ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशिष्टेभ्यो दीनेभ्यश्च विशेषतः। व्रतानि च प्रचीर्णानि रक्षिताः शरणागताः॥६.२.
To distinguished Brahmins and especially to the poor, vows were observed, those who sought refuge were protected.
पुत्रवल्लालिता लोकाः शत्रवश्च निषूदिताः। भ्रांतानि भूतले यानि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च। तपस्विभ्यो यथाकामं यच्छता वांछितं धनम्॥६.२.
He cherished his people like sons, destroyed his enemies, visited all holy places and shrines on earth, and gave desired wealth to ascetics as they wished.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः। तेन प्रोक्तः सभामध्ये संस्थितो नतिपूर्वकम्॥६.२.
Then, at a certain time, the venerable sage Vasishtha, standing in the midst of the assembly, was addressed with reverence.
त्रिशंकुरुवाच। भगवन्यष्टुमिच्छामि तेन यज्ञेन सांप्रतम्। गम्यते त्रिदिवं येन सशरीरेण सत्वरम्॥६.२.
Trishanku said: O venerable one, I wish to perform that sacrifice by which one swiftly goes to heaven with one's body.
तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे संभारानाहर द्रुतम्। तस्य यज्ञस्य सिद्ध्यर्थं यथार्हान्ब्राह्मणांस्तथा॥६.२.
Therefore, show me your favor; quickly gather the materials for that sacrifice, and likewise the Brahmins as is proper, for the success of the rite.
वसिष्ठ उवाच। न स कश्चित्क्रतुर्येन गम्यते त्रिदिवं नृप। अनेनैव शरीरेण सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्॥६.२.
Vasishtha said: O king, there is no sacrifice by which one goes to heaven with this very body; this is the truth I declare.
अग्निष्टोमादयो यज्ञा ये प्रोक्ताः प्राक्स्वयंभुवा। अन्यदेहांतरे स्वर्गः प्राप्यते तैः कृतैर्नृप॥६.२.
The sacrifices such as Agnishtoma, which were declared by Svayambhu, grant heaven in another body when performed, O king.
यदि वा पृथिवीपाल त्वया यज्ञप्रभावतः। पार्थिवो वा द्विजो वाथ वैश्यो वान्यतरोऽपि वा॥६.२.
Even if, O lord of the earth, by the power of sacrifice, whether you are a king, a Brahmin, a Vaishya, or any other—
स्वयं दृष्टः श्रुतो वापि संजातोऽत्र धरातले। स्वर्गं गतः शरीरेण सहितस्तत्प्रकीर्तय॥६.२.
If you have seen, heard, or know of anyone here on earth who has ascended to heaven bodily, speak of him.
त्रिशंकुरुवाच। नासाध्यं विद्यते ब्रह्मंस्तवाहं वेद्मि तत्त्वतः। तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे यथा स्यान्मनसेप्सितम्॥६.२.
Triśaṃku said: O Brahmin, there is nothing impossible for you—I know this truly. Therefore, show me your favor so that my wish may be fulfilled.
वसिष्ठ उवाच। अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे स्वैरेष्वपि हि जिह्वया। तस्मान्नास्ति मखः कश्चित्सत्यं त्वं यष्टुमिच्छसि॥६.२.
Vasiṣṭha said: I have never spoken a lie, not even in jest. Therefore, no such sacrifice exists; yet you wish to perform a true one.
त्रिशंकुरुवाच। यदि मां विप्रशार्दूल न त्वं याजयितुं क्षमः। स्वर्गप्रदेन यज्ञेन वपुषानेन वै विभो॥६.२.
Triśaṃku said: O best of Brahmins, if you are not able to perform for me the sacrifice that grants heaven with this very body, O lord—
तत्किं ते तपसः शक्त्या ब्राह्मणस्य विचक्षण। अपरं शृणु मे वाक्यं यद्ब्रवीमि परिस्फुटम्। शृण्वतां मुनिवृन्दानां तथान्येषां द्विजोत्तम॥६.२.
Then what is the use of the power of a Brahmin's austerity, O wise one? Hear now the clear words I speak, in the presence of these assembled sages and other excellent twice-born.
यदि मे न करोषि त्वं वचनं वदतोऽसकृत्। तेन यज्ञेन यक्ष्येऽहं तत्कृत्वान्यं द्विजं गुरुम्॥६.२.
If you do not carry out my repeated request, I will perform the sacrifice myself and then appoint another Brahmin as my priest.
सूत उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठो भगवांस्ततः। तमुवाच विहस्योच्चैः कुरुष्वैवं महीपते॥६.२.
Sūta said: Hearing these words, the venerable Vasiṣṭha laughed aloud and said to him, 'Do as you wish, O king.'
सूत उवाच। ततः प्रणम्य भूयः स वसिष्ठं मुनिपुंगवम्। ययौ तत्र सुतास्तस्य यत्र ते शतसंख्यकाः॥६.३.
Sūta said: Then, after bowing again to the eminent sage Vasiṣṭha, he went to where Vasiṣṭha's sons, numbering in the hundreds, were gathered.
तानपि प्राह नत्वा स तमेवार्थं नराधिपः। वसिष्ठवचनं कृत्स्नं तस्य तैरपि शंसितम्॥६.३.
Having bowed to them as well, the king spoke to them of the same matter; and they too repeated to him all that Vasiṣṭha had said.
ततस्तान्स पुनः प्राह युष्माकं जनकोऽधुना। अशक्तो मा दिवं नेतुं सशरीरं विसर्जितः॥६.३.
Then he addressed them again: 'Your father is now unable to take me to heaven in this body; he has withdrawn.'
तस्माद्यदि न मां यूयं याजयिष्यथ सांप्रतम्। परित्यज्य करिष्यामि शीघ्रमन्यं पुरोहितम्॥६.३.
Therefore, if you will not now perform the sacrifice for me, I will quickly abandon you and appoint another priest.
यो मां यज्ञप्रभावेन नयिष्यति सुरालयम्। अनेनैव शरीरेण सहितं गुरुपुत्रकाः॥६.३.
Whoever, by the power of sacrifice, will take me to the abode of the gods in this very body—him I will accept, O sons of the guru.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते मुनिसत्तमाः। परं कोपं समाविष्टास्तमूचुः परुषाक्षरैः॥६.३.
Hearing these words, all those eminent sages were filled with great anger and addressed him with harsh words.
यस्मात्त्वया गुरुस्त्यक्तो हितकृत्पापवानसि। तस्माद्भवाधुना पाप चंडालो लोकनिंदितः॥६.३.
Because you have abandoned your guru, who sought your welfare, you are now sinful; therefore, become a caṇḍāla, despised by the world.
अथ तद्वचनांते स तत्क्षणात्पृथिवीपतिः। बभूवांत्यजरूपाढ्यो विकृताकारदेहभृत्॥६.३.
Then, at the end of their words, the king instantly became deformed, taking on an outcaste's appearance and a misshapen body.
यवमध्यः कृशग्रीवः पिंगाक्षो भुग्ननासिकः। कृष्णांगः शंकुवर्णश्च दुर्गंधेन समावृतः॥६.३.
His waist was thin, his neck emaciated, his eyes tawny, his nose crooked, his limbs dark, his complexion like iron, and he was enveloped in a foul odor.
अथात्मानं समालोक्य विकृतं स नराधिपः। चण्डालधर्मिणं सद्यो लज्जयाऽधोमुखः स्थितः॥६.३.
Seeing himself thus deformed and bearing the marks of a caṇḍāla, the king at once stood with his head bowed in shame.
याहियाहीति विप्रैस्तैर्भर्त्स्यमानो मुहुर्मुहुः। सर्वतः सारमेयैश्च क्लिश्यमानो निरर्गलैः। काककोकिलसंकाशो जीर्णवस्त्रावगुंठितः॥६.३.
Driven away again and again by the Brahmins shouting 'Go, go!' and harassed on all sides by unrestrained dogs, he, resembling a crow or cuckoo, stood covered in tattered garments.
ततः स चिन्तयामास दुःखेन महता वृतः। किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं शांतिर्भविष्यति॥६.३.
Then, overwhelmed by great sorrow, he began to reflect: 'What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will peace come to me?'
किं मयैतत्सुमूर्खेण वांछितं दुर्लभं पदम्। तत्प्रभावेन विभ्रष्टः कुलधर्मोऽपि मे स्वकः॥६.३.
'What was this rare state I, so foolish, desired? By its power, even my family's sacred duty has been lost.'
किं जलं प्रविशाम्यद्य किं वा दीप्तं हुताशनम्। भक्षयामि विषं किं वा कथं स्यान्मृत्युरद्य मे॥६.३.
'Shall I enter water today, or a blazing fire? Or shall I consume poison? How might death come to me today?'
अनेन वपुषा दारान्वीक्षयिष्यामि तान्कथम्। तादृशेन शरीरेण याभिः संक्रीडितं मया॥६.३.
'With this form, how shall I look upon my wives—those with whom I once sported, now that my body is as it is?'