As the two princes, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, sat comfortably in the hermitage, Śatānanda turned to Viśvāmitra, the foremost among sages, and spoke with reverence. He asked, “O tiger among sages, did my illustrious mother, who has long been devoted to austerity, appear before the royal prince? Did she, radiant and noble, offer Rāma the worship due to all beings, using gifts from the forest? Was it told to Rāma what happened long ago—what my glorious mother endured at the hands of the god? O Kauśika, was my mother, the best of sages’ wives, reunited with my teacher after seeing Rāma? And, O son of Kuśika, did my teacher honor Rāma, the great-souled one, who came here and received worship? Did my teacher, with a peaceful mind, receive honor and greeting from Rāma, who visited us?” Hearing these earnest questions, the great sage Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, replied to Śatānanda, “O best of sages, nothing has been left undone by me. The wife was reunited with the sage, just as Reṇukā was with Bhārgava.” Upon hearing Viśvāmitra’s wise words, Śatānanda, shining with splendor, turned to Rāma and addressed him warmly. “Welcome to you, best of men! By good fortune you have come, O Rāghava, led here by the unconquered, great sage Viśvāmitra. Viśvāmitra, of immeasurable brilliance, is a brahmarṣi whose deeds are beyond thought, attained through austerity—I know his supreme state. There is no one on earth more blessed than you, Rāma, for the son of Kuśika, who performed great austerity, is your protector.” He continued, “Listen as I recount, to the best of my ability and as it truly happened, the story of the great sage Kauśika; hear it from me as I narrate. He was a righteous king, a subduer of foes for a long time, learned in dharma, accomplished in knowledge, and devoted to the welfare of his people. There was a king named Kuśa, son of Prajāpati, and Kuśa’s son was the powerful and supremely righteous Kuśanābha. Kuśanābha’s son was renowned as Gādhi, and Gādhi’s son, the great and radiant sage, was Viśvāmitra. The mighty and illustrious Viśvāmitra ruled the earth for many thousands of years, governing as king. Once, the great and radiant king assembled his army, and, surrounded by his divisions, he journeyed across the land. The king traveled through cities, kingdoms, rivers, and great mountains, and, visiting hermitages in turn, he arrived at one. He reached the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, which was adorned with flowering vines and trees, filled with many kinds of animals, and frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers. It was graced by gods, demons, gandharvas, and kinnaras; tranquil and filled with peaceful deer, attended by groups of twice-born sages. Crowded with assemblies of brahmarṣis and hosts of devarṣis, inhabited by great souls accomplished in asceticism, the hermitage resembled fire in its austerity. It was always filled with illustrious sages, resembling Brahmā himself—some subsisting on water, some on air, others eating only fallen leaves. There were sages who ate only fruits and roots, who were self-restrained, who had conquered their faults and senses, including the Vālakhilyas, devoted to recitation and sacrifice. It was further adorned on all sides by other Vaikhānasa sages; Viśvāmitra, foremost among the victorious and mighty, beheld Vasiṣṭha’s hermitage, which seemed like another world of Brahmā. Now, hear the fifty-second sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Upon seeing Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra was filled with supreme joy. The mighty hero, with reverence, bowed to Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of those who recite sacred mantras. Vasiṣṭha greeted him, saying, “Welcome to you,” and offered the venerable sage a seat. When Viśvāmitra had seated himself, the eminent sage, following custom, brought him fruits and roots. Having received this hospitality from Vasiṣṭha, the best of kings inquired about the welfare of the ascetics, the sacred fires, and the disciples. At that time, Viśvāmitra, radiant and wise, spoke words of well-being to Vasiṣṭha, the king among sages, amidst the assembly of trees. Vasiṣṭha, foremost among those who recite, son of Brahmā, questioned Viśvāmitra, who was comfortably seated and possessed great austerity. “O King, is all well with you? Do you govern your people, delighting them through righteousness, and do you rule with the conduct befitting a virtuous king? Are your servants well provided for? Do they remain obedient to your command? Have you conquered all your enemies, O destroyer of foes? O tiger among men, O sinless one, is all well with your armies, treasury, friends, sons, and grandsons?” The king replied to Vasiṣṭha that all was well everywhere. Viśvāmitra, radiant and great, addressed Vasiṣṭha, who was endowed with humility. Having spent a long time in righteous conversation, the two sages, joined in supreme joy, delighted in each other’s company. Then, at the end of their conversation, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, O descendant of Raghu, spoke these words to Viśvāmitra, as if smiling: “I wish to offer hospitality to this mighty army and to you, whose greatness is immeasurable; please accept from me what is fitting.