In ancient times, there lived a noble king named Yuvanāśva, renowned as the lord of men. His son was Māndhātṛ, a mighty ruler who conquered the three worlds. Māndhātṛ married Caitrarathī, the daughter of Śaśabindu—a virtuous woman named Bindumatī, whose beauty was unmatched on earth. Bindumatī, eldest among ten thousand siblings, was wholly devoted to her husband. In her, Māndhātṛ fathered two sons: Purukutsa, wise in righteousness, and King Mucukunda. Purukutsa’s son was Trasadasyu, who became lord of the earth. In the sacred river Narmadā, Trasadasyu’s son Saṃbhūta was born, and Saṃbhūta’s heir was Tridhanvan, a destroyer of foes. King Tridhanvan’s son was Trayyaruṇa, learned and mighty, and his son was the powerful prince Satyavrata. Satyavrata, however, committed a grave misdeed. With evil intent, he disrupted the sacred marriage mantras and abducted another man’s wife, who had already been wed. Driven by desire, recklessness, and delusion, he seized the daughter of a townsman, overcome by passion. Because of this sinful act, the priest of the three Vedas angrily declared that Satyavrata should be cast out. Thus abandoned, Satyavrata repeatedly asked his father, “Where shall I go?” His father replied, “Live among the outcastes.” Renouncing his son, he said, “I no longer desire a son through you, O defiler of the lineage.” By his father’s command, Satyavrata left the city. The venerable sage Vasiṣṭha did not restrain him, so Satyavrata dwelt near the settlement of the outcastes. Abandoned by his father, Satyavrata lived among the outcastes, and his father retreated to the forest. In that land, Indra withheld the rain, and for twelve years a famine plagued the region—a consequence of Satyavrata’s sin. At this time, the great ascetic Viśvāmitra, with his family, had renounced all and performed austerities at the ocean’s edge. His wife, desperate to feed her children, bound their middle son by the neck and sold him for a hundred cows to provide for the rest. Seeing the child bound and about to be sold, Satyavrata, righteous and mighty-armed, freed the boy and took responsibility for his support. Out of compassion and devotion, Satyavrata cared for Viśvāmitra’s family, earning the boy the name Gālava, because of the bondage at the neck. Thus, the wise sage Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) was freed from distress by Satyavrata’s kindness. Satyavrata, steadfast in discipline, supported Viśvāmitra’s family through devotion and a sacred vow. He hunted deer, boars, and buffaloes in the forest near Viśvāmitra’s hermitage, hanging the meat on a tree for their sustenance. Undertaking a silent vow and twelve years of consecration, Satyavrata remained in exile by his father’s command, while the king lived in the forest. Meanwhile, Vasiṣṭha, with priests and teachers, protected Ayodhyā and the royal palace. Yet, Satyavrata, youthful and driven by destiny, harbored anger toward Vasiṣṭha. When his beloved son was expelled from the kingdom, Vasiṣṭha did not restrain him, even though there were many reasons to do so. The marriage mantras are completed at the seventh step, but Satyavrata had not fulfilled this, and so he was abandoned at the seventh step. Knowing the law, Vasiṣṭha did not protect Satyavrata, who grew angry with the sage in his heart, not understanding Vasiṣṭha’s silent intention, though the sage acted with discernment of virtue. Because of his father’s dissatisfaction, the rain-god withheld rain for twelve years. Satyavrata’s difficult vow, undertaken on earth, was performed as atonement for his family. Vasiṣṭha did not prevent him, thinking, “I myself will anoint his son.” Resolute, Satyavrata endured his vow for twelve years, even though there was no meat available for Vasiṣṭha. One day, the prince saw a cow that granted every desire. Driven by anger, delusion, exhaustion, and hunger, he seized her. Following the custom of the land, he killed the cow, and he, along with Viśvāmitra’s sons, ate her flesh. He caused them to eat it, and hearing this, Vasiṣṭha became angry. Vasiṣṭha declared, “I would surely cast you down, cruel one, with this stake, unless these two stakes of yours are not made again. By your father’s displeasure, by the killing of the sacred cow, and by eating what was not properly purified, your transgression is threefold.” Thus, seeing his three faults, the great ascetic called him “Triśaṅku”—and so Satyavrata became known as Triśaṅku. Through Triśaṅku’s actions, Viśvāmitra’s wives were supported, and the pleased sage granted Triśaṅku a boon. When pressed to choose, the prince asked, “May I go to heaven in this very body.” Thus he requested his boon. When the twelve-year drought ended and the fear of famine had passed, Triśaṅku was consecrated in his father’s kingdom. He then performed the royal sacrifice, fulfilling his destiny and restoring honor to his lineage.