Shloka 1.60.3

त्रिशङ्कुस्वर्गारोহণम् — Trishanku’s Bodily Ascent and the New Constellations

Devanagari script

यथाऽयं स्वशरीरेण स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यति।।।।तथा प्रवर्त्यतां यज्ञे भवद्भिश्च मया सह।

Transliteration

evam uktāḥ surāḥ sarve pratyūcur muni-puṅgavam |

evaṁ bhavatu bhadraṁ te tiṣṭhantv etāni sarvaśaḥ ||

gagane tāny anekāni vaiśvānara-pathād bahiḥ |

nakṣatrāṇi muniśreṣṭha teṣu jyotiṣṣu jājvalan ||

avākśirās triśaṅkuś ca tiṣṭhatv amara-sannibhaḥ || 1.60.30-31 ||

Translation

Thus addressed, all the gods replied to the foremost sage: “So be it; blessings upon you—let these remain everywhere. In the sky, many stars shall stand outside the path of Vaiśvānara. O best of sages, among those lights Triśaṅku too shall remain—shining like an immortal—yet with his head downward.”

Context

Join me in the performance of this sacrifice in a manner by which he (Trisanku) attains heaven with his physical body".

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Triśaṅku
• suras (devas)
• nakṣatrāṇi (stars)
• gagana (sky)
• Vaiśvānara-patha

FAQs

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

Dharma seeks a settlement that preserves truth and stability: the devas concede to Viśvāmitra’s satya (his vow) while shaping an outcome that marks consequence and maintains cosmic order.

What is the narrative situation?

The gods grant approval to Viśvāmitra’s created stars and fix Triśaṅku among them—radiant, yet positioned head-downward.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Conciliatory wisdom (pragmatic compromise) by the devas, acknowledging satya while limiting disorder.