valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary

Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes

The source appends a substantial endnote on Trishanku's background. His original name was Satyavrata, son of Suryaruna; 'Trishanku' is a pseudonym reflecting three attached sins, per the Harivamsha: pituH shaapa aadi doShena | guru dogdhre vadhena ca | a-prokShito prayogaat ca | trividhaa tat vyatikramaH -- his father's curse (for misconduct that led to his exile, during which he blamed Vashishtha for not intervening), the killing of Vashishtha's milch cow (done to feed Vishvamitra's family while Vishvamitra was away on ascesis, for which Vishvamitra now tries to repay him with heaven), and the eating of unsanctified meat from that kill. The endnote also cites the Vishnu Purana on why a guru or god cannot be coerced into compliance but must be won through faith and service: guroH aliika nirbandho na kartavyaH kadaacana | anumaanya prasaadaH ca guru kruddho yudhiShTara | shiShyo gurau narashreShTa pratikuulam na sanicaret -- framing Vishvamitra's entire endeavor to duplicate creation as an act of insolence against the cosmic order he himself mastered, akin to cutting the branch of the tree one sits on -- which is why Trishanku remains dangling upside-down in his makeshift heaven to this day.