Ṛṣabha is an ancient sage. In Rājadharmaparvādhyaya  (Rajadharmaparvadhyaya) included in Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) , Yudhiṣṭhira (Yudhishthira) asked Bhīṣma (Bhishma)– What is āśā (asa;hope) and what are its consequences?  In course of answering Yudhiṣṭhira,  Pitāmaha (Pitamaha; grandsire) Bhīṣma describes the discourse of Maharṣi Ṛṣabha and king Sumitra. Once hunting a deer, king Sumitra chased the deer, and entered into the dense forest.  Finally, not finding the deer any more, the dejected and tired king entered into a tapovana (hermitage surrounded by a grove) nearby. Brahmarṣi (Brahmarshi) Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) was present there at that time. He told king Sumitra a legend of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage)Tanu and king Vīradyumna (Viradyumna). As per the message underlying this legend, Ṛṣabha advised Sumitra  to renounce the hope of that lost deer.