Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 58, Shloka 10

त्रिशङ्कुशापः

Trishanku’s Curse and Appeal to Viśvāmitra

Devanagari script

नीलवस्त्रधरो नील: पुरुषो ध्वस्तमूर्धज:।।।।चित्यमाल्यानुलेपश्च आयसाभरणोऽभवत्।

Transliteration

nīla-vastra-dharo nīlaḥ puruṣo dhvasta-mūrdhajaḥ |

citya-mālyānulepaś ca āyasābharaṇo ’bhavat ||1.58.10||

Translation

彼は黒く穢れた姿となり、黒衣をまとい、髪は乱れた。火葬場の花鬘を身に飾り、身を塗り、鉄の飾りを帯びる者となった。

Word by Word

• नीलवस्त्रधरः: wearing dark clothes
• नीलवस्त्रधरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of puruṣaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + वस्त्र + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (nīla-vastra-dhara = wearer of dark garments)

• नीलः: dark/black-complexioned
• नीलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुरुषः: man/person
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ध्वस्तमूर्धजः: with dishevelled hair
• ध्वस्तमूर्धजः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वस्त + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (dhvasta-mūrdhaja = with dishevelled hair)

• चित्यमाल्यानुलेपः: with cemetery garlands and smearing
• चित्यमाल्यानुलेपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्य + माल्य + अनुलेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (mālya + anulepa as a combined attribute; cemetery-garlands and smearing)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• आयसाभरणः: wearing iron ornaments
• आयसाभरणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयस + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (āyasa-ābharaṇa = iron ornaments)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Context

The king was tranformed into a dark-complexioned dirty man with dishevelled hair. His body was besmeared with ashes and on his robes lay wreath collected from the cemetery. He had on him dark (soiled) clothes, and ornaments made of iron.

Characters & Entities

• Triśaṅku

FAQs

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

Dharma highlights the grave social and personal consequences that can follow a śāpa; it also invites reflection on how society treats the fallen and impure.

What is the narrative situation?

After being cursed, Triśaṅku undergoes an outward transformation into a chandāla-like form, marked by funerary symbols and defilement.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse foregrounds the need for compassion (dayā) in observers—since misfortune can radically overturn status and identity.