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 ||
Tinawag niya si Vasiṣṭha at isinalaysay ang kanyang napagpasyahan; ngunit sinabi ng dakilang Vasiṣṭha na ito’y hindi maaaring maganap.
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.