ततः त्रिशंकोर्वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रोधसमन्वितम् | ऋषिपुत्रशतं राम राजानमिदमब्रवीत् || १-५८-१
tataH trishaMkoH vacanam shrutvaa krodha samanvitam | R^iShi putra shatam raama raajaanam idam abraviit || 1-58-1
"On hearing the sentence of Trishanku, oh, Rama, the hundred sons of sage Vashishta infuriately said this to that king." Thus, sage Shataananda continued his narration to Rama and others. [1-58-1]
प्रत्याख्यातोऽसि दुर्बुद्धे गुरुणा सत्यवादिना | तं कथं समतिक्रम्य शाखान्तरमुपेयिवान् || १-५८-२
pratyaakhyaato asi durbuddhe guruNaa satya vaadinaa | tam katham samatikraMya shaakhaa antaram upeyivaan || 1-58-2
'You slow-witted king, your veracious mentor has denounced you. But transgressing him how do you approach another branch of the same tree of wisdom, when that very tree rejected you?' So the sons of Vashishta have started to denounce Trishanku. [1-58-2]
इक्ष्वाकूणां हि सर्वेषां पुरोधाः परमा गतिः | न चातिक्रमितुं शक्यं वचनं सत्यवादिनः || १-५८-३
ikShvaakuuNaam hi sarveShaam purodhaaH paramaa gatiH | na ca atikramitum shakyam vacanam satya vaadinaH || 1-58-3
'The Royal Priest is the ultimate course for all of Ikshvaku-s, isn't it. It is impossible to transgress the word of advise of such a veracious Priest. [1-58-3]
अशक्यमिति सोवाच वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः | तं वयं वै समाहर्तुं क्रतुं शक्ताः कथंचन || १-५८-४
ashakyam iti sa uvaaca vasiShTho bhagavaan R^iShiH | tam vayam vai samaahartum kratum shaktaaH kathaMcana || 1-58-4
Vashishta is the most reverential sage and such a sage has already said it is impossible to conduct such a Vedic-ritual. Then, in which way we are capable to conduct such a Vedic-ritual? [1-58-4]
बालिशस्त्वं नरश्रेष्ठ गम्यतां स्वपुरं पुनः | याजने भगवान् शक्तस्त्रैलोक्यस्यापि पार्थिव || १-५८-५ अवमानं कथं कर्तुं तस्य शक्ष्यामहे वयम् |
baalishaH tvam nara shreShTha gaMyataam sva puram punaH | yaajane bhagavaan shaktaH trailokyasya api paarthiva || 1-58-5 avamaanam katham kartum tasya shakshaayaamahe vayam |
'Oh king of subjects, better get back to your own city again for you are childish. That godlike Vashishta alone is capable to orchestrate any ritual by any king in all the three worlds. Oh, king, how then we are capable to cause a disrepute to his reputation.' Thus, the sons of Vashishta refuted Trishanku. [1-58-5, 6a]
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रोधपर्याकुलाक्षरम् || १-५८-६ स राजा पुनरेवैतानिदं वचनमब्रवीत् |
teShaam tad vacanam shrutvaa krodha paryaakula akSharam || 1-58-6 sa raajaa punaH eva etaan idam vacanam abraviit |
"On hearing that sentence of theirs which is highly faltering with words of fury that king further spoke this sentence to all of them." So Shataananda continued. [1-58-6b, 7a]
प्रत्याख्यातो भगवता गुरुपुत्रैस्तथैव हि || १-५८-७ अन्यां गतिं गमिष्यामि स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु तपोधनाः |
pratyaakhyaato bhagavataa guru putraiH tathaiva hi || 1-58-7 anyaam gatim gamiShyaami svasti vo astu tapo dhanaaH |
'I am indeed rejected by the godlike Vashishta, likewise even by you, the sons of the same mentor, as such oh, ascetically wealthy scholars, in this state obloquy I will resort to another recourse, let safety betide you.' So Trishanku bade farewell to the sons of Vashishta, but... [1-58-7b, 8a]
ऋषिपुत्रास्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यं घोराभिसंहितम् || १-५८-८ शेपुः परमसंक्रुद्धाश्चण्डालत्वं गमिष्यसि |
R^iShi putraaH tu tat shrutvaa vaakyam ghora abhisaMhitam || 1-58-8 shepuH parama saMkruddhaaH caNDaalatvam gamiShyasi |
But the sons of the sage Vashishta, on hearing that sentence of the king, that is inclusive of and leading to a calamitous situation, have become very highly infuriated and cursed saying, 'you shall get into a state of basely profaner.' That is the curse issued by the sons of Vashishta to Trishanku. [1-58-8b, 9a]
इत्युक्त्वा ते महात्मानो विविशुः स्वं स्वमाश्रमम् || १-५८-९ अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां राजा चण्डालतां गतः |
iti uktvaa te mahaatmaano vivishuH svam svam aashramam || 1-58-9 atha raatryaam vyatiitaayaam raajaa caNDaalataam gataH |
On saying thus those great-souled sons of Vashishta withdrew to one's own hermitage and when that night elapsed into day then the king lapsed into a state of basely profaner. [1-58-9b, 10a]
नीलवस्त्रधरो नीलः परुषो ध्वस्तमूर्धजः || १-५८-१० चित्यमाल्यानुलेपश्च आयसाभरणोऽभवत् |
niila vastra dharo niilaH paruSho dhvasta muurdhajaH || 1-58-10 citya maalya anulepaH ca aayasa aabharaNo abhavat |
He is now wearing blackish cloths which on yestereve were ochry silks, he is now a blackamoor who on yestereve was a gilt-royalty, his head-hair is shaggy which earlier was silkily soft, and his royal garlands which were richly fragrant are now funeral wreaths, and he is besmeared with crematory ashes which were regal emollients, and his royal jewellery is now rendered into iron adornments. [1-58-10b, 11a]
तं दृष्ट्वा मंत्रिणः सर्वे त्यक्त्वा चण्डालरूपिणम् || १-५८-११ प्राद्रवन् सहिता राम पौरा येऽस्यानुगामिनः |
tam dR^iShTvaa maMtriNaH sarve tyajya caNDaala ruupiNam || 1-58-11 praadravan sahitaa raama pauraa ye asya anugaaminaH |
On seeing him in the mien of a profaner, oh, Rama, all of his ministers and the subjects and his own retinue have deserted him and took to flight in masses. [1-58-11b, 12a]
एको हि राजा काकुत्स्थ जगाम परमात्मवान् || १-५८-१२ दह्यमानो दिवारात्रं विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम् |
eko hi raajaa kaakutstha jagaama parama aatmavaan || 1-58-12 dahyamaano divaa raatram vishvaamitram tapo dhanam |
Though that resolutely self-assured king seethed for one night and day for this mishap, then went to the ascetically prosperous Vishvamitra. [1-58-12b, 13a]
विश्वामित्रस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा राजानं विफलीकृतम् ||१-५८-१३ चण्डालरूपिणं राम मुनिः कारुण्यमागतः |
vishvaamitraH tu tam dR^iShTvaa raajaanam viphalii kR^itam ||1-58-13 caNDaala ruupiNam raama muniH kaaruNyam aagataH |
But on seeing at that mien of the king which is rendered to that of a precluded profaner from kingship and for officiating rituals etc., oh, Rama, sage Vishvamitra because sympathetic. [1-58-13b, 14a]
कारुण्यात्स महातेजा वाक्यं परमधार्मिकः || १-५८-१४ इदं जगाद भद्रं ते राजानं घोरदर्शनम् |
kaaruNyaat sa mahaatejaa vaakyam parama dhaarmikaH || 1-58-14 idam jagaada bhadram te raajaanam ghora darshanam |
The great-resplendent sage and highly generous Vishvamitra firstly said to that king who is in a terrible aspect 'let safety betide you,' and then spoke on this sentence to him. [1-58-14b, 15a]
किमागमनकार्यं ते राजपुत्र महाबल || १-५८-१५ अयोध्याधिपते वीर शापाच्चण्डालतां गतः |
kim aagamana kaaryam te raajaputra mahaabala || 1-58-15 ayodhyaa adhipate viira shaapaat caNDaalataam gataH |
'What is the purpose of your visit, oh, great-mighty prince Trishanku, oh, brave lord of Ayodhya, you are accurst to the state of profaner.' [1-58-15b, 16a]
अथ तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य राजा चण्डालतां गतः || १-५८-१६ अब्रवीत् प्रांजलिर्वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकोविदम् |
atha tat vaakyam aakarNya raajaa caNDaalataam gataH || 1-58-16 abraviit praaMjaliH vaakyam vaakyaj~no vaakya kovidam |
Then that king who is accurst to a state of profaner on listening that sentence, as a diligent sentence maker spoke this sentence with his palms adjoined to the sententious sage Vishvamitra. [1-58-16b, 17a]
प्रत्याख्यातोऽस्मि गुरुणा गुरुपुत्रैस्तथैव च || १-५८-१७ अनवाप्यैव तं कामं मया प्राप्तो विपर्ययः |
pratyaakhyaato asmi guruNaa guru putraiH tathaa eva ca || 1-58-17 anavaapya eva tam kaamam mayaa praapto viparyayaH |
I am spurned off by my mentor Vashishta and also like that by his sons. My aspiration remained unachievable, besides, this discrepancy has bechanced upon me. [1-58-17b, 18a]
सशरीरो दिवं यायामिति मे सौम्य दर्शन || १-५८-१८ मया चेष्टं क्रतुशतं तच्च नावाप्यते फलम् |
sa shariiro divam yaayaami iti me sauMya darshana || 1-58-18 mayaa ca iShTam kratu shatam tat ca na avaapyate phalam |
'Oh, gentle Vishvamitra, my aspiration is nothing but to go to heaven with my body. I have performed hundred rituals but I have not achieved the fruit.' Thus Trishanku started tell his sad tale.
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन || १-५८-१९ कृच्छ्रेष्वपि गतः सौम्य क्षत्रधर्मेण ते शपे |
anR^itam na ukta puurvam me na ca vakShye kadaacana || 1-58-19 kR^icChreShu api gataH sauMya kShatra dharmeNa te shape |
And now if you doubt me to be a liar, I am no liar either. I spoke no lie heretofore, and even if I were to land into any predicament I do not speak lies anytime hereinafter. Oh, gentle sage, this I pledge you upon my virtue of Kshatriya-hood. [1-58-19, 20a]
यज्ञैर्बहुविधैरिष्टं प्रजाधर्मेण पालिताः || १-५८-२० गुरवश्च महात्मानः शीलवृत्तेन तोषिताः |
yaj~naiH bahu vidhaiH iShTam prajaa dharmeNa paalitaaH || 1-58-20 guravaH ca mahaatmaanaH shiila vR^ittena toShitaaH |
I have propitiated gods with many kinds of Vedic-rituals. I have reigned over people conscientiously. And with my conduct and comport the high-souled savants are also pleased. [1-58-20b, 21a]
धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य यज्ञं चाहर्तुमिच्छतः || १-५८-२१ परितोषं न गच्छन्ति गुरवो मुनिपुंगव |
dharme prayatamaanasya yaj~nam ca aahartum icChataH || 1-58-21 paritoSham na gacChanti guravo munipuMgava |
While I am a pursuant in probity I expect to avail myself of the fruition of this kind of Vedic-ritual. Oh, eminent sage Vishvamitra, but my mentors are not deriving complete contentment by my pursuit. Hence, they shove me off. [1-58-21b, 22a]
दैवमेव परं मन्ये पौरुषं तु निरर्थकम् || १-५८-२२ दैवेनाक्रम्यते सर्वं दैवं हि परमा गतिः |
daivam eva param manye pauruSham tu nirarthakam || 1-58-22 daivena aakraMyate sarvam daivam hi paramaa gatiH |
I deem destiny is the only ultimate, and manly efforts are meaningless, for destiny surmounts everything. Destiny is the ultimate course, isn't it? [1-58-22b, 23a]
तस्य मे परमार्तस्य प्रसादमभिकांक्षतः | कर्तुमर्हसि भद्रं ते दैवोपहतकर्मणः || १-५८-२३
tasya me parama aartasya prasaadam abhikaaMkShataH | kartum arhasi bhadram te daiva upahata karmaNaH || 1-58-23
A highly anguished endeavourer, marred by destiny, a sincere requester, such as I am, it will be apt of you to accord, you be safe, your favour upon me. [1-58-23b, c]
नान्यां गतिं गमिष्यामि नान्यः शरणमस्ति मे | दैवं पुरुषकारेण निवर्तयितुमर्हसि || १-५८-२४
na anyaam gatim gamiShyaami na anyaH sharaNam asti me | daivam puruSha kaareNa nivar.htayitum ar.hhasi || 1-58-24
" 'In no alternate course I wish to course through and no alternative shelter is there for me. Hence, it will be apt of you, a god in man's mien, to countervail my destiny.' Thus Trishanku prayed for the grace of Vishvamitra..." So said Sage Shataananda to Rama and others continuing the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-58-24]
