In the land ruled by Satyavrata, Indra withheld the rains for twelve years, bringing about a great drought as punishment for unrighteousness. During this time, the sage Viśvāmitra, renowned for his asceticism, left his wife behind in that parched land and undertook severe austerities on the ocean’s shore. His wife, desperate to provide for her family, bound their middle-born son by the neck and, crying loudly, offered him for sale to obtain sustenance. Witnessing the boy’s plight, bound and being sold, the noble prince Satyavrata—disciplined and the son of a great sage—released him from bondage. Out of compassion and to satisfy Viśvāmitra, Satyavrata provided for the child’s needs. The boy, known as Gālava for being bound by the neck, became a distinguished ascetic, and Viśvāmitra was freed from his family’s distress by Satyavrata’s valor. Satyavrata’s dedication did not end there. By his vow, devotion, and compassion, he supported Viśvāmitra’s wife, ensuring her survival. He hunted deer, boars, buffaloes, and other animals near Viśvāmitra’s hermitage, preparing their meat for sustenance. Observing the upāṃśu vow and undertaking a twelve-year period of initiation, Satyavrata served faithfully at his father’s command, even while the king lived in exile in the forest. During this time, the sage Vasiṣṭha, aided by priests and teachers, protected Ayodhyā, its kingdom, and the royal palace. Yet from childhood, Satyavrata harbored a deep anger toward Vasiṣṭha, greater than Vasiṣṭha’s own feelings toward him, shaped by the force of future events. When Satyavrata’s father, weeping, banished him from the kingdom, Vasiṣṭha did not intervene, for reasons known to him. Satyavrata performed the marriage mantras at the seventh step, as is their culmination, but Vasiṣṭha, knowing dharma, chose not to recite them, and thus harbored anger toward Satyavrata. Though Vasiṣṭha acted wisely as guru, Satyavrata did not properly observe the upāṃśu vow. When Satyavrata departed, whoever stood in his father’s place suffered twelve years of drought, for Indra withheld the rains. As a result, that initiation became weakened and varied, serving as atonement for both family and self. Eventually, Vasiṣṭha stopped Satyavrata, who had been rejected by his father, saying, “I will consecrate him to the kingdom later.” Yet Satyavrata, resolute, endured his twelve-year initiation, even as Vasiṣṭha had no meat to offer. Driven by anger, delusion, fatigue, and hunger, Satyavrata saw the cow that fulfills all desires and acted rashly. Having adopted the ways of bandits, he killed the cow; together with Viśvāmitra’s sons, he ate its flesh. Hearing of this, Vasiṣṭha cast him off and addressed the prince, “Cruel one, let your body be pierced with three iron spikes, unless you are not the lowest of men.” Vasiṣṭha declared Satyavrata’s transgressions threefold: failing to please his father, killing his teacher’s cow, and eating what is forbidden in exile. Thus, seeing the three spikes, the great ascetic named him Triśaṅku, and from then on he was known by that name. When Viśvāmitra returned to care for his family, he was pleased and granted Triśaṅku a boon. Urged to choose, Triśaṅku asked his teacher, for there was a twelve-year drought and fear of famine. Viśvāmitra consecrated him in his ancestral kingdom and enabled him to perform sacrifices. In the presence of the gods and Vasiṣṭha, Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) raised Triśaṅku bodily to heaven. Vasiṣṭha witnessed this wondrous event, and those versed in the Purāṇas recite these verses to this day. By Viśvāmitra’s grace, Triśaṅku shines in heaven among the gods, honored by the wise and mighty sage. The beautiful constellation, powerless yet adorned with the moon in winter, decorated in three aspects, is embellished by Triśaṅku’s presence. Triśaṅku’s wife, Satyaratā of the Kekaya lineage, bore a sinless son, Hariścandra. Hariścandra, famed for performing the Rājasūya sacrifice and as a universal sovereign, was celebrated as Triśaṅku’s son. Hariścandra’s son was the mighty Rohita; Rohita’s son was Harita, and Caṃcu Hārīta was his descendant. Caṃcu’s sons were Vijaya and Sudeva. Vijaya, remembered for conquering all warrior clans, earned his name through his deeds. Ruruka, Vijaya’s son, was a king skilled in righteousness and wealth. Ruruka’s son was Hṛtaka, and Hṛtaka’s son was Bāhu. King Bāhu, afflicted, was overthrown by the Haihayas and Tāla-jaṅghas, as well as the Śakas, Yavanas, Kāmbojas, Pāradas, and Pahlavas. Even in the righteous Satya Yuga, Bāhu was not exceedingly virtuous. Sagara, the son of Bāhu, was born together with poison and, reaching Bhṛgu’s hermitage, was protected by Turva. Having received the fire weapon from Bhārgava, King Sagara conquered the earth and slew the Tāla-jaṅghas along with the Haihayas. He expelled the Śakas and Pahlavas from their righteous ways, and likewise, the knower of dharma expelled the Kṣatriyas and Pāradas from their proper duties. Thus, the lineage of Triśaṅku continued, marked by trials, valor, and the guidance of sages, shaping the destiny of kings and kingdoms.