When Rāma and his companions arrived, Śatānanda, the son of Gautama and a revered sage, turned to Viśvāmitra and inquired with great concern and respect, “O son of Kuśika, did my teacher honor Rāma, the great-souled one who has come here and received worship? And did my teacher, with a peaceful mind, receive honor and greeting from Rāma, who has come here?” Hearing these words, the illustrious sage Viśvāmitra, wise and skilled in speech, responded to Śatānanda, “O best of sages, nothing has been left undone by me. The wife was reunited with the sage, as Reṇukā was with Bhārgava.” Hearing these words of the wise Viśvāmitra, Śatānanda, radiant and learned, turned to Rāma and spoke warmly, “Welcome to you, best of men! By great fortune you have come, O Rāghava, led here by the unconquered sage Viśvāmitra. Viśvāmitra, of immeasurable brilliance, is a brahmarṣi whose deeds are beyond thought, attained by his austerities—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. Once, there 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, is 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, journeyed across the land. He traveled through cities, kingdoms, rivers, and great mountains, and, visiting hermitages in turn, he arrived at one. He reached the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha, adorned with flowering vines and trees, filled with many kinds of animals, and frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers. The hermitage was graced by gods, demons, gandharvas, and kinnaras, tranquil and filled with peaceful deer, and attended by groups of twice-born sages. It was crowded with assemblies of brahmarṣis and attended by hosts of devarṣis, inhabited by great souls accomplished in asceticism, resembling fire in their austerity. The place was always filled with illustrious sages, resembling Brahmā himself, some subsisting on water, some on air, and 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 how this meeting unfolded. When Viśvāmitra arrived at the hermitage, he was filled with supreme joy at the sight of Vasiṣṭha. With reverence, the mighty Viśvāmitra bowed to Vasiṣṭha, the foremost of those who recite sacred mantras. The great Vasiṣṭha welcomed him, saying, “Welcome to you,” and offered him a seat with all due honor. When the wise Viśvāmitra had seated himself, the eminent sage, according to custom, brought him fruits and roots. Having received that hospitality from Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra, the best of kings, inquired about the welfare of the ascetics, the sacred fires, and the disciples. At that time, Viśvāmitra of great splendor spoke words of well-being to the king among sages, Vasiṣṭha, amidst the assembly of trees. Vasiṣṭha, foremost among those who recite, son of Brahmā, questioned Viśvāmitra, the king, 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 of great splendor addressed Vasiṣṭha, who was endowed with humility. Having spent a long time in righteous conversation, the two, 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. Please accept this honor I have prepared for you; you are the foremost of guests, O king, and worthy of worship with utmost care.” Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra, of great wisdom, replied, “It is done, O king, by your words of welcome. O venerable one, whatever fruits and roots are available in your hermitage, along with water for washing feet and sipping, and the sight of your revered self—in every way, O greatly wise one, I have been properly honored with what is due. I bow to you, and I shall depart—look upon me with friendly eyes.” As the king spoke thus, Vasiṣṭha, righteous and noble-minded, repeatedly invited him again and again.