Shloka 1.60.31

त्रिशङ्कुस्वर्गारोহণम् — Trishanku’s Bodily Ascent and the New Constellations

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ता: सुरास्सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्मुनिपुङ्गवम्।एवं भवतु भद्रं ते तिष्ठन्त्वेतानि सर्वश:।।1.60.30।। गगने तान्यनेकानि वैश्वानरपथाद्बहि:।नक्षत्राणि मुनिश्रेष्ठ तेषु ज्योतिष्षु जाज्वलन्।।1.60.31।।अवाक्छिरास्त्रिशङ्कुश्च तिष्ठत्वमरसन्निभ:।

Transliteration

gagane tāny anekāni vaiśvānarapathād bahiḥ |

nakṣatrāṇi muniśreṣṭha teṣu jyotiṣṣu jājvalan || 1.60.31 ||

avākśirās triśaṅkuś ca tiṣṭhatv amarasannibhaḥ |

Translation

In the sky, O best of sages, many stars shall remain on every side, outside the path of Vaiśvānara. And among those luminaries, Triśaṅku too—shining brightly like an immortal—shall remain, his head turned downward.

Context

Thus addressed, all the gods, replied to the preeminent ascetic, "O Best among sages, be blessed let thy will be donel. Those many celebrated stars shall stay on all sides outside the path of Vaisvanara (zodiac) in the firmament. Amidst those stars, Trisanku, shining brilliantly like an immortal, shall stay on, head down".

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku
• Viśvāmitra
• Devas
• Vaiśvānara-patha
• Gagana (sky)

FAQs

What dharmic theme is highlighted when the gods concede to Viśvāmitra’s act here?

The verse reflects dharma as fidelity to truth and to the power of tapas: the devas acknowledge the irreversible force of an ascetic’s vow and spiritual merit, yielding so that what has been brought into being by truth-backed austerity is not negated.

Why is Triśaṅku described as remaining ‘head-down’—what ethical point does it convey?

Triśaṅku’s inverted state signifies a compromised fulfillment: the boon is granted, yet not in the ideal manner. Ethically, it illustrates that results shaped by competing claims (human desire, ascetic resolve, divine order) may manifest as partial or paradoxical, even when satya (truthfulness of intent) and tapas are present.