यदैवोपासिता देवी भक्त्या सत्यव्रतेन ह । तया प्रसन्नया राजन् दिव्यदेहः कृतः क्षणात्
When Satyavrata worshipped the Goddess with devotion, O king, she, being pleased, instantly granted him a divine body.
पिशाचत्वं गतं तस्य पापं चैव क्षयं गतम् । विपाप्मा चातितेजस्वी सम्भूतस्तत्कृपामृतात्
His Piśāca state was gone, his sin was destroyed, and he became exceedingly radiant, purified by the nectar of her grace.
वसिष्ठोऽपि प्रसन्नात्मा जातः शक्तिप्रसादतः । पितापि च बभूवास्य प्रेमयुक्तस्त्वनुग्रहात्
Vasiṣṭha also became benevolent, due to the favor of Śakti; and his father, filled with love, was gracious to him as well.
राज्यं शशास धर्मात्मा मृते पितरि पार्थिवः । ईजे च विविधैर्यज्ञैर्देवदेवीं सनातनीम्
After his father’s death, the righteous king ruled the kingdom, and worshipped the eternal Goddess with various sacrifices.
तस्य पुत्रो बभूवाथ हरिश्चन्द्रः सुशोभनः । लक्षणैः शास्त्रनिर्दिष्टैः संयुतश्चातिसुन्दरः
His son was Hariścandra, most splendid, endowed with the marks described in the scriptures, and exceedingly beautiful.
युवराजं सुतं कृत्वा त्रिशङ्कुः पृथिवीपतिः । मानुषेण शरीरेण स्वर्गं भोक्तुं मनो दधे
Triśaṅku, the lord of the earth, made his son crown prince, and resolved to enjoy heaven in a human body.
वसिष्ठस्याश्रमं गत्वा प्रणम्य विधिवन्नृपः । उवाच वचनं प्रीतः कृताञ्जलिपुटस्तदा
Having gone to Vasiṣṭha's hermitage, the king bowed respectfully according to custom, and, with hands joined in reverence, spoke joyfully.
राजोवाच - ब्रह्मपुत्र महाभाग सर्वमन्त्रविशारद । विज्ञप्तिं मे सुमनसा श्रोतुमर्हसि तापस
The king said: O illustrious son of Brahma, expert in all mantras, you are worthy to hear my request, O ascetic, offered with a sincere heart.
इच्छा मेऽद्य समुत्पन्ना स्वर्गलोकसुखाय च । अनेनैव शरीरेण भोगान्भोक्तुममानुषान्
A desire has arisen in me today for the pleasures of heaven, to enjoy superhuman delights in this very body.
अप्सरोभिश्च संवासः क्रीडितुं नन्दने वने । देवगन्धर्वगानं च श्रोतव्यं मधुरं किल
I wish to dwell with the apsarās, to play in the Nandana grove, and to hear the sweet songs of the divine Gandharvas.
याजय त्वं मखेनाशु तादृशेन महामुने । यथानेन शरीरेण वसे लोकं त्रिविष्टपम्
Conduct a sacrifice swiftly, O great sage, so that with this body I may reside in the realm of the gods.
समर्थोऽसि मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुरु कार्यं ममाधुना । प्रापयाशु मखं कृत्वा देवलोकं दुरासदम्
You are capable, O foremost of sages; fulfill my purpose now. Quickly perform the sacrifice and grant me entry to the difficult-to-attain world of the gods.
वसिष्ठ उवाच - राजन् मानुषदेहेन स्वर्गे वासः सुदुर्लभः । मृतस्य हि ध्रुवं स्वर्गः कथितः पुण्यकर्मणा
Vasiṣṭha said: O king, dwelling in heaven with a human body is exceedingly rare; only those who die performing virtuous deeds are assured heaven.
तस्माद् बिभेमि सर्वज्ञ दुर्लभाच्च मनोरथात् । अप्सरोभिश्च संवासो जीवमानस्य दुर्लभः
Therefore, O all-knowing one, I am apprehensive, for your wish is difficult to fulfill; living with apsarās while alive is hard to attain.
कुरु यज्ञान्महाभाग मृतः स्वर्गमवाप्स्यसि । व्यास उवाच - इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य राजा परमदुर्मनाः
Perform sacrifices, O illustrious one; when you die, you will attain heaven. Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, the king became greatly distressed.
उवाच वचनं भूयो वसिष्ठं पूर्वरोषितम् । न त्वं याजयसे ब्रह्मन् गर्वावेशाच्च मां यदि
He again spoke to Vasiṣṭha, his former anger aroused: If you do not conduct the sacrifice for me, O Brahman, out of pride,
अन्यं पुरोहितं कृत्वा यक्ष्येऽहं किल साम्प्रतम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य वसिष्ठः कोपसंयुतः
I will appoint another priest and perform the sacrifice at once. Hearing these words, Vasiṣṭha became filled with wrath.
शशाप भूपतिं चेति चाण्डालो भव दुर्मते । अनेन त्वं शरीरेण श्वपचो भव सत्वरम्
He cursed the king, saying: Become a cāṇḍāla, O wicked-minded one! With this body, become a dog-eater immediately.
स्वर्गकृन्तन पापिष्ठ सुरभीवधदूषित । ब्रह्मपत्नीहरोच्छिन्न धर्ममार्गविदूषक
O most sinful, destroyer of heaven, tainted by the killing of a cow, violator of Brahma's wife, corrupter of the path of righteousness,
न ते स्वर्गगतिः पाप मृतस्यापि कथञ्चन । व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तो गुरुणा राजंस्त्रिशङ्कुस्तत्क्षणादपि
You shall not attain heaven, O sinner, not even after death. Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by his teacher, King Triśaṅku at that very moment
तत्र तेन शरीरेण बभूव श्वपचाकृतिः । कुण्डलेऽश्ममये वापि जाते तस्य च तत्क्षणात्
In that body, he became a dog-eater in form; at that instant, earrings of stone appeared for him.
देहे चन्दनगन्धश्च विगन्धो ह्यभवत्तदा । नीलवर्णेऽथ सञ्जाते दिव्ये पीताम्बरे तनौ
His body, once fragrant with sandalwood, became foul-smelling; his divine yellow garments turned blue in color.
राजवर्णोऽभवद्देहः शापात्तस्य महात्मनः । शक्त्युपासकरोषेण फलमेतदभून्नृप
His royal complexion vanished from his body due to the curse of that great soul; this was the result of anger toward a devotee of Śakti.
तस्माच्छ्रीशक्तिभक्तो हि नावमान्यः कदाचन । गायत्रीजपनिष्ठो हि वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तमः
Therefore, a devotee of Śakti should never be disrespected; Vasiṣṭha, the foremost sage, was devoted to reciting the Gāyatrī.
दृष्ट्वा निन्द्यं निजं देहं राजा दुःखमवाप्तवान् । न जगाम गृहे दीनो वनमेवाभितो ययौ
Seeing his own body in a contemptible state, the king was overcome with sorrow; he did not return home, but, dejected, went toward the forest.
चिन्तयामास दुःखार्तास्त्रिशङ्कुः शोकविह्वलः । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि देहो मेऽतीव निन्दितः
Tormented by grief, Triśaṅku, overwhelmed by sorrow, thought: 'What shall I do? Where shall I go? My body is utterly disgraceful.'
कर्तव्यं नैव पश्यामि येन मे दुःखसंक्षयः । गृहे गच्छामि चेत्पुत्रः पीडितोऽद्य भविष्यति
'I see no action by which my suffering may end; if I go home, my son will be afflicted today.'
भार्यापि श्वपचं दृष्ट्वा नाङ्गीकारं करिष्यति । सचिवा नादरिष्यन्ति वीक्ष्य मामीदृशं पुनः
'Even my wife, seeing me as an outcaste, will not accept me; nor will the ministers respect me, seeing me in this condition.'
ज्ञातयो बन्धुवर्गश्च सङ्गतो न भजिष्यति । सर्वैस्तक्तस्य मे नूनं जीवितान्मरणं वरम्
'Relatives and family will not associate with me; surely, for one abandoned by all, death is better than life.'
विषं वा भक्षयित्वाद्य पतित्वा वा जलाशये । कृत्वा वा कण्ठपाशं च देहत्यागं करोम्यहम्
'Today I will end my life, whether by taking poison, plunging into water, or tying a noose around my neck.'