Triśaṅku, the noble king of the Ikṣvāku line, stood before the sage Viśvāmitra, his heart heavy with unfulfilled longing. He spoke with deep sorrow, “O gentle one, my cherished desire remains unattained, and instead I have met with the very opposite of what I sought. May I, by your grace, ascend to heaven in this very body.” He continued, his voice earnest and unwavering, “Though I have completed a hundred sacrifices, still I have not received their fruit. Never have I spoken a falsehood, nor will I ever do so. Even when beset by suffering, O compassionate one, I have upheld the duty of a Kshatriya. Through many kinds of sacrifices, I have protected my people with righteousness. The great-souled elders have been pleased by my conduct and character, seeing my striving in righteousness and my devotion to sacrifice. Yet, O best of sages, the elders remain unsatisfied. I have come to believe that fate is supreme, and that human effort is in vain. Everything, it seems, is overpowered by fate; fate is indeed the highest path. Greatly afflicted and seeking your favor, O blessed one, I ask you to act for me, for my actions are obstructed by fate. I have no other refuge, nor do I seek any other shelter. By your own effort, you must turn aside the power of fate.” Moved by Triśaṅku’s plight, Viśvāmitra, son of Kuśika, spoke with compassion and warmth, “O Ikṣvāku, welcome, my child. I know you are truly righteous. I will 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 your guru’s curse— with this very form, you shall ascend bodily. Heaven is within your grasp, for you have come to me, the son of Kausika, the giver of refuge, seeking shelter.” Having thus reassured the king, 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 said, “Bring here, by my command, all the sages along with Vasiṣṭha. Bring their disciples, friends, and the officiating priests, learned in the Vedas; and let anyone else come who, prompted by my words, wishes to speak.” Yet, despite Viśvāmitra’s clear command, his words were disregarded by some. The messengers departed in all directions to deliver his summons. From every region, Brahmanical sages gathered, their disciples assembling and approaching the sage, who blazed with ascetic power. They brought the words of all the Brahmanical sages, and as these words were heard, all the twice-born began to arrive. From every land they came—except from Mahodaya. The Vāsiṣṭhas, filled with wrath, uttered words harsh with anger. Viśvāmitra recounted, “Hear now, O foremost of sages, exactly what I said: ‘How can a Kshatriya be the officiating priest for a Chandala, especially? How can the divine sages in the assembly partake of his oblation, or the great-souled Brahmins, after eating food from a Chandala? How will those protected by Viśvāmitra attain heaven?’ These harsh words they spoke, their eyes reddened with anger. All the Vāsiṣṭhas, together with those from Mahodaya, spoke thus.” Hearing their contempt, Viśvāmitra’s eyes blazed red with anger. He declared in wrath, “Though I am blameless and steadfast in fierce austerity, they revile me. Those wicked ones will surely be reduced to ashes; today, by the noose of Time, they are led to the realm of Yama. For seven hundred births, let them be born as Mṛtapās, feeding on dog flesh, merciless, and known as Muṣṭikas. Deformed and misshapen, wandering the worlds without honor. And Mahodaya, of perverse mind, who slandered me though I am blameless—he, defamed in all worlds, shall become a Niṣāda, intent on killing living beings, devoid of compassion. For a long time, because of my wrath, he will dwell in misery.” Having pronounced this terrible curse, Viśvāmitra, radiant among the sages, fell silent. Now, knowing that the Vāsiṣṭhas and those from Mahodaya had been overcome by the power of his austerity, the great ascetic Viśvāmitra spoke among the assembled sages: “This is Triśaṅku, famed as a descendant of Ikṣvāku, righteous and generous, who has come to me for refuge. With this very body, desiring to conquer the world of the gods, he wishes to ascend to heaven in his own form. Let the sacrifice be commenced by you together with me.” Hearing Viśvāmitra’s words, all the great sages gathered swiftly, knowing righteousness, and spoke in accordance with dharma: “This descendant of Kuśika is a sage of intense wrath. Whatever he has said must be done without doubt; for the revered one, equal to Agni, will utter a curse in anger. Therefore, let the sacrifice proceed so that the descendant of Ikṣvāku may ascend to heaven in his body by the power of Viśvāmitra.” Thus resolved, the sages began the sacrifice at that time. Viśvāmitra, of great brilliance, became the officiating priest in the ritual, and the other priests, skilled in mantras, performed their duties in proper order, all for the sake of Triśaṅku’s ascent.