The Tale of Trishanku

Verse 1 (skanda.6.2.1)

सूत उवाच। तस्मिन्नुत्पाटिते लिंगे भूतलाद्द्विजसत्तमाः। पातालाज्जाह्नवीतोयं तेन मार्गेण निःसृतम्। सर्वपापहरं नॄणां सर्वकामप्रदायकम्

sūta uvāca| tasminnutpāṭite liṁge bhūtalāddvijasattamāḥ| pātālājjāhnavītoyaṁ tena mārgeṇa niḥsṛtam| sarvapāpaharaṁ nṝṇāṁ sarvakāmapradāyakam

Suta said: O best of brahmins, when that Linga was uprooted from the earth, the water of the Ganga issued forth from the netherworld through that very passage — water that removes every sin of men and grants every desire.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.2.2)

तत्र स्वयमभूत्पूर्वं यत्तद्द्विजवरोत्तमाः। शृणुध्वं वदतो मेऽद्य लोकविस्मयकारकम्

tatra svayamabhūtpūrvaṁ yattaddvijavarottamāḥ| śṛṇudhvaṁ vadato me'dya lokavismayakārakam

Listen now, O best of the twice-born, as I tell you of what once happened there of itself — a thing that astonished the whole world.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.2.3)

त्रिशंकुर्नाम राजेंद्रश्चंडालत्वं समागतः। तत्र स्नातः पुनर्लेभे शरीरं पार्थिवोचितम्

triśaṁkurnāma rājeṁdraścaṁḍālatvaṁ samāgataḥ| tatra snātaḥ punarlebhe śarīraṁ pārthivocitam

A king named Trishanku, who had fallen to the condition of an outcaste, bathed there and regained a body fit for a king.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.2.4)

ऋषयः ऊचुः। चंडालत्वं कथं प्राप्तस्त्रिशंकुर्नृपसत्तमः। एतत्त्वं सर्वमाचक्ष्व विस्तरात्सूतनन्दन

ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ| caṁḍālatvaṁ kathaṁ prāptastriśaṁkurnṛpasattamaḥ| etattvaṁ sarvamācakṣva vistarātsūtanandana

The sages said: How did that best of kings, Trishanku, come to the condition of an outcaste? Tell us all of this in full detail, O son of Suta.

Verse 5 (skanda.6.2.5)

सूत उवाच। अहं वः कीर्तयिष्यामि कथामेतां पुरातनीम्। सर्वपापहरां मेध्यां त्रिशंकुनृपसंभवाम्

sūta uvāca| ahaṁ vaḥ kīrtayiṣyāmi kathāmetāṁ purātanīm| sarvapāpaharāṁ medhyāṁ triśaṁkunṛpasaṁbhavām

Suta said: I shall relate to you this ancient tale concerning King Trishanku — a tale that is pure and destroys every sin.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.2.6)

सूर्यवंशोद्भवः पूर्वं त्रिशंकुरिति विश्रुतः। आसीत्पार्थिवशार्दूलः शार्दूलसमविक्रमः

sūryavaṁśodbhavaḥ pūrvaṁ triśaṁkuriti viśrutaḥ| āsītpārthivaśārdūlaḥ śārdūlasamavikramaḥ

Long ago there was a tiger among kings, born of the solar dynasty, renowned by the name Trishanku, mighty in valor as a tiger.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.2.7)

वसिष्ठस्य मुनेः शिष्यो यज्वा दानपतिः प्रभुः। तेनेष्टं च मखैः सर्वैरग्निष्टोमादिभिः सदा

vasiṣṭhasya muneḥ śiṣyo yajvā dānapatiḥ prabhuḥ| teneṣṭaṁ ca makhaiḥ sarvairagniṣṭomādibhiḥ sadā

He was a disciple of the sage Vasishtha — a performer of sacrifices, a lord, a great giver of gifts. He worshipped continually with every kind of sacrifice, beginning with the Agnishtoma.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.2.8)

संपूर्णदक्षिणैरेव वत्सरं वत्सरं प्रति। तथा दानानि सर्वाणि प्रदत्तानि महात्मना

saṁpūrṇadakṣiṇaireva vatsaraṁ vatsaraṁ prati| tathā dānāni sarvāṇi pradattāni mahātmanā

Year after year he performed sacrifices with fully complete sacrificial fees, and that great soul gave every kind of gift besides.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.2.9)

ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशिष्टेभ्यो दीनेभ्यश्च विशेषतः। व्रतानि च प्रचीर्णानि रक्षिताः शरणागताः

brāhmaṇebhyo viśiṣṭebhyo dīnebhyaśca viśeṣataḥ| vratāni ca pracīrṇāni rakṣitāḥ śaraṇāgatāḥ

He gave gifts to distinguished brahmins and especially to the poor; he practiced many vows and protected all who came to him for refuge.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.2.10)

पुत्रवल्लालिता लोकाः शत्रवश्च निषूदिताः। भ्रांतानि भूतले यानि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च। तपस्विभ्यो यथाकामं यच्छता वांछितं धनम्

putravallālitā lokāḥ śatravaśca niṣūditāḥ| bhrāṁtāni bhūtale yāni tīrthānyāyatanāni ca| tapasvibhyo yathākāmaṁ yacchatā vāṁchitaṁ dhanam

He cherished his people as his own children and destroyed his enemies; he visited every sacred site and shrine on earth, giving ascetics whatever wealth they desired, exactly as they wished.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.2.11)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः। तेन प्रोक्तः सभामध्ये संस्थितो नतिपूर्वकम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya vasiṣṭho bhagavānmuniḥ| tena proktaḥ sabhāmadhye saṁsthito natipūrvakam

Now, at a certain time, standing in the midst of his assembly, he addressed the venerable sage Vasishtha, bowing to him first.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.2.12)

त्रिशंकुरुवाच। भगवन्यष्टुमिच्छामि तेन यज्ञेन सांप्रतम्। गम्यते त्रिदिवं येन सशरीरेण सत्वरम्

triśaṁkuruvāca| bhagavanyaṣṭumicchāmi tena yajñena sāṁpratam| gamyate tridivaṁ yena saśarīreṇa satvaram

Trishanku said: Holy one, I now wish to perform that sacrifice by which one may swiftly ascend to heaven while still in this very body.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.2.13)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे संभारानाहर द्रुतम्। तस्य यज्ञस्य सिद्ध्यर्थं यथार्हान्ब्राह्मणांस्तथा

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me saṁbhārānāhara drutam| tasya yajñasya siddhyarthaṁ yathārhānbrāhmaṇāṁstathā

Therefore be gracious to me, and quickly gather the materials, along with worthy brahmins, needed for the accomplishment of that sacrifice.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.2.14)

वसिष्ठ उवाच। न स कश्चित्क्रतुर्येन गम्यते त्रिदिवं नृप। अनेनैव शरीरेण सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीम्यहम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca| na sa kaścitkraturyena gamyate tridivaṁ nṛpa| anenaiva śarīreṇa satyametadbravīmyaham

Vasishtha said: There exists no sacrifice, O king, by which one may go to heaven in this very body — I speak this to you in truth.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.2.15)

अग्निष्टोमादयो यज्ञा ये प्रोक्ताः प्राक्स्वयंभुवा। अन्यदेहांतरे स्वर्गः प्राप्यते तैः कृतैर्नृप

agniṣṭomādayo yajñā ye proktāḥ prāksvayaṁbhuvā| anyadehāṁtare svargaḥ prāpyate taiḥ kṛtairnṛpa

The sacrifices such as the Agnishtoma, ordained long ago by the Self-born Brahma, grant heaven, O king, only when performed — but attained after taking another body.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.2.16)

यदि वा पृथिवीपाल त्वया यज्ञप्रभावतः। पार्थिवो वा द्विजो वाथ वैश्यो वान्यतरोऽपि वा

yadi vā pṛthivīpāla tvayā yajñaprabhāvataḥ| pārthivo vā dvijo vātha vaiśyo vānyataro'pi vā

But if, O protector of the earth, you have ever, through the power of a sacrifice, seen or heard of any king, brahmin, vaishya, or anyone else —

Verse 17 (skanda.6.2.17)

स्वयं दृष्टः श्रुतो वापि संजातोऽत्र धरातले। स्वर्गं गतः शरीरेण सहितस्तत्प्रकीर्तय

svayaṁ dṛṣṭaḥ śruto vāpi saṁjāto'tra dharātale| svargaṁ gataḥ śarīreṇa sahitastatprakīrtaya

— born here on this earth, who went to heaven together with his own body, then tell me of it.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.2.18)

त्रिशंकुरुवाच। नासाध्यं विद्यते ब्रह्मंस्तवाहं वेद्मि तत्त्वतः। तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे यथा स्यान्मनसेप्सितम्

triśaṁkuruvāca| nāsādhyaṁ vidyate brahmaṁstavāhaṁ vedmi tattvataḥ| tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me yathā syānmanasepsitam

Trishanku said: O brahmin, I know in truth that nothing is beyond your power. Therefore be gracious to me, so that my heart's desire may come to pass.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.2.19)

वसिष्ठ उवाच। अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे स्वैरेष्वपि हि जिह्वया। तस्मान्नास्ति मखः कश्चित्सत्यं त्वं यष्टुमिच्छसि

vasiṣṭha uvāca| anṛtaṁ noktapūrvaṁ me svaireṣvapi hi jihvayā| tasmānnāsti makhaḥ kaścitsatyaṁ tvaṁ yaṣṭumicchasi

Vasishtha said: My tongue has never before uttered a falsehood, even in jest. Therefore no such sacrifice exists — this is the truth, though you may wish truly to perform it.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.2.20)

त्रिशंकुरुवाच। यदि मां विप्रशार्दूल न त्वं याजयितुं क्षमः। स्वर्गप्रदेन यज्ञेन वपुषानेन वै विभो

triśaṁkuruvāca| yadi māṁ vipraśārdūla na tvaṁ yājayituṁ kṣamaḥ| svargapradena yajñena vapuṣānena vai vibho

Trishanku said: If you, O tiger among brahmins, O lord, are unable to have me perform a sacrifice that grants heaven while I remain in this very body —

Verse 21 (skanda.6.2.21)

तत्किं ते तपसः शक्त्या ब्राह्मणस्य विचक्षण। अपरं शृणु मे वाक्यं यद्ब्रवीमि परिस्फुटम्। शृण्वतां मुनिवृन्दानां तथान्येषां द्विजोत्तम

tatkiṁ te tapasaḥ śaktyā brāhmaṇasya vicakṣaṇa| aparaṁ śṛṇu me vākyaṁ yadbravīmi parisphuṭam| śṛṇvatāṁ munivṛndānāṁ tathānyeṣāṁ dvijottama

— then of what use is the power of your austerity, O discerning brahmin? Hear another word of mine, O best of the twice-born, which I now speak quite plainly, in the hearing of the assembled sages and others.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.2.22)

यदि मे न करोषि त्वं वचनं वदतोऽसकृत्। तेन यज्ञेन यक्ष्येऽहं तत्कृत्वान्यं द्विजं गुरुम्

yadi me na karoṣi tvaṁ vacanaṁ vadato'sakṛt| tena yajñena yakṣye'haṁ tatkṛtvānyaṁ dvijaṁ gurum

If you will not grant my request, spoken again and again, then I shall make some other brahmin my preceptor and perform that very sacrifice through him.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.2.23)

सूत उवाच। तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा वसिष्ठो भगवांस्ततः। तमुवाच विहस्योच्चैः कुरुष्वैवं महीपते

sūta uvāca| tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā vasiṣṭho bhagavāṁstataḥ| tamuvāca vihasyoccaiḥ kuruṣvaivaṁ mahīpate

Suta said: Having heard those words of his, the venerable Vasishtha then, laughing loudly, said to him: "Do so then, O king!"