Shloka 1.58.10
त्रिशङ्कुशापः — Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra
नीलवस्त्रधरो नील: पुरुषो ध्वस्तमूर्धज:।।।।चित्यमाल्यानुलेपश्च आयसाभरणोऽभवत्।
nīla-vastra-dharo nīlaḥ puruṣo dhvasta-mūrdhajaḥ |
citya-mālyānulepaś ca āyasābharaṇo ’bhavat ||1.58.10||
He became a dark and defiled-looking man, clad in dark garments, with dishevelled hair—smeared and adorned with cremation-ground wreaths and wearing ornaments of iron.
The king was tranformed into a dark-complexioned dirty man with dishevelled hair. His body was besmeared with ashes and on his robes lay wreath collected from the cemetery. He had on him dark (soiled) clothes, and ornaments made of iron.
Dharma highlights the grave social and personal consequences that can follow a śāpa; it also invites reflection on how society treats the fallen and impure.
After being cursed, Triśaṅku undergoes an outward transformation into a chandāla-like form, marked by funerary symbols and defilement.
The verse foregrounds the need for compassion (dayā) in observers—since misfortune can radically overturn status and identity.