Shloka 1.57.13
विश्वामित्रस्य दक्षिणतपः तथा त्रिशङ्कोः स्वशरीरेण स्वर्गगमनाभिलाषः (Visvamitra’s Southern Austerity and Trisanku’s Bodily Ascent Aspiration)
प्रत्याख्यातो वसिष्ठेन स ययौदक्षिणां दिशम्। ततस्तत्कर्मसिद्ध्यर्थं पुत्रां स्तस्य गतो नृप:।।1.57.13।।
pratyākhyāto vasiṣṭhena sa yayau dakṣiṇāṃ diśam |
tatas tatkarmasiddhyarthaṃ putrāṃs tasya gato nṛpaḥ || 1.57.13 ||
Refused by Vasiṣṭha, the king went toward the southern quarter; then, seeking success in that undertaking, he approached Vasiṣṭha’s sons.
Refused by Vasishta, the king went south in order to fulfil his purpose and approached Vasishta's sons.
Dharma cautions against bypassing rightful authority when refused; persistence can become adharma if it turns into manipulation of religious agents for personal ambition.
After Vasiṣṭha declines, Triśaṅku seeks an alternative by going to Vasiṣṭha’s sons to secure the desired ritual outcome.
The verse foregrounds a contested virtue—perseverance—showing how it can slip into stubbornness when not guided by dharma.