Well aware .of the sage's mighty powers and fulminous temper, the invitees lent their support, and the yaaga went on. It reached the stage when the gods were invoked to descend and accept the offerings. But no god came. It was clear that Viswaamitra's yaaga was a failure. And the rishis who had attended the ceremony, laughed within themselves at Viswaamitra's discomfiture.
Wild with rage, Viswaamitra held the ladle of ghee over the flames and said: "0 Trisanku, here behold my power. I now transfer for your benefit all the merit I have earned. If my austerities have any value, they should lift you to heaven in your physical frame. I care not if the Devas reject my offerings. 0 King
Trisanku! Ascend!"
A miracle followed. To the astonishment of those assembled, Trisanku in his chandaala body rose heavenward. The world saw the power of Viswaamitra's
tapas.
Trisanku reached Swarga. But lndra forthwith pushed him down saying, "Who are you, entering heaven with a chandaala body? You fool that earned the curse of your preceptor, go down again."
Trisanku fell from heaven, head downwards, screaming, "0 Viswaamitra! Save me!"
Visawaamitra, seeing this, was beside himself with rage. Determined to teach the gods a lesson, he shouted to Trisanku, "Stop there! Stop there!" and, to the amazement of all, Trisanku's earthward descent came to an abrupt stop and he stopped in midair, shining like a star. Like a second Brahma, Viswaamitra proceeded to create a new starry horizon to the south as well as a new lndra and new
Devas
.
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