Sarga 58: Trishanku's Curse
Trishanku Shaapa
Trishanku, rejected by Vashishtha and his hundred sons, is cursed to become a chandala; desperate and alone, he seeks refuge with Vishvamitra.
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तं दृष्टवा मन्त्रिणस्सर्वे त्यज्य चण्डालरूपिणम्।।1.58.11।। प्राद्रवन् सहिता राम पौरा येऽस्यानुगामिन:।
Meaning
Seeing him in the form of a chandala, all his ministers, Rama, together with the townsfolk who had followed him, abandoned him and fled.
एको हि राजा काकुत्स्थ जगाम परमात्मवान्।।1.58.12।। दह्यमानो दिवारात्रं विश्वामित्रं तपोनिधिम्।
Meaning
Alone, the self-possessed king, Kakutstha, burning day and night, went to Vishvamitra, the treasury of austerity.
विश्वामित्रस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा राजानं विफलीकृतम्। चण्डालरूपिणं राम मुनि: कारुण्यमागत:।।1.58.13।।
Meaning
Seeing the king, his purpose thwarted, in the form of a chandala, Rama, the sage was moved with compassion.
कारुण्यात्स महातेजा वाक्यं परमधार्मिक:। इदं जगाद भद्रं ते राजानं घोररूपिणम्।।1.58.14।।
Meaning
Out of compassion, the greatly splendid, righteous one spoke this word, may you prosper, to the king of dreadful form.
किमागमनकार्यं ते राजपुत्र महाबल। अयोध्याधिपते वीर शापाच्चण्डालतां गत:।।1.58.15।।
Meaning
What is the purpose of your visit, greatly mighty prince? Hero, lord of Ayodhya, you have come to a state of chandala-hood by a curse.
अथ तद्वाक्यमाज्ञाय राजा चण्डालतां गत:। अब्रवीत्प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकोविदम्।।1.58.16।।
Meaning
Hearing that word, the king who had become a chandala, eloquent himself, spoke this word with joined palms to the eloquent sage.
प्रत्याख्यातोऽस्मि गुरुणा गुरुपुत्रैस्तथैव च। अनवाप्यैव तं कामं मया प्राप्तो विपर्यय:।।1.58.17।।
Meaning
I am rejected by my guru, and likewise by his sons; without attaining my wish, I have met with this reversal.
सशरीरो दिवं यायामिति मे सौम्यदर्शनम्। मया चेष्टं क्रतुशतं तच्च नाऽवाप्यते फलम्।।1.58.18।।
Meaning
That I might go to heaven in this very body was my gentle wish; I have performed a hundred sacrifices, yet the fruit is not attained.
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे न च वक्ष्ये कदाचन। कृच्छ्रेष्वपि गत स्सौम्य क्षत्रधर्मेण ते शपे।।1.58.19।।
Meaning
I have never before spoken falsehood, nor shall I ever speak it; even in hardship, gentle one, I swear this to you by my kshatriya duty.
यज्ञैर्बहुविधैरिष्टं प्रजा धर्मेण पालिता:।।1.58.20।। गुरवश्च महात्मान श्शीलवृत्तेन तोषिता:।
Meaning
I have worshipped with many kinds of sacrifice, protected my subjects with righteousness, and satisfied my great-souled elders through good conduct.