Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 5
Purukutsa’s Rasātala Victory; Triśaṅku and Hariścandra; Rohita and Śunaḥśepha
तस्य सत्यव्रत: पुत्रस्त्रिशङ्कुरिति विश्रुत: । प्राप्तश्चाण्डालतां शापाद् गुरो: कौशिकतेजसा ॥ ५ ॥ सशरीरो गत: स्वर्गमद्यापि दिवि दृश्यते । पातितोऽवाक् शिरा देवैस्तेनैव स्तम्भितो बलात् ॥ ६ ॥
tasya satyavrataḥ putras triśaṅkur iti viśrutaḥ prāptaś cāṇḍālatāṁ śāpād guroḥ kauśika-tejasā
The son of Tribandhana was Satyavrata, who is celebrated by the name Triśaṅku. Because he kidnapped the daughter of a brāhmaṇa when she was being married, his father cursed him to become a caṇḍāla, lower than a śūdra. Thereafter, by the influence of Viśvāmitra, he went to the higher planetary system, the heavenly planets, in his material body, but because of the prowess of the demigods he fell back downward. Nonetheless, by the power of Viśvāmitra, he did not fall all the way down; even today he can still be seen hanging in the sky, head downward.
FAQs
Triśaṅku is Satyavrata, a king in the solar dynasty, who became famous for the extraordinary events surrounding his fall and later attempt to reach heaven.
This verse states that he attained the condition of a caṇḍāla due to the curse of his spiritual master, empowered by the ascetic potency associated with Kauśika (Viśvāmitra).
The verse highlights the seriousness of guru-related offenses and the principle that actions and disrespect toward sacred authority can bring swift karmic consequences.