Chapter [Sarga] 58

Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 58

Introduction

Trishanku seeks shelter of Vishvamitra when the sons of Vashishta rebuffed him, and even cursed him to become a profaner. Narrating his sad tale and his idealistic idea of going to heaven with mortal body, Trishanku earnestly appeals to Vishvamitra.

Verse Locator

tataH trisha.nkoH vacanam shrutvaa krodha samanvitam |
R^iSi putra shatam raama raajaanam idam abraviit || 1-58-1

1. raama= oh, Rama; trishankoH vacanam shrutvaa= Trishanku's, sentence, on hearing; tataH= then; R^iSi putra shatam= sage, sons, hundred; krodha sam anvitam= fury, very, conjoined [infuriated]; raajaanam idam abraviit= to king, this, said.

"On hearing the sentence of Trishanku, oh, Rama, the hundred sons of sage Vashishta infuriately said this to that king." Thus, sage Shataananda continued his narration to Rama and others. [1-58-1]

Verse Locator

pratyaakhyaato asi durbuddhe guruNaa satya vaadinaa |
tam katham samatikramya shaakhaa antaram upeyivaan || 1-58-2

2. dur buddhe= oh, slow, witted one [king]; satya vaadinaa guruNaa prati aakhyaataH asi= truth, advocator of, by mentor [Vashishta,] against, said [denounced,] you are; tam= him; sam ati kramya= verily, over, stepping - transgressing; shaakhaa antaram= branch, another; katham= how; upeyivaan= come nigh of - approaching.

" 'You slow-witted king, your veracious mentor has denounced you. But transgressing him how do you approach another branch of the same tree of wisdom, when that very tree rejected you?' So the sons of Vashishta have started to denounce Trishanku. [1-58-2]

Verse Locator

ikSvaakuuNaam hi sarveSaam purodhaaH paramaa gatiH |
na ca atikramitum shakyam vacanam satya vaadinaH || 1-58-3

3. sarveSaam ikSvaakuuNaam= for all, Ikshvaku-s; purodhaaH paramaa gatiH hi= Royal Priest is, ultimate, course, isn't it; satya vaadinaH= of truth, advocator's - veracious priest; vacanam= sentence - words of advise; atikramitum= to transgress; na shakyam= not, possible.

" 'The Royal Priest is the ultimate course for all of Ikshvaku-s, isn't it. It is impossible to transgress the word of advise of such a veracious Priest. [1-58-3]

Verse Locator

ashakyam iti sa uvaaca vasiSTho bhagavaan R^iSiH |
tam vayam vai samaahartum kratum shaktaaH katha.mcana || 1-58-4

4. vasiSThaH bhagavaan R^iSiH= Vashishta is, most reverential, sage; saH= such [a sage]; a + shakyam iti= not, possible, thus; uvaaca= has [already] said; tam= that [type of]; kratum= ritual; sam aahartum= to effectuate; vayam= we; kathamcana shaktaaH= in which way, capable.

" 'Vashishta is the most reverential sage and such a sage has already said it is impossible to conduct such a Vedic-ritual. Then, in which way we are capable to conduct such a Vedic-ritual? [1-58-4]

Verse Locator

baalishaH tvam nara shreSTha gamyataam sva puram punaH |
yaajane bhagavaan shaktaH trailokyasya api paarthiva || 1-58-5
avamaanam katham kartum tasya shakshaayaamahe vayam |

5, 6a. nara shreSTha= for men, the best [here, king of subjects]; tvam baalishaH= you are, childish; punaH sva puram gamyataam= again, [to your] own, city, get back; paarthiva= oh, king; bhagavaan= godlike [Vashishta is]; trailokyasya api= by [kings] of three worlds; yaajane shaktaH= in orchestration of ritual, is capable; [tat= therefore]; tasya= his [to reputation]; ava maanam= not, reputing [to disrepute]; kartum= to do; vayam katham shakshaayaamahe= we, how, capable of.

" 'Oh king of subjects, better get back to your own city again for you are childish. That godlike Vashishta alone is capable to orchestrate any ritual by any king in all the three worlds. Oh, king, how then we are capable to cause a disrepute to his reputation.' Thus, the sons of Vashishta refuted Trishanku. [1-58-5, 6a]

Verse Locator

teSaam tad vacanam shrutvaa krodha paryaakula akSaram || 1-58-6
sa raajaa punaH eva etaan idam vacanam abraviit |

6b, 7a. saH raajaa= that, king; krodha paryaakula akSaram= with fury, highly faltering, having words; teSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa= from them, that, sentence, on hearing; punaH eva= further, thus; etaan idam vacanam abraviit= to all of them, this, sentence, spoke.

"On hearing that sentence of theirs which is highly faltering with words of fury that king further spoke this sentence to all of them." So Shataananda continued. [1-58-6b, 7a]

Verse Locator

pratyaakhyaato bhagavataa guru putraiH tathaiva hi || 1-58-7
anyaam gatim gamiSyaami svasti vo astu tapo dhanaaH |

7b, 8a. tapaH dhanaaH= oh, ascetically, wealthy [scholars]; bhagavataa= by godlike [Vashishta]; tathaa eva= like that, even; guru putraiH= by mentor's, sons; pratyaakhyaataH= I am rejected; hi= indeed; anyaam gatim gamiSyaami= another, objective, I wish to reach at; svasti vaH astu= safe, to you, betide;

" 'I am indeed rejected by the godlike Vashishta, likewise even by you, the sons of the same mentor, as such oh, ascetically wealthy scholars, in this state obloquy I will resort to another recourse, let safety betide you.' So Trishanku bade farewell to the sons of Vashishta, but... [1-58-7b, 8a]

Verse Locator

R^iSi putraaH tu tat shrutvaa vaakyam ghora abhisa.mhitam || 1-58-8
shepuH parama sa.mkruddhaaH caNDaalatvam gamiSyasi |

8b, 9a. R^iSi putraaH tu= sage's, sons, on their part; ghora abhi sam hitam= calamity, towards, well, inclusive of [an idea inclusive of and leading towards a calamitous situation]; tat vaakyam shrutvaa= that, sentence, on hearing; parama sam kruddhaaH= highly, verily, with fury; caNDaalatvam gamiSyasi= state of a [basely] profaner, you get into; shepuH= cursed.

"But the sons of the sage Vashishta, on hearing that sentence of the king, that is inclusive of and leading to a calamitous situation, have become very highly infuriated and cursed saying, 'you shall get into a state of basely profaner.' That is the curse issued by the sons of Vashishta to Trishanku. [1-58-8b, 9a]

This expression caNDaal has its own impact. The nomenclature of caNDaal is not the present day 'untouchable' 'outcaste' or a 'pariah' etc., because he is also a member and an important functionary in Hindu system of castes. In Aranya Kanda Seetha admonishes Ravana with the same wording at 3-56-18. The analogy she uses there is to differentiate between functionaries like the Vedic-scholar and the caste-bound Profaner [meaning: one who is not initiated into religious rites or any esoteric knowledge... but socially designated as a Cremator] and between the Altar of Fire and Fire of Pyre, and between the Vedic Ritual and Funeral Rites, both involving Vedic-hymns. A Vedic scholar, or a true Brahmin may perhaps conduct a yaj~na but he is no authority to conduct antya kriya 'funerals' till its end. At best, a priest's function is until the lighting of the pyre, and even perhaps until kapaala moksha 'breakage of cranium...' and from then on it is the function of this caNDaal to take care of the corpse consigned to fire and for its complete cremation, since leaving half burnt corpse to vultures and wolves is sinning as well as for unsanitary situations. Thus, if a Vedic scholar conducts jaata aadi kriyaaH 'rites from birth onwards...' as an initiator, then a caNDaal conducts antya, uttara kriyaaH 'rites of death afterwards...' as a terminator. This verbiage is to demark the relative values of functionaries, according to the maxim 'a donkey is to bear and a dog is to bark...' and if their functions are reversed, reversed are our results.

Verse Locator

iti uktvaa te mahaatmaano vivishuH svam svam aashramam || 1-58-9
atha raatryaam vyatiitaayaam raajaa caNDaalataam gataH |

9b, 10a. mahaatmaanaH= those who are great-souls; te iti uktvaa= they, this way, on saying; svam svam aashramam vivishuH= [into their] own, [their] own, hermitage, entered - they withdrew; atha raatryaam vyatiitaayaam= then, night, when elapsed; raajaa caNDaalataam gataH= king, state of basely profaner, entered into.

"On saying thus those great-souled sons of Vashishta withdrew to one's own hermitage and when that night elapsed into day then the king lapsed into a state of basely profaner. [1-58-9b, 10a]

Verse Locator

niila vastra dharo niilaH paruSo dhvasta muurdhajaH || 1-58-10
citya maalya anulepaH ca aayasa aabharaNo abhavat |

10b, 11a. niila vastra dharaH= black, cloths, wearing; niilaH= a blackamoor; paruSaH= one lacking gentleness or refinement - rugged person; dhvasta muurdha jaH= spoiled [shaggy,] head, born [hair, head-hair]; citya= funeral/crematory; maalya= wreaths; anulepaH ca= smeared items [ashes,] also; aayasa aabharaNaH= iron, decorations; abhavat= rendered into.

"He is now wearing blackish cloths which on yestereve were ochry silks, he is now a blackamoor who on yestereve was a gilt-royalty, his head-hair is shaggy which earlier was silkily soft, and his royal garlands which were richly fragrant are now funeral wreaths, and he is besmeared with crematory ashes which were regal emollients, and his royal jewellery is now rendered into iron adornments. [1-58-10b, 11a]

Verse Locator

tam dR^iSTvaa ma.ntriNaH sarve tyajya caNDaala ruupiNam || 1-58-11
praadravan sahitaa raama pauraa ye asya anugaaminaH |

11b, 12a. raama= oh, Rama; caNDaala ruupiNam= one in profaner's, mien; tam dR^iSTvaa= him, on seeing; sarve= all; mantriNaH= ministers; pauraaH= citizens; ye asya anugaaminaH= subjects, who, followers [retinue]; tyajya= on deserting him; sahitaa praadravan= collectively - in masses, took to flight

"On seeing him in the mien of a profaner, oh, Rama, all of his ministers and the subjects and his own retinue have deserted him and took to flight in masses. [1-58-11b, 12a]

Verse Locator

eko hi raajaa kaakutstha jagaama parama aatmavaan || 1-58-12
dahyamaano divaa raatram vishvaamitram tapo dhanam |

12b, 13a. kaakutstha= Rama of Kakutstha; parama aatmavaan= highly [resolutely,] soulful one [self-assured one]; raajaa= king; ekaH divaa raatram= for one, day, night; dahyamaanaH= being seethed; tapaH dhanam vishvaamitram jagaama= to ascetically, prosperous one, to Vishvamitra, went.

"Though that resolutely self-assured king seethed for one night and day for this mishap, then went to the ascetically prosperous Vishvamitra. [1-58-12b, 13]

Verse Locator

vishvaamitraH tu tam dR^iSTvaa raajaanam viphalii kR^itam ||1-58-13
caNDaala ruupiNam raama muniH kaaruNyam aagataH |

13b, 14a. raama= oh, Rama; muniH vishvaamitraH tu= sage, Vishvamitra, on his part; vi phalii kR^itam= without, fruit [failed, precluded one,] made as; caNDaala ruupiNam= profaner's, in mien; tam raajaanam dR^iSTvaa= that, king, on seeing; kaaruNyam aagataH= sympathy, came - Vishvamitra became sympathetic.

But on seeing at that mien of the king which is rendered to that of a precluded profaner from kingship and for officiating rituals etc., oh, Rama, sage Vishvamitra because sympathetic.

The preclusion of the king by way of his transfiguring into a profaner is not only from his kingship, by which he is debarred from officiating Vedic rituals etc., but also from his aihika aamuSmika bhogaaH 'earthly and heavenly enjoyments...' because a king is a godsend being.

Verse Locator

kaaruNyaat sa mahaatejaa vaakyam parama dhaarmikaH || 1-58-14
idam jagaada bhadram te raajaanam ghora darshanam |

14. mahaa tejaaH= great-resplendent one; parama dhaarmikaH= highly, generous one; saH= he that Vishvamitra; kaaruNyaat= owing to compassion; ghora darshanam raajaanam= who is terrible, in his aspect, to king; said this firstly; te bhadram= to you, safety; and; idam vaakyam jagaada= this, sentence, said.

"The great-resplendent sage and highly generous Vishvamitra firstly said to that king who is in a terrible aspect 'let safety betide you,' and then spoke on this sentence to him. [1-58-14]

Verse Locator

kim aagamana kaaryam te raajaputra mahaabala || 1-58-15
ayodhyaa adhipate viira shaapaat caNDaalataam gataH |

15, 16a. mahaabala raaja putra= oh, great-mighty, king's, son - prince; te aagamana kaaryam kim =your, arrival [visit,] work [purpose,] what is; ayodhyaa adhipate viira= Ayodhya's, chieftain, oh, brave one; shaapaat caNDaalataam gataH= by curse, state of profaner, you got [accurst.]

" 'What is the purpose of your visit, oh, great-mighty prince Trishanku, oh, brave lord of Ayodhya, you are accurst to the state of profaner.' [1-58-15, 16a]

Verse Locator

atha tat vaakyam aakarNya raajaa caNDaalataam gataH || 1-58-16
abraviit praa.njaliH vaakyam vaakyaj~no vaakya kovidam |

16b, 17a. atha= then; caNDaalataam gataH= state of profaner, accurst to; vaakya j~naH raajaa= sentence, knower, king - diligent king, Trishanku; tat vaakyam aakarNya= that, sentence, on listening; praanjaliH vaakya kovidam vaakyam abraviit= with adjoined-palms, to sentence, expert [sententious Vishvamitra,] sentence, spoke.

"Then that king who is accurst to a state of profaner on listening that sentence, as a diligent sentence maker spoke this sentence with his palms adjoined to the sententious sage Vishvamitra. [1-58-16b, 17a]

Verse Locator

pratyaakhyaato asmi guruNaa guru putraiH tathaa eva ca || 1-58-17
anavaapya eva tam kaamam mayaa praapto viparyayaH |

17b, 18a. guruNaa= by mentor; tathaa eva ca= like that, also; guru putraiH= by mentor's, sons; pratyaakhyaataH asmi= spurned off, I am; tam kaamam an avaapya eva= that, aspiration, not, achieved, thus; mayaa= by me; vi paryayaH= negative, effect [discrepancy]; praaptaH= bechanced - I obtained.

" 'I am spurned off by my mentor Vashishta and also like that by his sons. My aspiration remained unachievable, besides, this discrepancy has bechanced upon me. [1-58-17b, 18a]

Verse Locator

sa shariiro divam yaayaami iti me saumya darshana || 1-58-18
mayaa ca iSTam kratu shatam tat ca na avaapyate phalam |

18b, 19a. saumya= oh, gentle Vishvamitra; sa shariiraH divam yaayaami= with, body, to heaven, I go; iti me darshana= thus, my, opinion; mayaa kratu shatam iSTam= by me, rituals, hundred, are performed [earlier]; tat phalam na avaapyate= that, fruit, not, achieved.

" 'Oh, gentle Vishvamitra, my aspiration is nothing but to go to heaven with my body. I have performed hundred rituals but I have not achieved the fruit.' Thus Trishanku started tell his sad tale.

Verse Locator

anR^itam na ukta puurvam me na ca vakSye kadaacana || 1-58-19
kR^icChreSu api gataH saumya kSatra dharmeNa te shape |

19b, 20a. saumya= oh, gentle one; me= by me; anR^itam na ukta puurvam= lie, not, said, heretofore; kadaacana= any time [hereinafter]; kR^icChreSu gataH api= into predicament, on going, even if; na vakSye= not, going to speak [a lie]; kSatra dharmeNa te shape= by Kshatriya's, virtue, to you, I take pledge.

" 'And now if you doubt me to be a liar, I am no liar either. I spoke no lie heretofore, and even if I were to land into any predicament I do not speak lies anytime hereinafter. Oh, gentle sage, this I pledge you upon my virtue of Kshatriya-hood. [1-58-19, 20a]

A liar is hell-bound but not the other way as said yaj~no anR^ite na rakshati... 'a Vedic ritual would not save liars...'

Verse Locator

yaj~naiH bahu vidhaiH iSTam prajaa dharmeNa paalitaaH || 1-58-20
guravaH ca mahaatmaanaH shiila vR^ittena toSitaaH |

20b, 21a. bahu vidhaiH yaj~naiH iSTam= with many, kinds of, Vedic-rituals, propitiated gods; prajaa dharmeNa paalitaaH= people, conscientiously, reigned over; mahaatmaanaH= high-souled ones; guravaH ca= savants, also; shiila vR^ittena toSitaaH= by conduct, by comport, pleased.

" 'I have propitiated gods with many kinds of Vedic-rituals. I have reigned over people conscientiously. And with my conduct and comport the high-souled savants are also pleased. [1-58-20b, 21a]

Verse Locator

dharme prayatamaanasya yaj~nam ca aahartum icChataH || 1-58-21
paritoSam na gacChanti guravo munipu.mgava |

21b, 22a. muni pumgava= oh, saint, the eminent; dharme prayatamaanasya= in probity, being a pursuant; yaj~nam aahartum= ritual, to avail of, icChataH ca= one who is expectant also; in my case; guravaH= to mentors; pari toSam= complete contentment, na gacChanti= not, they are getting at - not deriving.

" 'While I am a pursuant in probity I expect to avail myself of the fruition of this kind of Vedic-ritual. Oh, eminent sage Vishvamitra, but my mentors are not deriving complete contentment by my pursuit. Hence, they shove me off. [1-58-21b, 22a]

Verse Locator

daivam eva param manye pauruSam tu nirarthakam || 1-58-22
daivena aakramyate sarvam daivam hi paramaa gatiH |

22b, 23a. daivam eva param manye= god [here, destiny,] only, ultimate, I deem; pauruSam tu nir arthakam= manly effort, but, less, meaning - meaningless; daivena aakramyate sarvam= by god [destiny,] surmounts, everything; daivam paramaa gatiH hi= god [destiny,] ultimate, course, isn't it.

" 'I deem destiny is the only ultimate, and manly efforts are meaningless, for destiny surmounts everything. Destiny is the ultimate course, isn't it? [1-58-22b, 23a]

Verse Locator

tasya me parama aartasya prasaadam abhikaa.nkSataH |
kartum arhasi bhadram te daiva upahata karmaNaH || 1-58-23

23b, c. parama aartasya= for highly, anguished one; abhi kaankSataH= forward, looking to - a sincere requester; daiva upahata karmaNaH= by destiny, marred, endeavourer; tasya me= such as, as I am; prasaadam kartum arhasi= favour, to do [to accord,] apt of you; te bhadram= to you, let safety be there.

" 'A highly anguished endeavourer, marred by destiny, a sincere requester, such as I am, it will be apt of you to accord, you be safe, your favour upon me. [1-58-23b, c]

Verse Locator

na anyaam gatim gamiSyaami na anyaH sharaNam asti me |
daivam puruSa kaareNa nivar.htayitum ar.hhasi || 1-58-24

24. anyaam gatim na gamiSyaami= alternate, course, not, I wish to course through; me anyaH sharaNam na asti= to me, alternative, shelterer, is not there; daivam puruSa kaareNa= god/destiny, in man's, mien; ni vartayitum arhasi= counter, move [vail,] apt of you.

" 'In no alternate course I wish to course through and no alternative shelter is there for me. Hence, it will be apt of you, a god in man's mien, to countervail my destiny.' Thus Trishanku prayed for the grace of Vishvamitra..." So said Sage Shataananda to Rama and others continuing the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-58-24]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe aSTa pa.ncaashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 58th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.