Sarga 57: King Trishanku's Plea
Trishanku Prarthana
Vishvamitra, only ranked a royal sage by Brahma despite his austerity, resumes penance with renewed resolve; meanwhile King Trishanku, refused by Vashishtha, seeks out Vashishtha's hundred sons to perform the sacrifice that would send him to heaven in his own body.
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ततस्सन्तप्तहृदय: स्मरन्निग्रहमात्मन:। विनिश्श्वस्य विनिश्श्वस्य कृतवैरो महत्मना।।1.57.1।। स दक्षिणां दिशं गत्वा महिष्या सह राघव। तताप परमं घोरं विश्वामित्रो महत्तप:।।1.57.2।। फलमूलाशनो दान्तश्चकार सुमहत्तप:।
Meaning
Then, his heart aflame, recalling his own humiliation, sighing again and again, the great-souled one having made an enemy of Vashishtha, went to the southern quarter together with his queen, delight of Raghu, and practiced the most terrible austerity, self-controlled, subsisting on fruit and roots.
अथास्य जज्ञिरे पुत्रास्सत्यधर्मपरायणा:। हविष्यन्दो मधुष्यन्दो दृढनेत्रो महारथ:।।1.57.3।।
Meaning
To him were then born sons devoted to truth and righteousness: Havishyanda, Madhushyanda, Dridhanetra, and Maharatha.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु ब्रह्मा लोकपितामह:। अब्रवीन्मधुरं वाक्यं विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्।।1.57.4।।
Meaning
When a thousand years had passed, Brahma, grandsire of the worlds, spoke this sweet word to Vishvamitra, wealthy in austerity.
चिता राजर्षिलोकास्ते तपसा कुशिकात्मज। अनेन तपसा त्वां तु राजर्षिरिति विद्महे।।1.57.5।।
Meaning
You have won the worlds of royal sages by your austerity, son of Kushika; by this austerity, we know you as a royal sage.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा जगाम सह दैवतै:। त्रिविष्टपं ब्रह्मलोकं लोकानां परमेश्वर:।।1.57.6।।
Meaning
Having said this, the greatly splendid supreme lord of the worlds went, together with the gods, to the triple heaven, the world of Brahma.
विश्वामित्रोऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वा ह्रिया किञ्चिदवाङ्मुख:। दु:खेन महताऽऽविष्टस्समन्युरिदमब्रवीत्।।1.57.7।।
Meaning
Vishvamitra, hearing this, his face somewhat downcast with shame, overcome with great sorrow and resentment, spoke this.
तपश्च सुमहत्तप्तं राजर्षिरिति मां विदु:। देवास्सर्षिगणास्सर्वे नास्ति मन्ये तप:फलम्।।1.57.8।।
Meaning
Though I have performed the greatest austerity, the gods and all the assemblies of sages still know me only as a royal sage; I think my austerity has borne no fruit.
इति निश्चित्य मनसा भूय एव महातपा:। तपश्चकार काकुत्स्थ परमं परमात्मवान्।।1.57.9।।
Meaning
Resolving thus in his mind, Kakutstha, that greatly ascetic, self-possessed one again undertook supreme austerity.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रिय:। त्रिशङ्कुरिति विख्यात इक्ष्वाकुकुलवर्धन:।।1.57.10।।
Meaning
At this very time there lived a truthful, self-conquered king renowned as Trishanku, an enhancer of the Ikshvaku line.
तस्य बुद्धिस्समुत्पन्ना यजेयमिति राघव। गच्छेयं स्वशरीरेण देवानां परमां गतिम्।।1.57.11।।
Meaning
An idea arose in him, delight of Raghu: let me perform a sacrifice, that I may go to the highest realm of the gods in my own body.