371:8 The occurrence of the famine, and Satyavrata's care of the wife and family of Viśwámitra, are told, with some variations, in the Váyu, which has been followed by p. 372 the Bráhma and Hari Vanśa. During the famine, when game finis he kills the cow of Vaśisht́ha; and for the three crimes of displeasing his father, killing a cow, and eating flesh not previously consecrated, he acquires the name of Triśanku (tri, 'three,' śanku, 'sin'). Vaśisht́ha refusing to perform his regal inauguration, Viśwámitra celebrates the rites, and on his death elevates the king in his mortal body to heaven. The Rámáyańa relates the same circumstance, but assigns to it a different motive, Viśwámitra's resentment of the refusal of the gods to attend Triśanku's sacrifice. That work also describes the attempt of the gods to cast the king down upon earth, and the compromise between them and Viśwámitra, by which Triśanku was left suspended, head downwards, in mid-air, forming a constellation in the southern hemisphere, along with other new planets and stars formed by Viśwámitra. The Bhágavata has an allusion to this legend, saying that Triśanku is still visible in heaven. The Váyu furnishes some further information from an older source. Both my copies leave a blank where it is marked, and a similar passage does not elsewhere occur; but the word should probably be ###, and the whole may be thus rendered: 'Men acquainted with the Puráńas recite these two stanzas; "By the favour of Viśwámitra the illustrious Triśanku shines in heaven along with the gods, through the kindness of that sage. Slowly passes the lovely night in winter, embellished by the moon, decorated with three watches, and ornamented with the constellation Triśanku:"' This legend is therefore clearly astronomical, and alludes possibly to some reformation of the sphere by Viśwámitra, under the patronage of Triśanku, and in opposition to a more ancient system advocated by the school of Vaśisht́ha. It might be no very rash conjecture, perhaps, to identify Triśanku with Orion, the three bright stars of whose belt may have suggested the three Śankus (stakes or pins) which form his name.