With the fire of his wrath blazing, the great sage Vishvamitra declared that those wicked ones would surely be reduced to ashes. He pronounced that, led by the noose of Time, they would be taken to the realm of Yama. For seven hundred births, he decreed, they would be born as Mṛtapās—merciless beings who feed on dog flesh, known as Muṣṭikas. Deformed and misshapen, they would wander the worlds, bereft of honor. Turning his gaze to Mahodaya, whose mind was perverse and who had slandered Vishvamitra though he was blameless, the sage pronounced a special curse. Mahodaya would become infamous throughout all worlds, reborn as a Niṣāda—one intent on killing living beings, devoid of compassion, condemned to dwell in misery for a long time because of Vishvamitra’s anger. Having spoken these words, the radiant ascetic Vishvamitra fell silent, his pronouncements echoing among the sages. Now, let us hear the sixty-first chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bālakāṇḍa. Knowing that the Vāsiṣṭhas and those from Mahodaya had been subdued by the power of his austerity, Vishvamitra spoke among the assembled sages. He introduced Triśaṅku, famed as a descendant of Ikṣvāku, righteous and generous, who had come seeking refuge. Triśaṅku, with his very body, desired to conquer the world of the gods and ascend to heaven in his own form. Vishvamitra called upon the sages to commence the sacrifice together with him. Hearing his words, the great sages swiftly assembled, guided by righteousness and the principles of dharma. They acknowledged that Vishvamitra, descendant of Kuśika, was a sage of intense wrath, and that whatever he said must be carried out without doubt—lest he utter a curse in anger. Therefore, they agreed to proceed with the sacrifice so that Triśaṅku might ascend to heaven in his body by Vishvamitra’s power. The sacrifice began, with all the sages undertaking their roles. Vishvamitra, brilliant and steadfast, served as the officiating priest, while the other priests, skilled in mantras, performed their duties in order. All rites were performed according to the prescribed procedures and rules. After a long time, Vishvamitra, renowned for his austerity, invoked the gods to receive their share of the offerings. Yet, none of the gods appeared. Filled with anger, Vishvamitra raised the sacrificial ladle and spoke wrathfully to Triśaṅku: “Behold the power of my austerity, O king. By my own strength, I shall lead you to heaven in your own body. Go now, for there is indeed some fruit of my austerity that I have acquired.” As the sage uttered these words, Triśaṅku began to ascend to heaven in his body, watched by the sages. Upon seeing Triśaṅku reach the heavenly realm, Indra and all the hosts of gods spoke: “Triśaṅku, return again; you have not earned a place in heaven.” Struck down by the curse of his teacher, Mahendra commanded Triśaṅku to fall to earth headfirst. Thus addressed, Triśaṅku plummeted back to earth. In distress, Triśaṅku cried out, “Save me!” to Vishvamitra, the possessor of immense austerity. Hearing his plea, Kauśika became intensely angry, commanding, “Stop, stop!” Among the sages, he shone like another Prajāpati. Overwhelmed by wrath, Vishvamitra created anew the seven sages who dwell in the southern path and established another lineage of stars. Turning to the southern direction, surrounded by other sages, he continued to create a constellation of stars, his mind clouded by anger. In his fury, Vishvamitra declared, “I will make another Indra, or else let the world be without an Indra,” and began to create new deities as well. Alarmed by these acts, all the hosts of sages, gods, and asuras approached Vishvamitra respectfully, offering conciliatory words. They pleaded, “This king, O most fortunate one, is afflicted by the curse of his guru. O possessor of ascetic wealth, he does not deserve to ascend to heaven in his body.” Hearing their words, the eminent sage Kauśika addressed all the deities with powerful speech: “A promise has been made for the bodily ascent of Triśaṅku, the king. I cannot act falsely. Let heaven be eternal for Triśaṅku in his body, and let all these stars, which are mine, remain fixed. As long as the worlds endure, let these all remain; and whatever the gods have done, you ought to approve.” Thus addressed, all the gods replied, “So be it; let all these remain, and may good fortune be yours.” In the sky, outside the path of Agni, Vishvamitra’s many stars blazed among the heavenly lights. Triśaṅku, with his head downward, was to remain like an immortal, with these lights following the best of kings. In this way, Vishvamitra achieved his purpose and fame, and Triśaṅku attained the heavenly world. Vishvamitra, righteous and steadfast, was praised by all the gods. In the midst of the sages, mighty ones, and ascetics, the gods said, “So be it.” Then, O best of men, all the great-souled gods and ascetics departed as they had come, marking the end of the sacrifice.