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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 57: Story of Viśvāmitra: Triśaṅku’s curse and appeal for refuge

Summary. Vasiṣṭha’s sons reject and curse Triśaṅku, his followers abandon him and he asks Viśvāmitra to overcome his fate

Sequence

  1. Vasiṣṭha's sons angrily rebuke Triśaṅku for seeking to bypass their father's refusal → they tell him to return home, since they cannot overturn the family priest's decision (1.57.1–5)
  2. Triśaṅku says he will seek another refuge → they curse him to become a caṇḍāla, an outcast (1.57.6–8)
  3. by morning his appearance has changed: dark clothing, rough skin, disordered hair, funeral garlands, and iron ornaments → his ministers and followers abandon him (1.57.9–10)
  4. alone and distressed, he approaches Viśvāmitra, who receives him with compassion and asks what happened (1.57.11–15)
  5. Triśaṅku explains the rejection, his wish for bodily ascent, and his record of truthful speech, sacrifice, and righteous rule (1.57.16–20)
  6. he laments that fate has defeated his efforts → taking Viśvāmitra as his only refuge, he asks him to overcome that fate through effort. (1.57.21–23)

Verses 1.57.1–23

1.57.1

tatas triśaṅkor vacanaṃ śrutvā krodhasamanvitam
ṛṣiputraśataṃ rāma rājānam idam abravīt

Then, having heard Triśaṅku's words, the hundred sons of the seer, filled with anger, O Rāma, said this to the king:

Words: tatas — then; triśaṅkor — of Triśaṅku; vacanaṃ — the words; śrutvā — having heard; krodhasamanvitam — filled with anger; ṛṣiputraśataṃ — the hundred sons of the seer; rāma — O Rāma; rājānam — to the king; idam — this; abravīt — said

1.57.2

pratyākhyāto 'si durbuddhe guruṇā satyavādinā
taṃ kathaṃ samatikramya śākhāntaram upeyivān

'You have been refused, O evil-minded one, by the teacher who speaks the truth; how, passing him by, have you come to another branch?'

Words: pratyākhyāto 'si — you have been refused; durbuddhe — O evil-minded one; guruṇā — by the teacher; satyavādinā — who speaks the truth; taṃ — him; kathaṃ — how; samatikramya — having passed by, overstepped; śākhāntaram — to another branch; upeyivān — (you) have come, approached

1.57.3

ikṣvākūṇāṃ hi sarveṣāṃ purodhāḥ paramā gatiḥ
na cātikramituṃ śakyaṃ vacanaṃ satyavādinaḥ

'For to all the Ikṣvākus the house-priest is the highest recourse; and the word of one who speaks the truth cannot be transgressed.'

Words: ikṣvākūṇāṃ — of the Ikṣvākus; hi — for, indeed; sarveṣāṃ — all; purodhāḥ — the house-priest; paramā gatiḥ — the highest recourse; na cātikramituṃ — and not to be transgressed; śakyaṃ — possible; vacanaṃ — the word; satyavādinaḥ — of one who speaks the truth

1.57.4

aśakyam iti covāca vasiṣṭho bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
taṃ vayaṃ vai samāhartuṃ kratuṃ śaktāḥ kathaṃ tava

'The venerable seer Vasiṣṭha has said "it is impossible"; how then are we able to accomplish that sacrifice of yours?'

Words: aśakyam — impossible; iti — thus; covāca — and said; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; bhagavān — the venerable; ṛṣiḥ — seer; taṃ — that; vayaṃ — we; vai — indeed; samāhartuṃ — to accomplish, perform; kratuṃ — the sacrifice; śaktāḥ — able, capable; kathaṃ — how; tava — your

1.57.5

bāliśas tvaṃ naraśreṣṭha gamyatāṃ svapuraṃ punaḥ
yājane bhagavāñ śaktas trailokyasyāpi pārthiva

'You are foolish, O best of men; return again to your own city. In officiating (at sacrifice) the venerable one is capable even for the three worlds, O king.'

Words: bāliśas — foolish, childish; tvaṃ — you; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; gamyatāṃ — let (you) go, return; svapuraṃ — to your own city; punaḥ — again; yājane — in officiating (at sacrifice); bhagavāñ — the venerable one; śaktas — capable; trailokyasyāpi — even for the three worlds; pārthiva — O king

1.57.6

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā krodhaparyākulākṣaram
sa rājā punar evaitān idaṃ vacanam abravīt

Hearing that speech of theirs, its syllables confused with anger, the king once again said these words to them:

Words: teṣāṃ — their; tadvacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; krodhaparyākulākṣaram — its syllables confused with anger; sa rājā — the king; punar evaitān — again to them; idaṃ vacanam — these words; abravīt — said

1.57.7

pratyākhyāto 'smi guruṇā guruputrais tathaiva ca
anyāṃ gatiṃ gamiṣyāmi svasti vo 'stu tapodhanāḥ

'I have been rejected by the teacher, and likewise by the teacher's sons; I shall go to another recourse. Blessings be upon you, O you whose wealth is austerity.'

Words: pratyākhyāto 'smi — I have been rejected; guruṇā — by the teacher; guruputrais — by the teacher's sons; tathaiva ca — and likewise too; anyāṃ gatiṃ — to another recourse; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; svasti vo 'stu — blessings be upon you; tapodhanāḥ — O you whose wealth is austerity

1.57.8

ṛṣiputrās tu tac chrutvā vākyaṃ ghorābhisaṃhitam
śepuḥ paramasaṃkruddhāś caṇḍālatvaṃ gamiṣyasi
evam uktvā mahātmāno viviśus te svam āśramam

But the seer's sons, hearing that speech fraught with dire import, being greatly enraged, cursed him: 'You shall become a caṇḍāla!' Having spoken thus, those great-souled ones entered their own hermitage.

Words: ṛṣiputrās — the seer's sons; tu — but; tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vākyaṃ — speech; ghorābhisaṃhitam — fraught with dire (import); śepuḥ — cursed; paramasaṃkruddhāś — greatly enraged; caṇḍālatvaṃ — the state of a caṇḍāla; gamiṣyasi — you shall go, become; evam uktvā — having spoken thus; mahātmāno — the great-souled ones; viviśus — entered; te — they; svam āśramam — their own hermitage

1.57.9

atha rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ rājā caṇḍālatāṃ gataḥ
nīlavastradharo nīlaḥ paruṣo dhvastamūrdhajaḥ
cityamālyānulepaś ca āyasābharaṇo 'bhavat

Then, when the night had passed, the king became a caṇḍāla: dark of hue, wearing dark garments, rough-skinned, his hair dishevelled, decked with pyre-garlands and unguents, and adorned with iron ornaments.

Words: atha — then; rātryāṃ vyatītāyāṃ — when the night had passed (loc. abs.); rājā — the king; caṇḍālatāṃ — the state of a caṇḍāla; gataḥ — gone to, become; nīlavastradharo — wearing dark garments; nīlaḥ — dark, black (of hue); paruṣo — rough, harsh (of skin); dhvastamūrdhajaḥ — his hair dishevelled; cityamālyānulepaś ca — and decked with pyre-garlands and unguents; āyasābharaṇo — adorned with iron ornaments; 'bhavat — became

1.57.10

taṃ dṛṣṭvā mantriṇaḥ sarve tyaktvā caṇḍālarūpiṇam
prādravan sahitā rāma paurā ye 'syānugāminaḥ

Seeing him in the form of a caṇḍāla, all his ministers abandoned him and fled together, O Rāma—as did the townsfolk who were his followers.

Words: taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; mantriṇaḥ — the ministers; sarve — all; tyaktvā — having abandoned; caṇḍālarūpiṇam — in the form of a caṇḍāla; prādravan — fled, ran away; sahitā — together; rāma — O Rāma; paurā — the townsfolk; ye — who; 'syānugāminaḥ — his followers

1.57.11

eko hi rājā kākutstha jagāma paramātmavān
dahyamāno divārātraṃ viśvāmitraṃ tapodhanam

Alone, O Kākutstha, the supremely self-possessed king went—burning (with grief) day and night—to Viśvāmitra, whose wealth was austerity.

Words: eko — alone; hi — indeed; rājā — the king; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; jagāma — went; paramātmavān — supremely self-possessed; dahyamāno — being burnt (with grief); divārātraṃ — day and night; viśvāmitraṃ — to Viśvāmitra; tapodhanam — whose wealth is austerity

1.57.12

viśvāmitras tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā rājānaṃ viphalīkṛtam
caṇḍālarūpiṇaṃ rāma muniḥ kāruṇyam āgataḥ

But Viśvāmitra the sage, seeing that king brought to ruin, in the form of a caṇḍāla, O Rāma, was moved to compassion.

Words: viśvāmitras — Viśvāmitra; tu — but; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rājānaṃ — the king; viphalīkṛtam — brought to ruin, made fruitless; caṇḍālarūpiṇaṃ — in the form of a caṇḍāla; rāma — O Rāma; muniḥ — the sage; kāruṇyam — compassion, pity; āgataḥ — came to, was moved to

1.57.13

kāruṇyāt sa mahātejā vākyaṃ parama dhārmikaḥ
idaṃ jagāda bhadraṃ te rājānaṃ ghoradarśanam

Out of compassion, that supremely righteous one of great splendour spoke this word—'blessings on you'—to the king of dreadful appearance:

Words: kāruṇyāt — out of compassion; sa — he; mahātejā — of great splendour; vākyaṃ — a word; parama dhārmikaḥ — the supremely righteous one; idaṃ — this; jagāda — spoke; bhadraṃ te — 'blessings on you'; rājānaṃ — to the king; ghoradarśanam — of dreadful appearance

1.57.14

kim āgamanakāryaṃ te rājaputra mahābala
ayodhyādhipate vīra śāpāc caṇḍālatāṃ gataḥ

'What is the purpose of your coming, O mighty prince, O hero, lord of Ayodhyā, now reduced to a caṇḍāla by a curse?'

Words: kim — what; āgamanakāryaṃ — the purpose of coming; te — your; rājaputra — O prince; mahābala — O mighty one; ayodhyādhipate — O lord of Ayodhyā; vīra — O hero; śāpāc — by a curse; caṇḍālatāṃ — the state of a caṇḍāla; gataḥ — gone to, reduced to

1.57.15

atha tad vākyam ākarṇya rājā caṇḍālatāṃ gataḥ
abravīt prāñjalir vākyaṃ vākyajño vākyakovidam

Then, hearing that speech, the king now become a caṇḍāla, himself skilled in speech, with joined palms spoke a word to (Viśvāmitra,) expert in speech:

Words: atha — then; tad vākyam — that speech; ākarṇya — having heard; rājā — the king; caṇḍālatāṃ gataḥ — become a caṇḍāla; abravīt — spoke; prāñjalir — with joined palms; vākyaṃ — a word; vākyajño — knowing speech, eloquent; vākyakovidam — to (one) expert in speech

1.57.16

pratyākhyāto 'smi guruṇā guruputrais tathaiva ca
anavāpyaiva taṃ kāmaṃ mayā prāpto viparyayaḥ

'I have been rejected by the teacher and likewise by the teacher's sons; without even attaining that desire, I have met with this reversal.'

Words: pratyākhyāto 'smi — I have been rejected; guruṇā — by the teacher; guruputrais — by the teacher's sons; tathaiva ca — and likewise too; anavāpyaiva — without even attaining; taṃ kāmaṃ — that desire; mayā — by me; prāpto — attained, met with; viparyayaḥ — reversal, calamity

1.57.17

saśarīro divaṃ yāyām iti me saumyadarśanam
mayā ceṣṭaṃ kratuśataṃ tac ca nāvāpyate phalam

'"May I go to heaven in my own body"—such was my fond aspiration; a hundred sacrifices have been offered by me, yet that fruit is not attained.'

Words: saśarīro — with (my) body; divaṃ — to heaven; yāyām — may I go; iti — thus; me — my; saumyadarśanam — fair aspiration, vision; mayā — by me; ceṣṭaṃ — and offered (in sacrifice); kratuśataṃ — a hundred sacrifices; tac ca — and that; nāvāpyate — is not attained; phalam — fruit

1.57.18

anṛtaṃ nokta pūrvaṃ me na ca vakṣye kadā cana
kṛcchreṣv api gataḥ saumya kṣatradharmeṇa te śape

'No falsehood has been spoken by me before, nor shall I ever speak it; even when fallen into distress, O gentle one, I swear to you by the law of kṣatriyas.'

Words: anṛtaṃ — falsehood, untruth; nokta — has not been spoken; pūrvaṃ — before, formerly; me — by me; na ca vakṣye — and I shall not speak; kadā cana — ever; kṛcchreṣv api — even in distresses; gataḥ — fallen (into); saumya — O gentle one; kṣatradharmeṇa — by the law of kṣatriyas; te — to you; śape — I swear

1.57.19

yajñair bahuvidhair iṣṭaṃ prajā dharmeṇa pālitāḥ
guravaś ca mahātmānaḥ śīlavṛttena toṣitāḥ

'I have sacrificed with sacrifices of many kinds; my subjects have been protected with dharma; and the great-souled elders have been gratified by (my) good conduct.'

Words: yajñair — with sacrifices; bahuvidhair — of many kinds; iṣṭaṃ — (it has been) sacrificed; prajā — the subjects; dharmeṇa — with dharma; pālitāḥ — protected; guravaś ca — and the elders; mahātmānaḥ — the great-souled; śīlavṛttena — by good conduct; toṣitāḥ — gratified, pleased

1.57.20

dharme prayatamānasya yajñaṃ cāhartum icchataḥ
paritoṣaṃ na gacchanti guravo munipuṃgava

'Though I strive after dharma and wish to perform a sacrifice, the elders do not come to satisfaction (with me), O bull among sages.'

Words: dharme — in dharma; prayatamānasya — of (me) striving; yajñaṃ — a sacrifice; cāhartum — and to perform; icchataḥ — of (me) wishing; paritoṣaṃ — satisfaction; na gacchanti — they do not come to; guravo — the elders; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages

1.57.21

daivam eva paraṃ manye pauruṣaṃ tu nirarthakam
daivenākramyate sarvaṃ daivaṃ hi paramā gatiḥ

'I regard fate alone as supreme, but human effort as fruitless; everything is overpowered by fate, for fate is the highest recourse.'

Words: daivam — fate, destiny; eva — alone; paraṃ — supreme; manye — I regard, think; pauruṣaṃ — human effort, manly exertion; tu — but; nirarthakam — fruitless, useless; daivenākramyate — is overpowered by fate; sarvaṃ — everything; daivaṃ — fate; hi — for, indeed; paramā gatiḥ — the highest recourse

1.57.22

tasya me paramārtasya prasādam abhikāṅkṣataḥ
kartum arhasi bhadraṃ te daivopahatakarmaṇaḥ

'To me, exceedingly afflicted and longing for your grace, whose action has been thwarted by fate, you ought to grant (favour)—blessings on you.'

Words: tasya me — to me (that one); paramārtasya — exceedingly afflicted; prasādam — grace, favour; abhikāṅkṣataḥ — longing for; kartum arhasi — you ought to do, grant; bhadraṃ te — 'blessings on you'; daivopahatakarmaṇaḥ — whose action has been thwarted by fate

1.57.23

nānyāṃ gatiṃ gamiṣyāmi nānyaḥ śaraṇam asti me
daivaṃ puruṣakāreṇa nivartayitum arhasi

'I shall go to no other recourse; there is no other refuge for me. You ought, by human effort, to turn back this fate.'

Words: nānyāṃ gatiṃ — to no other recourse; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; nānyaḥ — no other; śaraṇam — refuge; asti — is; me — for me; daivaṃ — fate; puruṣakāreṇa — by human effort; nivartayitum — to turn back, avert; arhasi — you ought

← 1.56 Story of Viśvāmitra: The rājarṣi rank and Triśaṅku’s request · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.58 Story of Viśvāmitra: Triśaṅku’s sacrifice and the priests’ refusal →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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