[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.4742 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4742 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.4742 - **Language:** English ### [c9.4742](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4742) Satyavrata went to the forest and lived like a low-caste man. King Aruṇa repented his rashness. Entrusting his kingdom to Vasiṣṭha, Aruṇa went to the forest to do penance. For twelve years there was no rain in the country. Famine broke out. Viśvāmitra's wife and three children were in great difficulty. The hermit had been engaged in penance. So the wife of the hermit decided to sell the middle son for the sake of maintaining the rest and started for the market with her children. On the way Satyavrata met them and learned the whole story. He told her not to sell the child. He agreed to give them food till the arrival of Viśvāmitra. The agreement was that he would tie the meat, obtained by hunting, to a tree outside the hermitage, every day. Satyavrata carried out the promise. One day he did not get anything from hunting. He caught hold of Vasiṣṭha's cow which had been grazing in the forest and killed it and gave its flesh to the family of Viśvāmitra. On coming to know this Vasiṣṭha cursed him and changed his form into that of a caṇḍāla (low-caste). Moreover, as he had incurred three sins such as stealing of a bride, anger of father and cow-slaughter, he came to be called Triśaṅku from that day onwards. Weighed down by these sins, he tried to commit suicide. Devī appeared before him and gave him back his original form and his kingdom. - [Previous: c9.4741](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4741) - [Next: c9.4743](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4743) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4742](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.4742) · Pramāṇa