O mighty one, hear now the wondrous tale of the sage Viśvāmitra and the illustrious Vasiṣṭha, as it unfolded in days of old. When Viśvāmitra, king and mighty warrior, marshaled his vast army against the sage Vasiṣṭha, a remarkable event took place. Though Viśvāmitra’s soldiers pressed forward, not one of them lost his life, for the wrathful sons of Vasiṣṭha restrained them with their power and discipline. Then, the divine cow, ever loyal to Vasiṣṭha, drove Viśvāmitra’s entire army far from the field, scattering them in all directions for three yojanas. The fleeing soldiers, terrified and stricken with despair, cried out for help but found no protector in their hour of need. Witnessing the rout of his forces, Viśvāmitra was seized by a tempest of anger so fierce that it seemed to fill both earth and sky. In his fury, the great king unleashed a storm of arrows upon Vasiṣṭha, releasing terrifying missiles, razors, and broad-headed shafts, all aimed at the sage. Yet, for every weapon Viśvāmitra hurled, Vasiṣṭha countered with Vaiṇava weapons, displaying unmatched skill in battle. Still burning with wrath and intent on Vasiṣṭha’s destruction, Viśvāmitra invoked the divine weapons of Agni, Varuṇa, Indra, Yama, and Vāyu, sending them blazing toward the son of Brahmā. Those weapons, flaming on every side, shone with the fierce radiance of the sun at the end of the age, threatening to consume all before them. But Vasiṣṭha, radiant with spiritual brilliance, merely smiled. With his staff, empowered by the might of Brahman, he effortlessly dispelled every weapon launched against him. In an instant, all those celestial missiles were reduced to ashes and fell harmlessly to the earth. Having vanquished the divine weapons, Vasiṣṭha addressed Viśvāmitra, saying, “You are defeated, O great king, O wicked one, son of Gādhi. If you possess any further valor, reveal it now, for I stand before you.” Shamed and his strength routed, Viśvāmitra, lord among men, stood silent, unable to reply. Witnessing the overwhelming power born of Vasiṣṭha’s Brahmanic energy, Viśvāmitra’s heart was filled with wonder and dismay. He lamented, “Fie upon the power of Kṣatriyas! The true strength lies in Brahmanic energy.” Thus resolved, Viśvāmitra renounced his prosperous kingdom and radiant royal splendor. Turning away from worldly pleasures, he dedicated himself to severe asceticism. Through his blazing austerities, he attained perfection and upheld the worlds with his energy. In time, Viśvāmitra’s penances were so great that he attained the status of a Brāhmaṇa, and the illustrious Kauśika drank soma in the company of Indra himself. Thus did the royal sage become a seer among Brahmins, endowed with supreme prowess. O Pārtha, you now ask to hear in full the cause of enmity between the sages Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, and the measure of their greatness—Vasiṣṭha’s Brahminhood and spiritual might, Viśvāmitra’s royal power. You are not satisfied without knowing all, so listen as I recount this ancient, supremely holy tale, renowned throughout the worlds. There once was a king named Kalmāṣapāda, born of the Ikṣvāku lineage, unmatched in brilliance upon the earth. One day, this king left his city and ventured into the forest for the hunt. Roaming about, he struck down deer and boars, and in that dreadful forest, he slew many tigers. After long hours of hunting, fatigue overtook him, and he turned back. At that very time, the mighty Viśvāmitra was engaged in a great sacrifice. Yet the king, parched with thirst and tormented by hunger, journeyed alone along the forest path. There he came face to face with the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha and also saw Śakti, the greatly fortunate, eldest of Vasiṣṭha’s hundred sons, a shining light of his lineage. The king said, “Step aside from our path.” But the sage replied gently, soothing the king with kind words: “This is my path, O king. Such is the eternal law: for the aged, the fearful, the king, the bather, women, the sick, and those bearing burdens, the path must be yielded by others. Above all, the path should always be given by kings to a twice-born, according to righteousness.” Thus, each insisted, “Step aside, step aside,” neither giving ground. The sage, steadfast in righteousness, did not yield; nor did the king, now angered, move aside. Overcome by delusion and possessed by a Rākṣasa, the king struck the sage with his whip. Struck by the lash, the eminent Śakti, son of Vasiṣṭha, was overwhelmed with anger and cursed the king: “Because you have attacked a sage as one would a demon, O king, you shall henceforth become a cannibal. Attached to human flesh, you shall roam this earth. Go, O wicked king!” Thus spoke Śakti, endowed with great power. From that time, a rivalry arose between Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha over the matter of sacrifices, and Viśvāmitra pursued Vasiṣṭha. As their quarrel continued, the mighty ascetic Viśvāmitra approached them, radiant with the power of his austerities. In time, King Kalmāṣapāda realized that the sage he had wronged was none other than Śakti, the son of Vasiṣṭha, equal to his father in brilliance. Thus is told the ancient and holy tale of the enmity and greatness of Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, renowned in all the worlds.