princess of Anga in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is the wife of Rishyasringa. In northern recensions of the epic and later Indian literature, she is regarded as a daughter of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, who was ...
in the
Hindu epic Mahākāvya (lit. great kāvya, court epic), also known as ''sargabandha'', is a genre of Indian epic poetry in Classical Sanskrit. The genre is characterised by ornate and elaborate descriptions of phenomena such as scenery, love, and battles. Ty ...
''
Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
''.


Legend


Early life

Romapada was the youngest son of the
Yadava The Yadava (), not to be confused with Yadav, were an ancient Indian people who believed to have descended from Yadu (legendary king), Yadu, a legendary king of Chandravamsha lineage. The community was formed of various clans, being the #T ...
king Vidarbha. Vidarbha had many sons, but his friend King Dharmaratha of
Anga Anga was an ancient Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan tribe of eastern South Asia whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The members of the Aṅga tribe were called the Āṅgeyas. Counted among the "sixteen great na ...
was heirless. Thus, Dharmaratha adopted Romapada. When Dharmaratha grew old, he made Romapada the ruler of
Anga Anga was an ancient Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan tribe of eastern South Asia whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The members of the Aṅga tribe were called the Āṅgeyas. Counted among the "sixteen great na ...
.


Meeting with Rishyasringa

After Dharmaratha retired to the forest, Romapada became the King of
Anga Anga was an ancient Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan tribe of eastern South Asia whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The members of the Aṅga tribe were called the Āṅgeyas. Counted among the "sixteen great na ...
. He married Varshini, who was the elder sister of
Kausalya Kausalya (, ) is a queen of Kosala in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is the first senior queen consort of Dasharatha, who ruled Kosala from its capital Ayodhya. She is the mother of Rama, the male protagonist of the epic. She is a secondar ...
(mother of
Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...
). Kausalya's husband - King
Dasharatha Dasharatha (, IAST: Daśaratha; born Nemi) was the king of Kosala, with its capital at Ayodhya, in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Dasharatha married Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. He was the father of Rama, the protagonist of the epic Ramayana ...
of
Ayodhya Ayodhya () is a city situated on the banks of the Sarayu river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ayodhya district as well as the Ayodhya division of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ayodhya became th ...
was Romapada's childhood friend. Romapada and Varshini did not have any issue; Dasharatha promised them his first child. A daughter
Shanta Shanta (), is the princess of Anga in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is the wife of Rishyasringa. In northern recensions of the epic and later Indian literature, she is regarded as a daughter of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, who was ...
was born to Dasharatha and Kausalya. Shanta was then adopted by the childless Romapada. Once, a
Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...
named Shuvateertha came to Romapada to ask for help, but the king called him back in the evening. When he visited in the evening, the king was busy talking with Shanta, and ignored Shuvateertha. The Brahmin returned, disappointed. The god of the rain and the king of heaven,
Indra Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war.  volumes Indra is the m ...
was enraged with the behaviour of the king. Thus, Anga received little rain during monsoons. Severe drought occurred in the kingdom of Anga and on discussing with the known saints, the king realised the prevalent situation could be bypassed only if sage Rishyashringa, the son of Vibhandaka would visit his country and bless it with the power of his meditation and austerity. The king thought of various means to bring the sage to his country, and he suddenly got the idea that the seer, who had grown aloof from the world and the material pleasure, could only be lured by the charm and beauty of women. Thus, he sent beautiful courtesans dressed in attractive clothing and decorated with a pleasant smell in order to lure the seer. A courtesan named Vaishali was successful in bringing him to Anga, where he was given grand welcome. The king had earlier adopted the daughter of his friend
Dasharatha Dasharatha (, IAST: Daśaratha; born Nemi) was the king of Kosala, with its capital at Ayodhya, in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Dasharatha married Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. He was the father of Rama, the protagonist of the epic Ramayana ...
called
Shanta Shanta (), is the princess of Anga in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is the wife of Rishyasringa. In northern recensions of the epic and later Indian literature, she is regarded as a daughter of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, who was ...
, who was an elder sister of
Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...
to
Kausalya Kausalya (, ) is a queen of Kosala in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is the first senior queen consort of Dasharatha, who ruled Kosala from its capital Ayodhya. She is the mother of Rama, the male protagonist of the epic. She is a secondar ...
. After the seer performed the sacrifice, he was given an opportunity to choose a bride for him from among the daughters of all the known officers, ministers, and subordinate rulers present there. The young seer chose
Shanta Shanta (), is the princess of Anga in the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. She is the wife of Rishyasringa. In northern recensions of the epic and later Indian literature, she is regarded as a daughter of King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya, who was ...
, the adopted daughter of Romapada. Hence, she was married to him, and the sage was given position of a prince in the Anga Kingdom. In the ''
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
'', Adhiratha, the chief charioteer of King
Dhritarashtra Dhritarashtra () was a ruler of the ancient Kuru kingdom, featured as a central character in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. He is also attested in the ''Yajurveda'', where he is acknowledged as the son of King Vichitravirya. According to th ...
and adoptive-father of
Karna Karna (Sanskrit: कर्ण, IAST: ''Karṇa''), also known as Vasusena, Anga-Raja, Sutaputra and Radheya, is one of the major characters in the Hindu epic ''Mahābhārata''. He is the son of Surya (the Sun deity) and princess Kunti (later ...
, is said to be Romapada's descendant.


See also

* Sagara * Pratardana * Guha


References


External links


Romapada's Plan to destroy Droughtness in his Kingdom - 1
{{HinduMythology Characters in the Ramayana Characters in the Mahabharata