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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 59: Story of Viśvāmitra: Triśaṅku’s ascent and suspended heaven
Summary. Indra rejects the ascending Triśaṅku, Viśvāmitra halts his fall and creates southern stars, the Devas agree to let him remain suspended among them
Sequence
- Viśvāmitra asks the assembled ṛṣis to help send Triśaṅku bodily to heaven (1.59.1–3)
- fearing his anger and curses, they agree → the priests take their places and conduct the sacrifice with Viśvāmitra presiding (1.59.4–9)
- when he summons the devatās for their shares, none comes (1.59.10–11)
- angrily raising the ladle, he invokes his own accumulated austerity and commands Triśaṅku to ascend → before the munis' eyes, the King rises in his physical body (1.59.12–15)
- Indra rejects him as one afflicted by his teacher's curse and orders him to fall headfirst → falling, Triśaṅku cries to Viśvāmitra for help. Viśvāmitra commands him to stop (1.59.16–19)
- standing among the ṛṣis like a second creator, he makes another Saptarṣis and new constellations in the southern sky → he threatens to create another Indra or a world without Indra and begins forming new devatās (1.59.20–22)
- alarmed, the Suras try to reconcile him, repeating that Triśaṅku cannot enter their heaven bodily (1.59.23–24)
- Viśvāmitra insists that his promise must stand and asks for a permanent place for the King and his new stars (1.59.25–28)
- the Suras agree that the constellations may remain outside the sun's course and that Triśaṅku may shine among them, head downward, like an immortal (1.59.29–31)
- Viśvāmitra accepts → the sacrifice ends and the assembly disperses. ?? (1.59.32–33)
Verses 1.59.1–33
1.59.1
tapobalahatān kṛtvā vāsiṣṭhān samahodayān
ṛṣimadhye mahātejā viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata
Having by the power of his austerity struck down the sons of Vasiṣṭha together with Mahodaya, Viśvāmitra of great splendour spoke in the midst of the seers:
Words: tapobalahatān — struck down by the power of austerity; kṛtvā — having made; vāsiṣṭhān — the sons of Vasiṣṭha; samahodayān — together with Mahodaya; ṛṣimadhye — in the midst of the seers; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bhyabhāṣata — spoke
1.59.2
ayam ikṣvākudāyādas triśaṅkur iti viśrutaḥ
dharmiṣṭhaś ca vadānyaś ca māṃ caiva śaraṇaṃ gataḥ
svenānena śarīreṇa devalokajigīṣayā
'This heir of Ikṣvāku, renowned as Triśaṅku, most righteous and liberal, has come to me for refuge—in this his own body, out of a desire to win the world of the gods.'
Words: ayam — this; ikṣvākudāyādas — heir of Ikṣvāku; triśaṅkur — Triśaṅku; iti viśrutaḥ — renowned as; dharmiṣṭhaś ca — and most righteous; vadānyaś ca — and liberal, generous; māṃ caiva — and to me; śaraṇaṃ gataḥ — come for refuge; svenānena śarīreṇa — in this his own body; devalokajigīṣayā — out of a desire to win the world of the gods
1.59.3
yathāyaṃ svaśarīreṇa devalokaṃ gamiṣyati
tathā pravartyatāṃ yajño bhavadbhiś ca mayā saha
'Let the sacrifice be set in motion by you together with me in such a way that he may go to the world of the gods in his own body.'
Words: yathāyaṃ — so that he; svaśarīreṇa — with his own body; devalokaṃ — to the world of the gods; gamiṣyati — may go; tathā — so, in such a way; pravartyatāṃ — let it be set in motion; yajño — the sacrifice; bhavadbhiś ca — and by you (sirs); mayā saha — together with me
1.59.4
viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā sarva eva maharṣayaḥ
ūcuḥ sametya sahitā dharmajñā dharmasaṃhitam
Having heard Viśvāmitra's words, all the great seers, knowers of dharma, having come together in a body, spoke (a word) in accord with dharma:
Words: viśvāmitravacaḥ — Viśvāmitra's words; śrutvā — having heard; sarva eva — all indeed; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers; ūcuḥ — spoke; sametya — having come together; sahitā — united, together; dharmajñā — the knowers of dharma; dharmasaṃhitam — in accord with dharma
1.59.5
ayaṃ kuśikadāyādo muniḥ paramakopanaḥ
yad āha vacanaṃ samyag etat kāryaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
'This sage, heir of Kuśika, is exceedingly prone to anger; whatever word he has spoken is right—it must be done, no doubt.'
Words: ayaṃ — this; kuśikadāyādo — heir of Kuśika; muniḥ — the sage; paramakopanaḥ — exceedingly irascible; yad — whatever; āha — has spoken; vacanaṃ — word; samyag — rightly, properly; etat — this; kāryaṃ — to be done; na saṃśayaḥ — (there is) no doubt
1.59.6
agnikalpo hi bhagavāñ śāpaṃ dāsyati roṣitaḥ
tasmāt pravartyatāṃ yajñaḥ saśarīro yathā divam
gacched ikṣvākudāyādo viśvāmitrasya tejasā
'For the venerable one, being like fire, if angered will pronounce a curse; therefore let the sacrifice be set in motion, so that the heir of Ikṣvāku may go to heaven in his own body by the power of Viśvāmitra.'
Words: agnikalpo — like fire (in power); hi — for; bhagavāñ — the venerable one; śāpaṃ — a curse; dāsyati — will give, pronounce; roṣitaḥ — if angered; tasmāt — therefore; pravartyatāṃ — let it be set in motion; yajñaḥ — the sacrifice; saśarīro — with (his) body; yathā — so that; divam — to heaven; gacched — may go; ikṣvākudāyādo — the heir of Ikṣvāku; viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; tejasā — by the power, energy
1.59.7
tataḥ pravartyatāṃ yajñaḥ sarve samadhitiṣṭhate
'Then let the sacrifice be set in motion.' All (the priests) took up their stations.
Words: tataḥ — then; pravartyatāṃ — let it be set in motion; yajñaḥ — the sacrifice; sarve — all; samadhitiṣṭhate — (they) took up their posts, set about it
1.59.8
evam uktvā maharṣayaḥ saṃjahrus tāḥ kriyās tadā
yājakāś ca mahātejā viśvāmitro 'bhavat kratau
Having spoken thus, the great seers then carried out those rites and served as officiants; and Viśvāmitra of great splendour became (chief priest) at the sacrifice.
Words: evam uktvā — having spoken thus; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers; saṃjahrus — carried out, performed; tāḥ kriyās — those rites; tadā — then; yājakāś ca — and (were) the officiants; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bhavat — became; kratau — at the sacrifice
1.59.9
ṛtvijaś cānupūrvyeṇa mantravan mantrakovidāḥ
cakruḥ sarvāṇi karmāṇi yathākalpaṃ yathāvidhi
And the officiating priests, skilled in the mantras, performed all the rites in due order, with the mantras, according to the ritual manual and the prescribed rule.
Words: ṛtvijaś — the officiating priests; cānupūrvyeṇa — and in due order; mantravan — with the mantras; mantrakovidāḥ — skilled in the mantras; cakruḥ — performed; sarvāṇi karmāṇi — all the rites; yathākalpaṃ — according to the ritual manual; yathāvidhi — according to the prescribed rule
1.59.10
tataḥ kālena mahatā viśvāmitro mahātapāḥ
cakārāvāhanaṃ tatra bhāgārthaṃ sarvadevatāḥ
Then, after a long time, Viśvāmitra the great ascetic there made the invocation of all the deities to receive their share.
Words: tataḥ — then; kālena mahatā — after a long time; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahātapāḥ — the great ascetic; cakārāvāhanaṃ — made the invocation; tatra — there; bhāgārthaṃ — to (receive) their share; sarvadevatāḥ — all the deities
1.59.11
nāhyāgamaṃs tadāhūtā bhāgārthaṃ sarvadevatāḥ
tataḥ krodhasamāviṣṭo viśvamitro mahāmuniḥ
But all the deities, though thus invited to receive their share, did not come; then Viśvāmitra, the great sage, filled with anger,
Words: nāhyāgamaṃs — but did not come; tadāhūtā — though then invited; bhāgārthaṃ — for their share; sarvadevatāḥ — all the deities; tataḥ — then; krodhasamāviṣṭo — filled with anger; viśvamitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage
1.59.12
sruvam udyamya sakrodhas triśaṅkum idam abravīt
paśya me tapaso vīryaṃ svārjitasya nareśvara
raising the sacrificial ladle, in anger said this to Triśaṅku: 'Behold the potency of my self-earned austerity, O lord of men.'
Words: sruvam — the sacrificial ladle; udyamya — having raised; sakrodhas — in anger; triśaṅkum — to Triśaṅku; idam — this; abravīt — said; paśya — behold; me — my; tapaso — of austerity; vīryaṃ — potency, power; svārjitasya — self-earned; nareśvara — O lord of men
1.59.13
eṣa tvāṃ svaśarīreṇa nayāmi svargam ojasā
duṣprāpaṃ svaśarīreṇa divaṃ gaccha narādhipa
'Here I lead you, in your own body, to heaven by my might; go, O ruler of men, to that heaven so hard to reach in one's own body.'
Words: eṣa — here (I); tvāṃ — you; svaśarīreṇa — in your own body; nayāmi — I lead; svargam — to heaven; ojasā — by (my) might; duṣprāpaṃ — hard to reach; svaśarīreṇa — in one's own body; divaṃ — to heaven; gaccha — go; narādhipa — O ruler of men
1.59.14
svārjitaṃ kiṃ cid apy asti mayā hi tapasaḥ phalam
rājaṃs tvaṃ tejasā tasya saśarīro divaṃ vraja
'If there is any fruit at all of austerity self-earned by me, then by the power of that, O king, go to heaven in your own body.'
Words: svārjitaṃ — self-earned; kiṃ cid apy — any at all; asti — there is; mayā — by me; hi — indeed; tapasaḥ — of austerity; phalam — fruit; rājaṃs — O king; tvaṃ — you; tejasā — by the power; tasya — of that; saśarīro — in (your) body; divaṃ — to heaven; vraja — go
1.59.15
uktavākye munau tasmin saśarīro nareśvaraḥ
divaṃ jagāma kākutstha munīnāṃ paśyatāṃ tadā
When that sage had spoken, the lord of men, in his own body, went to heaven, O Kākutstha, as the sages looked on.
Words: uktavākye — when (he) had spoken (loc. abs.); munau tasmin — (of) that sage (loc.); saśarīro — in his own body; nareśvaraḥ — the lord of men; divaṃ — to heaven; jagāma — went; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; munīnāṃ paśyatāṃ — as the sages looked on (gen. abs.); tadā — then
1.59.16
devalokagataṃ dṛṣṭvā triśaṅkuṃ pākaśāsanaḥ
saha sarvaiḥ suragaṇair idaṃ vacanam abravīt
Seeing Triśaṅku arrived in the world of the gods, the Chastiser of Pāka (Indra), together with all the hosts of gods, spoke these words:
Words: devalokagataṃ — arrived in the world of the gods; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; triśaṅkuṃ — Triśaṅku; pākaśāsanaḥ — the Chastiser of Pāka (Indra); saha sarvaiḥ suragaṇair — together with all the hosts of gods; idaṃ vacanam — these words; abravīt — spoke
1.59.17
triśaṅko gaccha bhūyas tvaṃ nāsi svargakṛtālayaḥ
guruśāpahato mūḍha pata bhūmim avākśirāḥ
'Triśaṅku, go back! You are not one who has made a home in heaven; struck down by the teacher's curse, O fool, fall to the earth head downward!'
Words: triśaṅko — O Triśaṅku; gaccha — go; bhūyas — back, again; tvaṃ — you; nāsi — you are not; svargakṛtālayaḥ — one who has made a home in heaven; guruśāpahato — struck down by the teacher's curse; mūḍha — O fool; pata — fall; bhūmim — to the earth; avākśirāḥ — head downward
1.59.18
evam ukto mahendreṇa triśaṅkur apatat punaḥ
vikrośamānas trāhīti viśvāmitraṃ tapodhanam
Thus addressed by great Indra, Triśaṅku fell again, crying out 'Save me!' to Viśvāmitra, whose wealth was austerity.
Words: evam ukto — thus addressed; mahendreṇa — by great Indra; triśaṅkur — Triśaṅku; apatat — fell; punaḥ — again; vikrośamānas — crying out; trāhīti — 'save (me)!' thus; viśvāmitraṃ — to Viśvāmitra; tapodhanam — whose wealth is austerity
1.59.19
tac chrutvā vacanaṃ tasya krośamānasya kauśikaḥ
roṣam āhārayat tīvraṃ tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt
Hearing that cry of his as he wailed, Kauśika conceived fierce anger and said, 'Stay! Stay!'
Words: tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; vacanaṃ — the cry, word; tasya — his; krośamānasya — of (him) wailing; kauśikaḥ — Kauśika (Viśvāmitra); roṣam — anger, wrath; āhārayat — conceived, summoned up; tīvraṃ — fierce, intense; tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti — 'stay, stay!' thus; cābravīt — and said
1.59.20
ṛṣimadhye sa tejasvī prajāpatir ivāparaḥ
sṛjan dakṣiṇamārgasthān saptarṣīn aparān punaḥ
In the midst of the seers, that resplendent one, like a second Prajāpati, creating anew a set of Seven Seers stationed on the southern path,
Words: ṛṣimadhye — in the midst of the seers; sa — he; tejasvī — resplendent, energetic; prajāpatir — Prajāpati (the creator); ivāparaḥ — like a second; sṛjan — creating; dakṣiṇamārgasthān — stationed on the southern path; saptarṣīn — the Seven Seers; aparān — other, new; punaḥ — again, anew
1.59.21
nakṣatramālām aparām asṛjat krodhamūrchitaḥ
dakṣiṇāṃ diśam āsthāya munimadhye mahāyaśāḥ
and, insensate with anger, created a new garland of constellations, taking his stand in the southern quarter, in the midst of the sages, that one of great fame.
Words: nakṣatramālām — a garland of constellations; aparām — another, new; asṛjat — created; krodhamūrchitaḥ — insensate with anger; dakṣiṇāṃ diśam — the southern quarter; āsthāya — having taken his stand in; munimadhye — in the midst of the sages; mahāyaśāḥ — of great fame
1.59.22
sṛṣṭvā nakṣatravaṃśaṃ ca krodhena kaluṣīkṛtaḥ
anyam indraṃ kariṣyāmi loko vā syād anindrakaḥ
daivatāny api sa krodhāt sraṣṭuṃ samupacakrame
Having created a lineage of constellations, and darkened by anger, (crying) 'I will make another Indra, or let the world be without an Indra!'—out of anger he set about creating even new deities.
Words: sṛṣṭvā — having created; nakṣatravaṃśaṃ — a lineage of constellations; ca — and; krodhena — by anger; kaluṣīkṛtaḥ — darkened, made turbid; anyam indraṃ — another Indra; kariṣyāmi — I will make; loko vā — or the world; syād — may be; anindrakaḥ — without an Indra; daivatāny api — even the deities; sa — he; krodhāt — out of anger; sraṣṭuṃ — to create; samupacakrame — began, set about
1.59.23
tataḥ paramasaṃbhrāntāḥ sarṣisaṃghāḥ surarṣabhāḥ
viśvāmitraṃ mahātmānam ūcuḥ sānunayaṃ vacaḥ
Then, greatly alarmed, the bulls among gods, together with the hosts of seers, spoke conciliatory words to the great-souled Viśvāmitra:
Words: tataḥ — then; paramasaṃbhrāntāḥ — greatly alarmed; sarṣisaṃghāḥ — together with the hosts of seers; surarṣabhāḥ — the bulls among gods; viśvāmitraṃ — to Viśvāmitra; mahātmānam — the great-souled; ūcuḥ — spoke; sānunayaṃ — conciliatory, with entreaty; vacaḥ — words
1.59.24
ayaṃ rājā mahābhāga guruśāpaparikṣataḥ
saśarīro divaṃ yātuṃ nārhaty eva tapodhana
'This king, O illustrious one, wounded by the teacher's curse, is not fit to go to heaven in his own body, O you whose wealth is austerity.'
Words: ayaṃ — this; rājā — king; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; guruśāpaparikṣataḥ — wounded by the teacher's curse; saśarīro — in his own body; divaṃ — to heaven; yātuṃ — to go; nārhaty eva — is not at all fit; tapodhana — O you whose wealth is austerity
1.59.25
teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā devānāṃ munipuṃgavaḥ
abravīt sumahad vākyaṃ kauśikaḥ sarvadevatāḥ
Hearing that word of the gods, the bull among sages, Kauśika, spoke a very weighty word to all the deities:
Words: teṣāṃ — their; tadvacanaṃ — that word; śrutvā — having heard; devānāṃ — of the gods; munipuṃgavaḥ — the bull among sages; abravīt — spoke; sumahad vākyaṃ — a very weighty word; kauśikaḥ — Kauśika; sarvadevatāḥ — to all the deities
1.59.26
saśarīrasya bhadraṃ vas triśaṅkor asya bhūpateḥ
ārohaṇaṃ pratijñāya nānṛtaṃ kartum utsahe
'Having promised the ascent of this King Triśaṅku in his own body—blessings on you—I cannot make my word untrue.'
Words: saśarīrasya — in his own body (of him); bhadraṃ vas — blessings on you; triśaṅkor — of Triśaṅku; asya — this; bhūpateḥ — of the king; ārohaṇaṃ — the ascent; pratijñāya — having promised; nānṛtaṃ — not untrue; kartum — to make; utsahe — I am able, I dare
1.59.27
sargo 'stu saśarīrasya triśaṅkor asya śāśvataḥ
nakṣatrāṇi ca sarvāṇi māmakāni dhruvāṇy atha
'Let there be for this Triśaṅku, in his own body, an everlasting station; and let all these constellations of mine be fixed and abiding.'
Words: sargo — the station, creation; 'stu — let there be; saśarīrasya — in his own body; triśaṅkor — of Triśaṅku; asya — this; śāśvataḥ — everlasting; nakṣatrāṇi ca — and the constellations; sarvāṇi — all; māmakāni — mine, my own; dhruvāṇy — fixed, permanent; atha — moreover, and
1.59.28
yāval lokā dhariṣyanti tiṣṭhantv etāni sarvaśaḥ
matkṛtāni surāḥ sarve tad anujñātum arhatha
'As long as the worlds shall endure, let all these, made by me, remain in every way; O gods, you all ought to consent to this.'
Words: yāval — as long as; lokā — the worlds; dhariṣyanti — will endure, will last; tiṣṭhantv — let (them) remain; etāni — these; sarvaśaḥ — in every way, wholly; matkṛtāni — made by me; surāḥ — O gods; sarve — all; tad — this, that; anujñātum arhatha — you ought to consent to
1.59.29
evam uktāḥ surāḥ sarve pratyūcur munipuṃgavam
Thus addressed, all the gods replied to the bull among sages:
Words: evam uktāḥ — thus addressed; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; pratyūcur — replied; munipuṃgavam — to the bull among sages
1.59.30
evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ te tiṣṭhantv etāni sarvaśaḥ
gagane tāny anekāni vaiśvānarapathād bahiḥ
'So be it, blessings on you; let all these remain—those many (constellations) in the sky, outside the path of Vaiśvānara (the sun's course):'
Words: evaṃ bhavatu — so be it; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; tiṣṭhantv — let (them) remain; etāni — these; sarvaśaḥ — in every way; gagane — in the sky; tāny — those; anekāni — many; vaiśvānarapathād — from the path of Vaiśvānara (the sun/fire); bahiḥ — outside
1.59.31
nakṣatrāṇi muniśreṣṭha teṣu jyotiḥṣu jājvalan
avākśirās triśaṅkuś ca tiṣṭhatv amarasaṃnibhaḥ
'the constellations, O best of sages; and among those luminaries, blazing, head downward, let Triśaṅku too remain, like an immortal.'
Words: nakṣatrāṇi — the constellations; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; teṣu jyotiḥṣu — among those luminaries; jājvalan — blazing (intensely); avākśirās — head downward; triśaṅkuś ca — and Triśaṅku; tiṣṭhatv — let (him) remain; amarasaṃnibhaḥ — like an immortal
1.59.32
viśvāmitras tu dharmātmā sarvadevair abhiṣṭutaḥ
ṛṣibhiś ca mahātejā bāḍham ity āha devatāḥ
But the righteous Viśvāmitra of great splendour, honoured by all the gods and the seers, said to the deities, 'So be it.'
Words: viśvāmitras — Viśvāmitra; tu — but; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; sarvadevair — by all the gods; abhiṣṭutaḥ — honoured, praised; ṛṣibhiś ca — and by the seers; mahātejā — of great splendour; bāḍham — 'so be it, very well'; ity — thus; āha — said; devatāḥ — to the deities
1.59.33
tato devā mahātmāno munayaś ca tapodhanāḥ
jagmur yathāgataṃ sarve yajñasyānte narottama
Then the great-souled gods and the sages, whose wealth was austerity, all went as they had come, at the end of the sacrifice, O best of men.
Words: tato — then; devā — the gods; mahātmāno — the great-souled; munayaś ca — and the sages; tapodhanāḥ — whose wealth is austerity; jagmur — went; yathāgataṃ — as they had come; sarve — all; yajñasyānte — at the end of the sacrifice; narottama — O best of men
← 1.58 Story of Viśvāmitra: Triśaṅku’s sacrifice and the priests’ refusal · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.60 Story of Viśvāmitra: Śunaḥśepa is bought for sacrifice →
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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