Among the noble Ikṣvākus, the family priest is revered as the highest guide; after him, all others are regarded as divine. Now, listen to the fifty-eighth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Rāma, the story continues: Triśaṅku, filled with anger and desperation, approached the hundred sons of the sage Vasiṣṭha. They addressed him sternly, saying, “O wicked-minded one, your truthful guru has rejected you. How could you disregard his decision and approach another branch for help?” They reminded Triśaṅku that among all the Ikṣvākus, the family priest’s guidance is paramount, and the words of such a truth-speaking sage must not be transgressed. “The venerable Vasiṣṭha declared, ‘It is impossible,’ yet somehow we are able to assemble the sacrifice. But you are childish, O best of men; return to your city. The venerable sage is capable of performing sacrifices even for the three worlds, O king. How could we possibly insult him?” Hearing their words, Triśaṅku remained undeterred. The king replied, “I have been rejected by the venerable one and also by the sons of my guru. I shall seek another path. Farewell to you, O ascetics.” When the sage’s sons heard these words, filled with dreadful intent, they became exceedingly enraged and cursed Triśaṅku: “You shall become a Caṇḍāla!” Having uttered their curse, those great souls returned to their hermitages. As night passed, Triśaṅku was transformed into a Caṇḍāla. He became dark-skinned, wore dark garments, his hair disheveled. He adorned himself with garlands made of rags, smeared his body with ashes, and wore iron ornaments. Seeing their king in this dreadful form, all his ministers and the townspeople fled in fear. Alone, the descendant of Kakutstha, possessing supreme self-control, went forth. Burning day and night with anguish, Triśaṅku approached the ascetic Viśvāmitra. The sage saw the king rendered fruitless by the curse, and his heart was moved to compassion. Out of pity, Viśvāmitra, the supremely righteous ascetic, addressed Triśaṅku: “May it be well with you. For what purpose have you come, O mighty prince?” Triśaṅku, lord of Ayodhya, replied, “By the curse, I have become a Caṇḍāla.” With joined palms, skilled in speech, he addressed Viśvāmitra: “I have been rejected by my guru and his sons. I have not attained my desire; instead, I have met with the opposite. May I ascend to heaven with my body, O gentle one. Though I have performed a hundred sacrifices, I do not obtain their fruit. I have never spoken falsehood, nor will I ever do so. Even when afflicted, I have upheld the Kshatriya duty, performed many kinds of sacrifices, and protected the people with righteousness. The elders have been pleased by my conduct, yet they are not satisfied. I now consider fate to be supreme and human effort to be fruitless. Everything is overpowered by fate; fate is indeed the highest path. For me, who am greatly afflicted and seeking your favor, you ought to act, O blessed one, for one whose actions are obstructed by fate. I have no other refuge, nor any other shelter; you alone can turn aside fate by your own effort.” Now, listen to the fifty-ninth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Moved by compassion, the son of Kuśika, Viśvāmitra, spoke sweet words to Triśaṅku, who had become a Caṇḍāla in truth. “O Ikṣvaku, welcome, my child. I know you are truly righteous. I grant you refuge; do not fear, O foremost of kings. I will summon all the great sages of virtuous deeds, those who assist in sacrifices. Then, O king, you shall perform the sacrifice with satisfaction. The form that has come upon you, caused by the guru’s curse—with this very form, you shall ascend bodily. Heaven is within your grasp, O king, for you have come to me, the son of Kuśika, seeking shelter.” Having spoken thus, the great and radiant sage instructed his supremely righteous sons, wise in all things, to prepare the sacrificial materials. He summoned all his disciples and commanded, “Bring here, by my order, all the sages along with Vasiṣṭha. Bring their disciples, friends, and the officiating priests learned in the Vedas. Let anyone else come who, prompted by my words, wishes to speak.” Viśvāmitra declared all this, but his words were disregarded. Hearing his command, his disciples departed in all directions. From every region, Brahmanical sages gathered, along with their disciples, approaching the sage blazing with ascetic power. They spoke the words of all the assembled sages, and hearing these, all the twice-born began to arrive. From every land they came, except from Mahodaya; all the Vāsiṣṭhas, filled with wrath, uttered harsh words in anger. They said, “Hear now, O foremost of sages, exactly what we declare: How can a Kshatriya be the officiating priest for a Caṇḍāla, especially?