Shloka 12
विश्वामित्रस्य दक्षिणतपः तथा त्रिशङ्कोः स्वशरीरेण स्वर्गगमनाभिलाषः
Visvamitra’s Southern Austerity and Trisanku’s Bodily Ascent Aspiration
स वसिष्ठं समाहूय कथयामास चिन्तितम्।अशक्यमिति चाप्युक्तो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना।।1.57.12।।
sa vasiṣṭhaṃ samāhūya kathayāmāsa cintitam |
aśakyam iti cāpy ukto vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā || 1.57.12 ||
उसने वसिष्ठ को बुलाकर अपना निश्चय कह सुनाया; पर महात्मा वसिष्ठ ने उत्तर दिया—“यह संभव नहीं है।”
Summoning Vasishta he (Trisahnku) communicated his intention, but the great Vasishta said it was not possible.
FAQs
Dharma includes accepting wise refusal: a guru’s ‘no’ can reflect fidelity to śāstra and cosmic order, not lack of compassion.
Triśaṅku approaches his royal priest Vasiṣṭha with his plan; Vasiṣṭha rejects it as unfeasible.
Vasiṣṭha’s integrity—he does not endorse a rite that violates proper limits, even for a king.