इत्युक्त्वा जलमादाय हस्तेन मुनिसत्तमः । ददौ पुण्यं तदा तस्मै गायत्रीजपसम्भवम्
Having said this, the best of sages took water in his hand and gave to him that sacred water, arisen from the recitation of the Gāyatrī.
दत्त्वाथ सुकृतं राज्ञे तमुवाच महीपतिम् । यथेष्टं गच्छ राजर्षे त्रिविष्टपमतन्द्रितः
After giving that meritorious water to the king, he said to the ruler of the earth: 'Go as you wish, O royal sage, to heaven without delay.'
पुण्येन मम राजेन्द्र बहुकालार्जितेन च । याहि शक्रपुरीं प्रीतः स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु सुरालये
By my accumulated merit, O king of kings, gathered over a long time, go joyfully to Indra's city; may there be well-being for you in the abode of the gods.
व्यास उवाच - इत्युक्तवति विप्रेन्द्रे त्रिशङ्कुस्तरसा ततः । उत्पपात यथा पक्षी वेगवांस्तपसो बलात्
Vyāsa said: When the best of Brahmins had spoken thus, Triśaṅku immediately soared upward, swift as a bird, by the power of the sage's austerity.
उत्पत्य गगने राजा गतः शक्रपुरीं यदा । दृष्टो देवगणैस्तत्र क्रूरश्चाण्डालवेषभाक्
Having ascended into the sky, when the king reached Indra's city, he was seen there by the hosts of gods, fierce and bearing the form of an outcaste.
कथितोऽसौ सुरेन्द्राय कोऽयमायाति सत्वरः । गगने देववद्वा यो दुर्दर्शः श्वपचाकृतिः
He was reported to the lord of the gods: 'Who is this who comes quickly in the sky, appearing like a god, yet dreadful and with the form of a dog-eater?'
सहसोत्थाय शक्रस्तमपश्यत्पुरुषाधमम् । ज्ञात्वा त्रिशङ्कुमपि स निर्भर्त्स्य तरसाब्रवीत्
Indra at once rose and saw that lowest of men; recognizing him as Triśaṅku, he harshly rebuked him and spoke forcefully.
श्वपच क्व समायासि देवलोके जुगुप्सितः । याहि शीघ्रं ततो भूमौ नात्र स्थातुं त्वयोचितम्
'Dog-eater, why have you come here, you who are despised in the world of the gods? Go quickly down to earth; it is not proper for you to remain here.'
इत्युक्तः स्खलितः स्वर्गाच्छक्रेणामित्रकर्शन । निपपात तदा राजा क्षीणपुण्यो यथामरः
Thus addressed, Triśaṅku was cast down from heaven by Indra, the destroyer of foes; then the king, his merit exhausted, fell like a god deprived of immortality.
पुनश्चुक्रोश भूपालो विश्वामित्रेति चासकृत् । पतामि रक्ष दुःखार्तं स्वर्गाच्चलितमाशुगम्
Again and again the king cried out, 'Viśvāmitra!' as he fell: 'Save me, O sage, afflicted by sorrow, as I swiftly fall from heaven!'
तस्य तत्क्रन्दितं राजन् पतितः कौशिको मुनिः । श्रुत्वा तिष्ठेति होवाच पतन्तं वीक्ष्य भूपतिम्
Hearing the king's cry as he fell, the sage Kauśika said, 'Stay!' as he watched the king descending.
वचनात्तस्य तत्रैव स्थितोऽसौ गगने नृपः । मुनेस्तपःप्रभावेण चलितोऽपि सुरालयात्
By the sage's command, the king remained there in the sky itself, though cast out from the abode of the gods by the power of the sage's austerity.
विश्वामित्रोऽप्यपः स्पृष्ट्वा चकारेष्टिं सुविस्तराम् । विधातुं नूतनां सृष्टिं स्वर्गलोकं द्वितीयकम्
Viśvāmitra also, having touched water, performed an elaborate sacrifice to create a new creation, a second heaven.
तस्योद्यमं तथा ज्ञात्वा त्वरितस्तु शचीपतिः । तत्राजगाम सहसा मुनिं प्रति तु गाधिजम्
Knowing his intention thus, the lord of Śacī quickly came there at once to the sage, the son of Gādhi.
किं ब्रह्मन् क्रियते साधो कस्मात्कोपसमाकुलः । अलं सृष्ट्या मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
"O Brāhmaṇa, what are you doing, O virtuous one? Why are you so filled with anger? Enough of this creation, O best of sages. Tell me, what shall I do for you?"
विश्वामित्र उवाच - स्वं निवासं महीपालं च्युतं त्वद्भुवनाद् विभो । नयस्व प्रीतियोगेन त्रिशङ्कुं चातिदुःखितम्
Viśvāmitra said: "My own dwelling, O lord, has been cast out from your world. Kindly, with favor, bring Triśaṅku, who is greatly afflicted, to a place of happiness."
व्यास उवाच - तस्य तं निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा तुराषाडतिशङ्कितः । तपोबलं विदित्वोग्रमोमित्योवाच वासवः
Vyāsa said: Knowing his resolve, Indra, filled with apprehension, and aware of his fierce ascetic power, spoke thus.
दिव्यदेहं नृपं कृत्वा विमानवरसंस्थितम् । आपृच्छ्य कौशिकं शक्रोऽगमन्निजपुरीं तदा
Having given the king a divine body and set him in a splendid celestial chariot, Śakra, after taking leave of Kauśika, then returned to his own city.
गते शक्रे तु वै स्वर्गं त्रिशङ्कुसहिते ततः । विश्वामित्रः सुखं प्राप्य स्वाश्रमे सुस्थिरोऽभवत्
After Śakra went to heaven together with Triśaṅku, Viśvāmitra, having attained contentment, remained firm and at ease in his own hermitage.
हरिश्चन्द्रोऽथ तच्छ्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रोपकारकम् । पितुः स्वर्गमनं कामं मुदितो राज्यमन्वशात्
Then Hariścandra, having heard of Viśvāmitra's favor and his father's ascent to heaven, joyfully ruled the kingdom.
अयोध्याधिपतिः क्रीडां चकार सह भार्यया । रूपयौवनचातुर्ययुक्तया प्रीतिसंयुतः
The lord of Ayodhyā enjoyed himself with his wife, who was endowed with beauty, youth, and cleverness, and was filled with affection.
अतीतकाले युवती न सा गर्भवती ह्यभूत् । तदा चिन्तातुरो राजा बभूवातीव दुःखितः
As time passed, that young woman did not become pregnant; then the king, troubled by anxiety, became greatly distressed.
वसिष्टस्याश्रमं गत्वा प्रणम्य शिरसा मुनिम् । अनपत्यत्वजां चिन्तां गुरवे समवेदयत्
Going to the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, bowing his head to the sage, he revealed to his guru the anxiety born of childlessness.
दैवज्ञोऽसि भवान्कामं मन्त्रविद्याविशारदः । उपायं कुरु धर्मज्ञ सन्ततेर्मम मानद
"You are an expert in destiny, well-versed in mantras and knowledge. O knower of dharma, O giver of honor, devise a means for my lineage."
अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति जानासि द्विजसत्तम । कस्मादुपेक्षसे जानन् दुःखं मम च शक्तिमान्
"There is no destiny for one without a son, as you know, O best of twice-born. Why do you neglect me, knowing my sorrow and your own power?"
कलविंकास्त्विमे धन्या ये शिशुं लालयन्ति हि । मन्दभाग्योऽहमनिशं चिन्तयामि दिवानिशम्
"These little birds are blessed, for they fondle their young. I, of poor fortune, think day and night, ever anxious."
व्यास उवाच - इत्याकर्ण्य मुनिस्तस्य निर्वेदमिश्रितं वचः । सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा सम्यक् तमुवाच विधेः सुतः
Vyāsa said: Hearing his words, filled with despair, the sage, after reflecting well in his mind, spoke to him, the son of Vidhī.
वसिष्ठ उवाच - सत्यं ब्रूहि महाराज संसारेऽस्मिन्न विद्यते । अनपत्यत्वजं दुःखं यत्तथा दुःखमद्भुतम्
Vasiṣṭha said: "Speak truly, O great king, in this world there is no sorrow like that which comes from childlessness; such sorrow is indeed astonishing."
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेन्द्र वरुणं यादसां पतिम् । समाराधय यत्नेन स ते कार्यं करिष्यति
Therefore, O king of kings, you too should earnestly worship Varuṇa, lord of the waters; he will accomplish your purpose.
वरुणादधिको नास्ति देवः सन्तानदायकः । तमाराधय धर्मिष्ठ कार्यसिद्धिर्भविष्यति
There is no god superior to Varuṇa in granting offspring; worship him, O righteous one, and your aim will be fulfilled.