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[Cursed by Vasishta's sons Trisanku takes refuge in Viswamitra]

tatastriśaṅkōrvacanaṅ śrutvā krōdhasamanvitam .

ṛṣiputraśataṅ rāma rājānamidamabravīt৷৷1.58.1৷৷


rāma O! Sri Rama, triśaṅkō: Trishanku's, vacanam words, śrutvā having heard, tata: afterwards, ṛṣiputraśatam hundred sons of Vasishta, krōdhasamanvitam filled with wrath, rājānam addressing king, idam this word, abravīt spoke.

"O Rama! to these words of king Trisanku, the hundred sons of the sage angrily reacted:
pratyākhyātō hi durbuddhē! guruṇā satyavādinā.

taṅ kathaṅ samatikramya śākhāntaramupēyivān৷৷1.58.2৷৷


durbuddhē O! Evil minded one, satyavādinā by the truth speaking, guruṇā by spiritual preceptor, pratyākhyāta: refused, tam him, atikramya having by passed, śākhāntaram other branch, katham how, upēyivān you have reached.

'O Evil-minded one! having been refused by the Guru true to his word, how could you bypass him and approach us who are mere off shoots (of the main).
ikṣvākūṇāṅ hi sarvēṣāṅ purōdhā: paramō guru:.

na cātikramituṅ śakyaṅ vacanaṅ satyavādina:৷৷1.58.3৷৷


sarvēṣām for all, ikṣvākūṇām kings of Ikshwaku race, purōdhā: their spiritual preceptor, parama: is highly, guru: venerable one, satyavādina: truth-speaking one, vacanam word, atikramitum to by pass, na śakyam not capable of being done.

For all the kings of the Ikshvakus race, their chief priest is their Guru. It is not possible
to bypass the spiritual preceptor who is true to his word preceptor.
aśakyamiti cōvāca vasiṣṭhō bhagavānṛṣi:.

taṅ vayaṅ vai samāhartuṅ kratuṅ śaktā:kathaṅ tava৷৷1.58.4৷৷


bhagavān adorable, vasiṣṭha: ṛṣi: sage Vasistha, aśakyamiti incapable(of being accompished) to, uvāca said, tam such, kratum sacrifice, tava to you, samāhartum to perform, vayam we, katham how, śaktā: are capable.

When an adorable sage like Vasishta has already said, it is not possible, how can we help you conduct such a sacrifice?
bāliśastvaṅ naraśrēṣṭha! gamyatāṅ svapuraṅ puna:.

yājanē bhagavāñchaktastrailōkyasyāpi pārthiva৷৷1.58.5৷৷

avamānaṅ ca tatkartuṅ tasya śakṣyāmahē katham.


naraśrēṣṭha O! Best among men!, tvam you, bāliśa: childish, puna: again, svapuram your capital, gamyatām return, pārthiva O! Monarch!, bhagavān venerable, trailōkyasya of the three worlds, yājanē.pi to perform sacrifices, śakta: is capble, tat for that reason, tasya his, avamānam dishonour, kartum to do, katham how, śakṣyāmahē can we be capable of.

O Best one among men! you are childish. Return to your capital. O Monarch! the most venerable Vasishta is capable of conducting sacrifices performed by anybody in the three worlds. How can we dishonour him'?
tēṣāṅ tadvacanaṅ śrutvā krōdhaparyākulākṣaram৷৷1.58.6৷৷

sa rājā punarēvaitānidaṅ vacanamabravīt.


sa: rājā that king, krōdhaparyākulākṣaram confused speech due to anger, tat that, vacanam word, śrutvā having listened, punarēva again, idam this, vacanam word, abravīt spoke.

Having heard the confused words uttered by the sages in a state of anger, the king said again:
pratyākhyātō.smi guruṇā guruputraistathaiva ca৷৷1.58.7৷৷

anyāṅ gatiṅ gamiṣyāmi svasti vō.stu tapōdhanā:.


tapōdhanā: O! Men having asceticism as wealth, guruṇā by spiritual preceptor, tathaiva ca as also, guruputraiśca by the sons of spiritual preceptor, pratyākhyāta: asmi I am disregarded, anyām another, gatim way, gamiṣyāmi shall seek, va: to you, svasti astu farewell to you.

"O Men endowed with the wealth of asceticism I was rejected by my guru and now by his sons. I shall seek another way. Farewell to you".
ṛṣiputrāstu tacchrutvā vākyaṅ ghōrābhisaṅhitam৷৷1.58.8৷৷

śēpu: paramasaṅkṛddhāścaṇḍālatvaṅ gamiṣyasi.


ṛṣiputrāstu saint's sons, ghōrābhisaṅhitam with fierce intent, tat that, vākyam word, śrutvā having listened, paramasaṅkṛddhā: highly furious, caṇḍālatvam chandalahood, gamiṣyasi will obtain, śēpu: cursed.

Having seen his fierce intent, the saint's sons were infuriated. They cursed him saying, "Be a Chandala"
ēvamuktvā mahātmanō viviśustē svamāśramam৷৷1.58.9৷৷

atha rātryāṅ vyatītāyāṅ rājā caṇḍālatāṅ gata:.


mahātmāna: magnanimous, tē they, ēvam thus, uktvā having spoken, svam their own, āśramam hermitage, viviśu: entered, atha thereafter, rātryām night, vyatītāyām having passed, rājā king, caṇḍālatām Chandalahood, gata: obtained.

With this the high-souled sons of Vasishta entered their hermitage. And one night after the king became a Chandala (a low-caste man).
nīlavastradharō nīla: puruṣō dhvastamūrdhaja:৷৷1.58.10৷৷

cityamālyānulēpaśca āyasābharaṇō.bhavat.


nīlavastradharō wearing black garment, nīla: dark complexioned, paruṣa: dirty, dhvastamūrdhaja: dishevelled hair, cityamālyānulēpaśca besmeared with ashes and wearing wreaths from the cemetery, āyasābharaṇa: wearing ornaments made of iron, abhavat became.

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.
taṅ dṛṣṭavā mantriṇassarvē tyajya caṇḍālarūpiṇam৷৷1.58.11৷৷

prādravan sahitā rāma paurā yē.syānugāmina:.


rāma O! Rama, caṇḍālarūpiṇam in the form of Chadala, tam him, dṛṣṭavā having seen, sarvē all, mantriṇa: counsellors, paurā: inhabitants of city, yē who, asya his, anugāmina: sahitā: including followers, prādravan fled away.

"O Rama! seeing him in the form of a chandala, all his counsellors, inhabitants of the city including his followers fled away.
ēkō hi rājā kākutstha! jagāma paramātmavān৷৷1.58.12৷৷

dahyamānō divārātraṅ viśvāmitraṅ tapōnidhim.


kākutstha O! Rama, param great, ātmavān courageous, rājā king, ēka: moving alone, divārātram day and night, dahyamāna: burning, tapōnidhim rich in asceticism, viśvāmitram towards Visvamitra, jagāma went.

O Descendant of Kakustha! wandering alone burning with distress night and day the king went to Viswamitra who was rich in asceticism.
viśvāmitrastu taṅ dṛṣṭvā rājānaṅ viphalīkṛtam.

caṇḍālarūpiṇaṅ rāma muni: kāruṇyamāgata:৷৷1.58.13৷৷


rāma O! Rama, muni: sage, viśvāmitrastu Visvamitra, viphalīkṛtam made worthless, caṇḍālarūpiṇam found in the form of Chandala, tam that, rājānam king, dṛṣṭvā having seen, kāruṇyam pity, āgata: obtained.

O Rama! on seeing the king reduced to a useless a chandala, sage Viswamitra was touched with pity".
kāruṇyātsa mahātējā vākyaṅ paramadhārmika:.

idaṅ jagāda bhadraṅ tē rājānaṅ ghōrarūpiṇam৷৷1.58.14৷৷


mahātējā: exceedingly energetic, paramadhārmika: highly pious, sa: he, kāruṇyāt out of compassion, ghōrarūpiṇam frightful to look, rājānam king, tē bhadram welfare to you, idam this word, jagāda spoke.

Exceedingly energetic and deeply pious, he looked at the king who was frightful in appearance and addressed him with compassion saying, "welfare to you".
kimāgamanakāryaṅ tē rājaputra mahābala!.

ayōdhyādhipatē vīra śāpāccaṇḍālatāṅ gata:৷৷1.58.15৷৷


mahābala mighty, rājaputra O! Prince, tē your, āgamanakāryam purpose of coming, kim what, ayōdhyādhipatē O! Lord of Ayodhya, vīra hero, śāpāt from the curse, caṇḍālatām chandalahood, gata: you have obtained.

"O Mighty prince! what brings your here, for you are the heroic lord of Ayodhya? Whose curse turned you into a chandala"?
atha tadvākyamājñāya rājā caṇḍālatāṅ gata:.

abravītprāñjalirvākyaṅ vākyajñō vākyakōvidam৷৷1.58.16৷৷


atha thereafter, caṅṇḍālatām chandala hood, gata: obtained, vākyajña: knower of words, rājā king, tadvākyam that word, ājñāya having come to know, prāñjali: with folded hands in supplication, vākyakōvidam proficient in speech, vākyam word, abravīt spoke.

In response to his words the king, who had fallen into the state of a chandala yet proficient in expression, spoke to one (Viswamitra) expert in speech, with folded hands.
pratyākhyātō.smi guruṇā guruputraistathaiva ca.

anavāpyaiva taṅ kāmaṅ mayā prāptō viparyaya:৷৷1.58.17৷৷


guruṇā by the spiritual preceptor, tathaiva ca and also, guruputrai: by his sons, pratyākhyāta: asmi I was rejected, tam that, kāmam desire, anavāpyaiva without attaining, mayā by me, viparyaya: contrary reward, prāpta: obtained.

"Rejected by my guru and his sons, what I achieved was disaster and what I could not was the fulfilment of my wish.
saśarīrō divaṅ yāyāmiti mē saumyadarśanam.

mayā cēṣṭaṅ kratuśataṅ tacca nā.vāpyatē phalam৷৷1.58.18৷৷


saumya O! Gentle sage, saśarīra: with my physical body, divam heaven, yāyām I may enter, iti thus, mē my, darśanam intention, mayā by me, kratuśatam a hundred sacrifices, iṣṭam performed, tat that, phalam fruit of it, nāvāpyatē ca was not obtained.

O Gentle sage! it is my intention to enter heaven with my physical body. I performed a hundred sacrifices but did not reap its fruit.
anṛtaṅ nōktapūrvaṅ mē na ca vakṣyē kadācana.

kṛcchrēṣvapi gata ssaumya! kṣatradharmēṇa tē śapē৷৷1.58.19৷৷


saumya O! Gentle sage, mē by me, anṛtam untruth, na uktapūrvam was not uttered earlier, kadācana never, kṛcchrēṣu gata: api inspite of troubled circumstances, na vakṣyē I shall not speak, kṣatradharmēṇa by kshatriya morality, tē to you, śapē I swear.

O Gentle sage! I have never told a lie in spite of troubled circumstances, I shall never dabble in falsehood. I swear upon it by kshatriya morality .
yajñairbahuvidhairiṣṭaṅ prajā dharmēṇa pālitā:৷৷1.58.20৷৷

guravaśca mahātmāna śśīlavṛttēna tōṣitā:.


bahuvidhai: by various kinds of, yajñai: with sacrifices, iṣṭam favourite gods were worshipped, prajā: my people, dharmēṇa with law of righteousness, pālitā: are ruled, mahātmāna: eminent, guravaśca elders, śīlavṛttēna by my character and conduct, tōṣitā: were pleased.

I have performed various sacirifices and ruled over my people guided by the law of righteousness. I have pleased eminent elders with my conduct and character.
dharmē prayatamānasya yajñaṅ cāhartumicchata:৷৷1.58.21৷৷

paritōṣaṅ na gacchanti guravō munipuṅgava .


munipuṅgava O! Pre-eminent among sages, dharmē in my duty, prayatamānasya endeavouring, yajñam sacrifice, āhartum to perform, icchataśca intending, gurava: spiritual preceptors, paritōṣam pleasure, na gacchanti do not get.

O Pre-eminent among sages! I endeavour to do my duty. I intend to perform a sacrifice. My gurus do not appreciate this.
daivamēva paraṅ manyē pauruṣaṅ tu nirarthakam৷৷1.58.22৷৷

daivēnākramyatē sarvaṅ daivaṅ hi paramā gati:.


daivamēva destiny alone, param is all-powerful, manyē I am thinking, pauruṣam tu the effort of a man, nirarthakam is invain, sarvam everything, daivēna by destiny, ākramyatē is occupied, daivam destiny, paramā supreme, gati: hi way indeed.

I consider destiny to be all-powerful. The effort of a man goes in vain. Everything is controlled by destiny. It is the supreme resort.
tasya mē paramārtasya prasādamabhikāṅkṣata:৷৷1.58.23৷৷

kartumarhasi bhadraṅ tē daivōpahatakarmaṇa:.


paramārtasya highly afflicted, tē your, prasādam favour, abhikāṅkṣata: desiring, daivōpahatakarmaṇa: with my actions hit by destiny, tasya such, mē to me, kartum to do, arhasi fit and proper, bhadram prosperity to you.

My merits have been destroyed by destiny. Deeply afflicted, I crave a favour from you. You are fit to grant it. Wish you well!
nānyāṅ gatiṅ gamiṣyāmi nānyaśśaraṇamasti mē৷৷1.58.24৷৷

daivaṅ puruṣakārēṇa nivartayitumarhasi৷৷


anyām other, gatim refuge, na gamiṣyāmi I will not obtain, mē to me, anya: other person, śaraṇam protector, nāsti does not exist, daivam destiny, puruṣakārēṇa with human effort, nivartayitum to avert, arhasi you are capable.

I will not take refuge in anybody. There is no other protector for me. You are capable of averting my reverses in fate with human effort".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē aṣṭapañcāśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fiftyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.