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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स वसिष्ठं समाहूय कथयामास चिन्तितम्। अशक्यमिति चाप्युक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना।।1.57.12।।
Meaning
He summoned Vashishtha and told him his thought; the great-souled Vashishtha told him it was impossible.
प्रत्याख्यातो वसिष्ठेन स ययौदक्षिणां दिशम्। ततस्तत्कर्मसिद्ध्यर्थं पुत्रां स्तस्य गतो नृप:।।1.57.13।।
Meaning
Rejected by Vashishtha, he went to the southern quarter; then, for the accomplishment of that deed, the king went to Vashishtha's sons.
वासिष्ठा दीर्घतपसस्तपो यत्र हि तेपिरे। त्रिशंङ्कुस्सुमहातेजा श्शतं परमभास्वरम्।।1.57.14।। वसिष्ठपुत्रान् ददृशे तप्यमानान् यशस्विन:।
Meaning
Where the hundred sons of Vashishtha, of long austerity, most radiant, practiced their long penance, the greatly splendid Trishanku beheld those renowned sons of Vashishtha performing austerity there.
सोऽभिगम्य महात्मनस्सर्वानेव गुरोस्सुतान्।।1.57.15।। अभिवाद्यानुपूर्व्येण ह्रिया किञ्चिदवाङ्मुख:। अब्रवीत्सुमहाभगान्सर्वानेव कृताञ्जलि:।।1.57.16।।
Meaning
Approaching all those sons of his great-souled guru, saluting them in order of age, his face somewhat downcast in shame, he spoke this word to all those greatly fortunate ones with joined palms.
शरणं व: प्रपद्येऽहं शरण्यान् शरणागत:। प्रत्याख्यातोऽस्मि भद्रं वो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना।।1.57.17।।
Meaning
I take refuge in you, protectors of the needy, as a seeker of refuge; may you prosper — I have been rejected by the great-souled Vashishtha.
यष्टुकामो महायज्ञं तदनुज्ञातुमर्हथ। गुरुपुत्रानहं सर्वान्नमस्कृत्य प्रसादये।।1.57.18।।
Meaning
Desiring to perform a great sacrifice, may you kindly consent; reverencing all of you, sons of my guru, I entreat your grace.
शिरसा प्रणतो याचे ब्राह्मणान् तपसि स्थितान्। ते मां भवन्तस्सिद्ध्यर्थं याजयन्तु समाहिता:।।1.57.19।। सशरीरो यथाऽहं हि देवलोकमवाप्नुयाम्।
Meaning
Bowing my head, I beseech you brahmins established in austerity — may all of you, with focused mind, officiate the sacrifice for my success, so that I, in this very body, may attain the world of the gods.
प्रत्याख्यातो वसिष्ठेन गतिमन्यां तपोधना:।।1.57.20।। गुरुपुत्रानृते सर्वान्नाहं पश्यामि काञ्चन।
Meaning
Rejected by Vashishtha, wealthy in austerity, I see no other recourse at all besides all of you, sons of my guru.
इक्ष्वाकूणां हि सर्वेषां पुरोधा: परमा गति:।।1.57.21।। पुरोधसस्तु विद्वांसस्तारयन्ति सदा नृपान्। तस्मादनन्तरं सर्वे भवन्तो दैवतं मम।।1.57.22।।
Meaning
For all the Ikshvaku kings, the family priest is the highest recourse; learned priests ever guide their kings across; therefore, next after him, all of you are my deities.