Triśaṅku, a renowned and virtuous king of the Ikṣvāku lineage, known for his generosity and righteousness, approached the great sage Viśvāmitra seeking refuge. He came with an extraordinary desire: to ascend to heaven in his very own body, conquering the celestial realms while still living in mortal flesh. Moved by Triśaṅku’s plea, Viśvāmitra called upon the assembled sages, inviting them to join him in commencing a grand sacrifice. Hearing the words of Viśvāmitra, all the great sages, well-versed in dharma, swiftly gathered. They spoke among themselves, acknowledging that Viśvāmitra, a descendant of Kuśika, was a sage of intense and formidable wrath. They agreed that whatever he declared must be fulfilled without question, for if angered, this revered one—equal to Agni himself—could unleash a terrible curse. With this resolve, the sages decided that the sacrifice should proceed, so that, by Viśvāmitra’s power, Triśaṅku might indeed ascend to heaven in his own body. The rites began with all the sages undertaking their roles. Viśvāmitra, radiant with spiritual brilliance, became the chief officiating priest, while the other learned priests skillfully carried out the sacred rituals according to the prescribed rules and procedures. For a long time, the rituals continued flawlessly. At last, Viśvāmitra, steadfast in his austerities, performed the crucial invocation, offering the sacred share to all the gods. Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, not a single deity appeared to accept the offering. Filled with righteous anger, Viśvāmitra seized the sacrificial ladle and, his eyes blazing, turned to Triśaṅku. “Behold the power of my austerity, O king,” he declared. “By my own strength, I shall send you to heaven in your own body. Go now, ascend to heaven in your mortal form—this is the fruit of my penance.” As Viśvāmitra spoke these words, Triśaṅku began to rise, body and soul, toward the heavenly realms, watched in awe by the gathered sages. But as he approached the gates of heaven, Indra, king of the gods, along with all the celestial hosts, confronted him. “Triśaṅku, return at once!” they commanded. “You have not earned a place in heaven. Struck down by your teacher’s curse, fall to earth headfirst, O fool!” With these harsh words from Mahendra, Triśaṅku was cast down, plummeting headlong toward the earth. In his terror, Triśaṅku cried out, “Save me!” calling upon Viśvāmitra, the sage of mighty austerities. Hearing his desperate plea, Viśvāmitra’s anger blazed even brighter. He commanded, “Stop! Stop!” shining among the sages like a second Prajāpati. In his wrath, Viśvāmitra created anew the seven sages who dwell along the southern path, and, overwhelmed by anger, he fashioned a new lineage of stars. Turning to the southern direction, he, surrounded by other sages, created these stars, his mind clouded by fury. In his wrath he declared, “I shall create another Indra, or else let the world be without an Indra!” and he began to create new deities as well. Alarmed by this display of divine power, all the sages, gods, and asuras approached Viśvāmitra with great respect, speaking conciliatory words. “O most fortunate one,” they pleaded, “this king 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 the words of the gods, the eminent sage Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) addressed them all with a powerful speech. “A promise has been made for Triśaṅku’s bodily ascent to heaven. I cannot act falsely, nor break my word. Let heaven be eternal for Triśaṅku in his body, and let all these stars, which I have created, remain fixed. As long as the worlds endure, let these remain. Whatever the gods have done, you ought to approve.” The gods replied, “So be it. Let all these remain, and may good fortune be yours.” Thus, in the sky, outside the path of Agni, those many stars blazed among the heavenly lights. Triśaṅku, with his head downward, was to remain like an immortal, and these lights would follow him, the best of kings. Having thus fulfilled his promise and achieved fame, Viśvāmitra was praised by all the gods for attaining the heavenly world for Triśaṅku. In the midst of the sages, mighty ones, and ascetics, the gods declared, “So be it.” With the sacrifice completed, all the great-souled gods and ascetics departed, just as they had come. Now, listen to the next episode in this sacred tale of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa. Viśvāmitra, radiant with spiritual splendor, saw the sages preparing to depart. He addressed all the forest-dwelling ascetics, “A great obstacle has arisen in the southern direction. Let us go elsewhere and perform our austerities in another direction. In the vast western region, at Puṣkara, we shall practice our penances in comfort. That forest is especially pleasant for ascetic practices.” Having spoken thus, the great sage, full of immense energy, journeyed to Puṣkara, where he undertook fierce and unassailable austerities, subsisting only on roots and fruits. At that very time, in Ayodhya, the illustrious king Ambarīṣa began preparations for a grand sacrifice. Yet, as the rituals were set to commence, Indra seized the sacrificial animal. When the animal was found missing, the priest turned to the king and spoke, setting the stage for the next chapter of this sacred narrative.