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You have earned no place here through religion or piety.

Marching through many cities and states, over mountains and rivers, Viśvāmitra came at last to the dwellings This most beautiful site was rich with all kinds of flowers, creepers and trees and was graced by the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Cāraṇas. It thronged with multitudes of celestial seers and sages, who shone like fire, and it hummed with the All of them had mastered their senses and minds and were engaged in asceticism and meditation.

Approaching Vasiṣṭha and bowing low before him, Viśvāmitra greeted him with praises and prayers. Please be seated comfortably and ask of me anything you desire.”

Vasiṣṭha felt joy and he stood up and called for his celestial cow, Sabala. “I wish to entertain this king, Viśvāmitra, and all his army with a sumptuous feast.

He went at once to the hermitage and began to discharge all his weapons in Vasiṣṭha’s direction. The beautiful grove was consumed by the fire of the missiles and the sages rushed about in all directions , tormented and alarmed by the attack.

Vasiṣṭha’s wonderful cow began to produce from her body all kinds of food and drink in enormous quantities—steaming cooked vegetables of every variety, soups, breads, cakes, pies, pastries, sweetmeats, butter, cream and yogurt—all in silver dishes and plates filled to the brim. Streams of delicious juices flowed and pots filled with ambrosial milk drinks appeared there. Viśvāmitra and his entire army were fully satisfied by that splendid array of foodstuffs, every morsel

He stood alone, filled with fear and shame. He had lost his sons and his army and he felt miserable, his strength and spirit shattered.

After reaching the forest and finding Viśvāmitra, the king requested him to perform the sacrifice. Viśvāmitra, hearing that Vasiṣṭha had refused and remembering his enmity with the great mystic, agreed

At that time Viśvāmitra had only the knowledge of lesser celestial weapons and did not know how to use He fell prostrate before Śiva and offered many prayers, saying, “If you are pleased with me, O lord, the knowledge of every divine weapon presided over by all the gods, including the weapons of yourself and Tell me the complete science of archery and warfare with all its innermost secrets.”

Vasiṣṭha saw that Viśvāmitra was accompanied by a vast army and he said to the king, “I wish to offer full hospitality to you and all your troops. I am not satisfied by simply offering you fruits and water.”

He held it up and the fire weapon was immediately absorbed into it. presided over by Vāyu, Varuṇa, Indra, Yamarāja, Brahmā, the immortal Śiva, Dharma the god of virtue, and All of them were drawn into Vasiṣṭha’s staff and entirely neutralized.

She feared his terrible curse, but Viśvāmitra dismissed her with kind and gentle words. Resolving then upon lifelong celibacy, the sage went to the bank of the Kaushiki River, his own sister, and

Requested by Brahmā, the sage Vasiṣṭha also came there and befriended Viśvāmitra, saying, “You have surpassed all with your tremendous asceticism and have become a worthy Brahmin.

Trishanku began to drop swiftly toward the earth and he cried out to Viśvāmitra, “Save me!”

Menaka entered a lake near to the sage and began to bathe. Hearing her anklets tinkling, and fully opening his half-closed eyes, Viśvāmitra saw the heavenly damsel , with her translucent clothes wet and clinging to her divinely formed body.

Seeing his own army routed by the fighters created by Sabala, Viśvāmitra stood his ground and released They rushed at the army of the king and in a short time Viśvāmitra saw his forces completely defeated and dispersed by the warriors of mystic creation.

Hosts of gods and celestial ṛṣis assembled in the canopy of the sky and, being fearful, spoke to Vasiṣṭha Extinguish the fire blazing from your body and save the world.”

Finally, after another thousand years had elapsed, the gods went to Brahmā and, seized with anxiety, The earth is quaking with her mountains riven and her seas roaring in great turbulence. Violent winds are blowing and the four quarters are enveloped in darkness.

After a long period of ascetic practice aimed at pleasing Śiva, the extremely powerful and beneficent god finally appeared and said, “Why are you engaging in such austerities, O king?

Viśvāmitra tried again and again to dissuade him, but the pious-minded Vasiṣṭha would not be refused. At last, seeing that this would be most pleasing to the sage, Viśvāmitra relented and agreed.