Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 59: Viśvāmitra Assures Triśaṅku
Text 1.59.17
यद्दूषयन्त्यदुष्टं मां तप उग्रं समास्थितम्।
भस्मीभूता दुरात्मानो भविष्यन्ति न संशयः॥
yad dūṣayanty aduṣṭaṁ māṁ tapa ugraṁ samāsthitam
bhasmī-bhūtā durātmāno bhaviṣyanti na saṁśayaḥ
yat = who; dūṣayanti = criticize; aduṣṭam = for I am not worthy of such criticism; mām = me; tapaḥ = austerities; ugram = in fierce; samāsthitam = since I am fully engaged; bhasmī-bhūtāḥ = will be reduced to ashes; durātmānaḥ = those evil souls; bhaviṣyanti = will; na saṁśayaḥ = there is no doubt about this.
Those evil souls who criticize me will be reduced to ashes for I am not worthy of such criticism since I am fully engaged in fierce austerities. There is no doubt about this.
Viśvāmitra wanted to point out that according to Āpastamba-dharma-sūtra (2.6.13.7-8), dṛṣṭo dharma-vyatikramaḥ sāhasaṁ ca pūrveṣām. teṣāṁ tejo-viśeṣeṇa pratyavāyo na vidyate: “Transgression of dharma and violence are seen amongst the ancient [sages]. They incurred no sin on account of their extraordinary power.” He thought, “Therefore, [any impurity incurred in] this sacrifice for this caṇḍāla will be consumed [by my power].” And because these sages did not know about Viśvāmitra’s prowess and criticized him, they would be reduced to ashes.