Shloka 1

त्रिशङ्कुस्वर्गारोহণम्

Trishanku’s Bodily Ascent and the New Constellations

Devanagari script

तपोबलहतान् कृत्वा वासिष्ठान् समहोदयान्।ऋषिमध्ये महातेजा विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।।।

Transliteration

tapobalahatān kṛtvā vāsiṣṭhān samahodayān |

ṛṣimadhye mahātejā viśvāmitro ’bhyabhāṣat ||1.60.1||

Translation

তপোবলের প্রভাবে মহোদায়সহ বশিষ্ঠের পুত্রদের নিপাত করে, মহাতেজস্বী বিশ্বামিত্র ঋষিদের মধ্যেই ভাষণ করলেন।

Word by Word

• tapo-bala-hatān: struck down by ascetic power
• tapo-bala-hatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of vāsiṣṭhān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (प्रातिपदिक; √han)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; tapo-balena hatāḥ), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies vāsiṣṭhān

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Ktvā (क्त्वान्त) absolutive; ‘having made/done’

• vāsiṣṭhān: the Vāsiṣṭhas
• vāsiṣṭhān: Karma (कर्म/Object of kṛtvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana

• samahodayān: together with Mahodaya
• samahodayān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + mahodaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव; saha mahodayena), Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; qualifies vāsiṣṭhān

• ṛṣi-madhye: in the midst of sages
• ṛṣi-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष; ṛṣīṇāṃ madhye), Napuṃsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana

• mahātejāḥ: of great splendor
• mahātejāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of viśvāmitraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि; mahā tejas yasya saḥ), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• viśvāmitraḥ: Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of abhyabhāṣata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• abhyabhāṣata: addressed/spoke
• abhyabhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√bhāṣ (भाष् धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist/लुङ्), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Context

The most brilliant Viswamitra, having destroyed the sons of Vasishta including Mahodaya by his ascetic power, said this in the midst of saints:

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha (via ‘Vāsiṣṭhāḥ’)
• Mahodaya
• Ṛṣis (sages)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

The verse raises the ethical tension between tapas (spiritual power) and restraint: power gained through austerity still demands dharmic self-governance.

What is the narrative situation?

After a violent outcome involving Vasiṣṭha’s sons, Viśvāmitra is introduced as addressing the sages, moving the episode forward into speech and judgment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Tapobalam (ascetic potency) is foregrounded—though implicitly it invites reflection on whether such power is being used with dharmic restraint.