Shloka 1.58.11
त्रिशङ्कुशापः — Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra
तं दृष्टवा मन्त्रिणस्सर्वे त्यज्य चण्डालरूपिणम्।।।।प्राद्रवन् सहिता राम पौरा येऽस्यानुगामिन:।
taṃ dṛṣṭvā mantriṇaḥ sarve tyajya caṇḍāla-rūpiṇam |
prādravan sahitā rāma paurā ye ’syānugāminaḥ ||1.58.11||
Seeing him in the form of a chandāla, all the ministers abandoned him; and the townspeople too—along with those who had followed him—fled away, O Rāma.
"O Rama! seeing him in the form of a chandala, all his counsellors, inhabitants of the city including his followers fled away.
Dharma challenges abandonment rooted in fear and stigma; righteousness demands humane conduct even when someone’s status collapses.
Triśaṅku’s cursed appearance causes his own ministers, citizens, and followers to desert him and run away.
The implied virtue is loyalty and compassion—standing by a person in adversity rather than fleeing social contamination.