When the hundred sons of Vasishta heard Trisanku, they said, 'Refused by your Guru, how dare you go beyond him and come to us? The Ikshvakus have never looked beyond their spiritual preceptors for guidance, because to them their guru's word was law. Turned down by one so eminent as our father, dare you not only ask us to conduct the sacrifice but to attempt the impossible?Our very effort to do so is a dishonor to Vasishta who is capable of performing sacrifices anywhere in the three worlds'!

Trisanku stood his ground, saying he would seek some other way of achieving his purpose, as his guru and his sons had forsaken him.Angered by his tenacity, the sons of Vasishta cursed him to turn into a Chandala.That very next day, Trisanku, king of Ayodhya turned into a Chandala!His very form changed. His complexion turned black, garbed in black, emaciated, besmeared with ashes, wearing iron ornaments, Trisanku turned revoltingly repulsive, terrifying all those that beheld him. His counselors, ministers and the citizens, who had accompanied him, fled the place without trace!

The monarch then went to Visvamitra, enemy of Vasishta who moved to pity by Trisanku's story asked "Strong ruler of Ayodhya that you are, what caused you this denouncement?I know you to be the king of Ayodhya, reduced to this state, because of a curse invoked upon you". Trisanku said that his wish to enter heaven with his physical body was spurned by his preceptor and his sons who has refused to perform the necessary yagna. He also lamented his fate for not only could he go to heaven as desired but had been changed into a Chandala!Of himself he said that he had never uttered a falsehood never would and that he had impressed his subjects with his conduct and righteous rule. "Destiny is all-powerful and final .I take refuge in you who alone are capable of averting my fate" said Trisanku to Visvamitra.