Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 5
Purukutsa’s Rasātala Victory; Triśaṅku and Hariścandra; Rohita and Śunaḥśepha
तस्य सत्यव्रत: पुत्रस्त्रिशङ्कुरिति विश्रुत: । प्राप्तश्चाण्डालतां शापाद् गुरो: कौशिकतेजसा ॥ ५ ॥ सशरीरो गत: स्वर्गमद्यापि दिवि दृश्यते । पातितोऽवाक् शिरा देवैस्तेनैव स्तम्भितो बलात् ॥ ६ ॥
tasya satyavrataḥ putras triśaṅkur iti viśrutaḥ prāptaś cāṇḍālatāṁ śāpād guroḥ kauśika-tejasā
Le fils de Tribandhana fut Satyavrata, renommé sous le nom de Triśaṅku. Par la malédiction de son maître, il tomba au rang de caṇḍāla; puis, par la puissance d’austérité de Kauśika (Viśvāmitra), il monta au ciel avec son corps. Les devas le firent retomber, mais par la force de Viśvāmitra il ne chuta pas entièrement; aujourd’hui encore on le voit suspendu dans le firmament, la tête en bas.
FAQs
Triśaṅku is Satyavrata, a king in the solar dynasty, who became famous for the extraordinary events surrounding his fall and later attempt to reach heaven.
This verse states that he attained the condition of a caṇḍāla due to the curse of his spiritual master, empowered by the ascetic potency associated with Kauśika (Viśvāmitra).
The verse highlights the seriousness of guru-related offenses and the principle that actions and disrespect toward sacred authority can bring swift karmic consequences.