The old ascetic (top left). The doe drinking water (bottom). The old ascetic nursing the baby Isisanga (centre). Alambusa (right).

गंगा के किनारे एक तपस्वी रहता था। एक दिन जब वह नदी के स्नान कर बाहर आया तो उसी स्थान पर जाकर एक हिरणी ने पानी पिया जिससे वह तत्काल गर्भवती हो गई। संयासी ने जब हिरणी की अवस्था को देखा तो उसे यह ज्ञात हुआ कि वह उसके बच्चे की माँ बनने वाली थी।

कुछ ही दिनों के बाद हिरणी ने एक बच्चे को जन्म दिया। तपस्वी ने उसका नाम इसिसंग रखा। वह संयासी पुत्र भी पिता के संरक्षण में एक महान् तपस्वी बनने लगा।

कुछ वर्षों के बाद जब तपस्वी ने अपना अंतकाल निकट पाया तो उसने इसिसंग को अंतिम उपदेश हेतु बुलाया और उसने उसे नारी के मोह-पाश से मुक्त रहने का परामर्श दिया। फिर उसने हमेशा के लिए अपनी आँखें मूंद ली।

कालान्तर में इसिसंग एक महान् संयासी के रुप में मान्य होने लगा जिससे शक्र को देव-लोक हिलता प्रतीत हुआ। अत: इसिसंग को संयासी पथ से भ्रष्ट करने के लिए शक्र ने अलम्बुसा नामक एक अति-सुंदर अप्सरा को पृथ्वी पर भेजा।

उस दिन इसिसंग जब गंगा-स्नान कर नदी से बाहर निकल ही रहा था कि उसकी दृष्टि अलम्बुसा पर पड़ी जो ठीक उसके सामने खड़ी था। उसके रुप-सौन्दर्य के जादू से इसिसंग अपने होश खो बैठा। अलम्बुसा ने तब उसे इशारों से खींचती उसकी कुटिया में ले गई। तभी से वह तीन वर्षों तक अलम्बुसा के आलिंगन में बंधा रहा। एक दिन जब उसे होश आया तब उसने जाना कि उसने वर्षों की साधनाओं का फल खो दिया था। उसका संयास-व्रत भंग हो चुका था।

One day, a doe drank water in the place where the ascetic had just taken bath. The water there was mingled with the ascetics semen. So, no sooner than she drank the water she conceived the ascetics baby. The ascetic soon noticed the changes taking place in the does body, and knew what had happened to her. So, he took care of her. In course of time, the doe delivered a male baby, who was called Isisanga.

The sage brought him up with fatherly affection and when the boy was young enough to learn he taught him spiritual practices, too. The boy was very receptive. Soon he proved his excellence in meditation and other spiritual pursuits.

Realising his abilities and potentialities the sage cautioned him by saying,

In this Himalayan region the women are as fair as flowers

But they may be devastating if you fall in their powers .

After imparting these instructions the ascetic died.

By and by, Isisanga became an ardent ascetic and perfected the most arduous penance and virtuousity, which shook the Sakkas abode. Shaken and frightened by the practices of the young lad, Sakka sent the most gorgeous and voluptuous heavenly nymph to the young ascetic to entice him. Her name was Alambusa. Though a subject of the heavenly king, she pleaded exemption from carrying out such an order as she considered it to be a heinous act. Yet, insisted by her lord, she descended the earth with all her beauty and exuberance to charm and seduce Isisanga. She made a sudden appearance before him when he was walking to the river to have his holy bath. Dazzled at such a heavenly beauty and allured by her elegance he forgot everything but to remember to sing every word of praise for her voluptuous looks right from her hair to her feet. Knowing that she was just about to succeed in her mission, she did not waste a single moment and invited him to follow her by her amorous glance. She then entered his cottage.    The young ascetic, unmindful of all his vows, tailed her inside and plunged into her embrace. 

The doe drinking the water where Isisanga had taken a holy dip

When the ascetic could arouse from her embrace, three years had elapsed; and all his spiritual achievements had vanished. Thus, realising his irreparable losses he started wailing. The kind nymph then revealed her mission with an apology and shared his mourning. The ascetic wore no malice against her and pardoned her.

After the conclusion of her mission, she boarded the golden chariot and flew back to her heavenly abode. When congratulated and commended by Sakka for having accomplished her task so meticulously, she was not pleased to the surprise of the lord of the devas . Further, when Sakka offered her to ask for any boon she said,

O Lord of Heaven! If thou desire any boon to bestow

Then never ask me to make any saint violate his vow.

Note: The old ascetic is identified with the Bodhisatta.

See Alambusa Jataka Jataka Pali No. 523.