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Vershini (Sanskrit: वर्षिनी) was the queen of Anga, wife of King Romapada and the adoptive mother of Shanta in the Hindu epic Ramayana.

Legend

Vershini and Kausalya were daughters of Kaushala king Sukaushala and queen Amritaprabha. Vershini was married to Romapada, the king of Anga, and Kausalya to Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya. Romapada was a good friend of Dasharatha as both of them were educated at the ashram of the sage Vasistha. Shanta was born to Dashratha and Kausalya. Shanta was later given to Romapada as his foster child by Dashratha when Vershini said about having children and Dashratha promised to give Shanta to adoption as he wedded Kaikeyi and Sumitra in hopes of having more children. Later, Shanta was wedded to sage Rishyasringa. The story goes on a sage,a devotee of Lord Indra visited the Anga court to meet king Romapada but he played with Shanta at the time and the sage feeling neglected left the court, Seeing his devotee neglected Indra cursed Anga to not have rain and the officials in Anga suggested the King to bring Rishyashringa to perform a yagna to have rain ; So Shanta married Rishyashringa brought him to Anga performed the Yagna and the rain in Anga became seasonal as usual. While,In Kosala King Dashratha didn't have sons,So Rishyashringa and Shanta were called to perform the Putrakameshti Yagna and a heavenly being came out of the fire to give Payasam (milk delicacy) and it was evenly shared between Kaushalya and Kaikeyi (in the ratio of ½) Then Kaushalya and Kaikeyi shared it with Sumitra (in the ratio of ¼) Leading to the birth of Shanta's half brothers Rama,Bharata,Lakshmana and Shatrughana.Hence, Shanta was married to Rishyashringa, He was given position of a prince (or prince consort) in the Anga Kingdom.

References

1. Rao, Desiraju Hanumanta. "Bala Kanda in Prose, Sarga 11". Valmiki Ramayana. Valmiki Ramayan.net.
2. Kanuga, G.B. (1993). The Immortal Love of Rama. New Delhi: Yuganter Press. pp. 48–52. ISBN 9781897829509.

v t e Ramayana
Ikshvaku dynasty	Dasharatha Kausalya Sumitra Kaikeyi Rama Bharata Lakshmana Shatrughna Sita Urmila Mandavi Shrutakirti Lava Kusha
Vanara	Hanuman Sugriva Vali Angada Tara Rumā Nala Nila Kesari Anjana Makaradhwaja
Rakshasa	Ravana Vibhishana Kumbhakarna Indrajit Akshayakumara Atikaya Kabandha Khara Dushana Mandodari Dhanyamalini Lavanasura Malyavan Maricha Mayasura Narantaka-Devantaka Prahasta Sarama Subahu Sulochana Sumali Shurpanakha Tataka Trijata Trishira Viradha
Sages	Agastya Ahalya Arundhati Bharadvaja Kambhoja Parashurama Vasishtha Vishvamitra Rishyasringa Valmiki
Other figures and concepts	Lakshmana rekha Jambavan Janaka Kushadhvaja Jatayu Manthara Maya Sita Sampati Shabari Shanta Shravana Kumara Vedavati Shambuka
Places	Ayodhya Mithila Dandakaranya Kishkindha Lanka Oshadhiparvata
Books/Kandas	Bala Ayodhya Aranya Kishkindha Sundara Yuddha Uttara
Versions	Adbhuta Ramayana Adhyathmaramayanam Adhyatma Ramayana Ananda Ramayana Bhanubhakta Ramayana Bhaṭṭikāvya Bilanka Ramayana Hikayat Seri Rama Jagamohana Ramayana Kakawin Ramayana Kamba Ramayanam Krittivasi Ramayana Maharadia Lawana Molla Ramayanam Phra Lak Phra Ram Raghunatha Ramayana Ramakien Ramayana Kalpavruksham Ramcharitmanas Ranganatha Ramayanamu Reamker Saptakanda Ramayana Sri Ramayana Darshanam Sri Ramayanamu Trai Bhet Yama Zatdaw
Related	Ramlila

v t e Hindu deities and texts
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Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Shachi Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matangi Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
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• Characters in the Ramayana