अनेन तपसा त्वां हि राजर्षिरिति विद्महे। एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा जगाम सह दैवतैः
'By this austerity, we know you as a royal sage.' Having spoken thus, the great and radiant one departed together with the gods.
त्रिविष्टपं ब्रह्मलोकं लोकानां परमेश्वरः। विश्वामित्रोऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वा ह्रिया किंचिदवाङ्मुखः
The supreme lord of the worlds went to the heavenly realm, the abode of Brahmā; Viśvāmitra, hearing this, became somewhat downcast with modesty.
दुःखेन महताविष्टः समन्युरिदमब्रवीत्। तपश्च सुमहत् तप्तं राजर्षिरिति मां विदुः
Overcome by great sorrow and anger, he spoke these words: 'I have performed immense austerity, yet they know me only as a royal sage.'
देवाः सर्षिगणाः सर्वे नास्ति मन्ये तपः फलम्। एवं निश्चित्य मनसा भूय एव महातपाः
'All the gods and all the hosts of sages—there is, I think, no fruit of austerity.' Thus resolved in his mind, the great ascetic,
तपश्चचार धर्मात्मा काकुत्स्थ परमात्मवान्। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः
The righteous-souled Kakutstha, possessing supreme self, practiced austerity; and at that very time, one who spoke truth and had conquered his senses,
त्रिशङ्कुरिति विख्यात इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धनः। तस्य बुद्धिः समुत्पन्ना यजेयमिति राघव
Triśaṅku, renowned as the enhancer of the Ikṣvāku lineage; his thought arose, 'I shall perform a sacrifice, O descendant of Raghu.'
गच्छेयं स्वशरीरेण देवतानां परां गतिम्। वसिष्ठं स समाहूय कथयामास चिन्तितम्
'I shall attain, with my own body, the supreme state of the gods.' He summoned Vasiṣṭha and revealed his intention.
अशक्यमिति चाप्युक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। प्रत्याख्यातो वसिष्ठेन स ययौ दक्षिणां दिशम्
But he was told by the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, 'It is impossible.' Rejected by Vasiṣṭha, he went toward the southern direction.
ततस्तत्कर्मसिद्ध्यर्थं पुत्रांस्तस्य गतो नृपः। वासिष्ठा दीर्घतपसस्तपो यत्र हि तेपिरे
Then, for the accomplishment of that act, the king went to Vasiṣṭha's sons, where those long-practicing ascetics were engaged in austerity.
त्रिशङ्कुस्तु महातेजाः शतं परमभास्वरम्। वसिष्ठपुत्रान् ददृशे तप्यमानान् मनस्विनः
Triśaṅku, of great radiance, saw a hundred exceedingly brilliant sons of Vasiṣṭha, practicing austerity, steadfast in mind.
सोऽभिगम्य महात्मानः सर्वानेव गुरोः सुतान्। अभिवाद्यानुपूर्वेण ह्रिया किंचिदवाङ्मुखः
He approached all those great-souled sons of the guru, greeted them one by one, and, with some modesty, stood with his face lowered.
अब्रवीत् स महात्मानः सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलिः। शरणं वः प्रपन्नोऽहं शरण्यान् शरणं गतः
He, with hands joined in reverence, spoke to all those great souls: 'I have come to you for refuge, seeking shelter from those who grant shelter.'
प्रत्याख्यातो हि भद्रं वो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। यष्टुकामो महायज्ञं तदनुज्ञातुमर्हथ
'I have been rejected, may you be blessed, by the great-souled Vasiṣṭha; desiring to perform a great sacrifice, you ought to grant me permission.'
गुरुपुत्रानहं सर्वान् नमस्कृत्य प्रसादये। शिरसा प्रणतो याचे ब्राह्मणांस्तपसि स्थितान्
'I honor all the sons of the guru and entreat you; bowing my head, I beseech the Brahmins who are steadfast in austerity.'
ते मां भवन्तः सिद्ध्यर्थं याजयन्तु समाहिताः। सशरीरो यथाहं वै देवलोकमवाप्नुयाम्
'May you, for the sake of accomplishment, officiate for me with concentration, so that I may attain the world of the gods with my body.'
प्रत्याख्यातो वसिष्ठेन गतिमन्यां तपोधनाः। गुरुपुत्रानृते सर्वान् नाहं पश्यामि कांचन
Rejected by Vasiṣṭha, I see no other path, O ascetics, except through the guru's sons.
इक्ष्वाकूणां हि सर्वेषां पुरोधाः परमा गतिः। तस्मादनन्तरं सर्वे भवन्तो दैवतं मम
For among all the Ikṣvākus, the family priest is indeed the highest path; therefore, after him, you all are my divinity.
thumb|अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे अष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥१-
Listen to the fifty-eighth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
ततस्त्रिशङ्कोर्वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रोधसमन्वितम्। ऋषिपुत्रशतं राम राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
Then, O Rāma, having heard Triśaṅku's words filled with anger, the hundred sons of the sage spoke to the king as follows:
प्रत्याख्यातोऽसि दुर्मेधो गुरुणा सत्यवादिना। तं कथं समतिक्रम्य शाखान्तरमुपेयिवान्
You have been rejected, O wicked-minded one, by your truthful guru; how, then, did you transgress and approach another branch?
इक्ष्वाकूणां हि सर्वेषां पुरोधाः परमा गतिः। न चातिक्रमितुं शक्यं वचनं सत्यवादिनः
For among all the Ikṣvākus, the family priest is indeed the highest path; and the words of the truth-speaking one cannot be transgressed.
अशक्यमिति सोवाच वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः। तं वयं वै समाहर्तुं क्रतुं शक्ताः कथंचन
The venerable sage Vasiṣṭha said, 'It is impossible'; yet we are somehow able to assemble the sacrifice.
बालिशस्त्वं नरश्रेष्ठ गम्यतां स्वपुरं पुनः। याजने भगवान् शक्तस्त्रैलोक्यस्यापि पार्थिव
You are childish, O best of men; return again to your own city. The venerable one is capable of performing the sacrifice even for the three worlds, O king.
अवमानं कथं कर्तुं तस्य शक्ष्यामहे वयम्। तेषां तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा क्रोधपर्याकुलाक्षरम्
How could we possibly insult him? Hearing their words, filled with anger—
स राजा पुनरेवैतानिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। प्रत्याख्यातो भगवता गुरुपुत्रैस्तथैव हि
Then the king again spoke these words to them: 'I have been rejected by the venerable one, and likewise by the guru's sons.'
अन्यां गतिं गमिष्यामि स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु तपोधनाः। ऋषिपुत्रास्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा वाक्यं घोराभिसंहितम्
'I shall seek another path. Farewell to you, O ascetics.' When the sage's sons heard those words, dreadful in intent—
शेपुः परमसंक्रुद्धाश्चण्डालत्वं गमिष्यसि। इत्युक्त्वा ते महात्मानो विविशुः स्वं स्वमाश्रमम्
They, exceedingly enraged, cursed him: 'You shall become a Caṇḍāla!' Having spoken thus, those great souls returned to their own hermitages.
अथ रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां राजा चण्डालतां गतः। नीलवस्त्रधरो नीलः पुरुषो ध्वस्तमूर्धजः
Then, when night had passed, the king became a Caṇḍāla: clad in dark garments, dark-skinned, his hair disheveled.
चित्यमाल्यांगरागश्च आयसाभरणोऽभवत्। तं दृष्ट्वा मन्त्रिणः सर्वे त्यज्य चण्डालरूपिणम्
Adorned with garlands of rags and smeared with ashes, he wore iron ornaments; seeing him in the form of a Caṇḍāla, all his ministers—
प्राद्रवन् सहिता राम पौरा येऽस्यानुगामिनः। एको हि राजा काकुत्स्थ जगाम परमात्मवान्
Fled together, O Rāma, as did the townspeople who followed him; for the king, a descendant of Kakutstha, alone went forth, possessing supreme self-control.