After Vasiṣṭha had graciously welcomed Viśvāmitra, the noble king, Viśvāmitra inquired about the welfare of the sages, the sacred fires, and the disciples dwelling in the hermitage. At that moment, Viśvāmitra, radiant in his splendor, spoke words of well-being to Vasiṣṭha, the king among sages, as they sat amidst the tranquil assembly of trees. Vasiṣṭha, foremost among reciters and son of Brahmā, then turned to Viśvāmitra, who was comfortably seated and renowned for his austerity, and questioned him with warmth and concern. “O King,” he asked, “is all well with you? Do you govern your people with righteousness, delighting them through virtuous conduct as befits a noble ruler? Are your servants well provided for and obedient to your command? Have you conquered your enemies, O destroyer of foes? O tiger among men, O sinless one, is all well with your armies, treasury, friends, sons, and grandsons?” Viśvāmitra replied to Vasiṣṭha that all was well everywhere. Then, with humility and respect, he addressed Vasiṣṭha, who was endowed with great virtue. The two sages spent a long time in righteous conversation, rejoicing in each other’s company and delighting in their mutual respect. As their conversation drew to a close, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, descendant of Raghu, spoke to Viśvāmitra with a gentle smile. “I wish to offer hospitality to you and your mighty army, whose greatness is immeasurable. Please accept from me what is fitting.” He continued, “Accept this honor I have prepared for you; you are the foremost of guests, O king, and worthy of worship with utmost care.” Viśvāmitra, wise and gracious, replied, “It is done, O king, by your words of welcome. 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. I bow to you and shall depart; look upon me with friendly eyes.” Yet Vasiṣṭha, righteous and noble-minded, insisted, inviting Viśvāmitra again and again to accept his hospitality. Gādhi’s son, Viśvāmitra, finally agreed, saying, “So be it! Let it be as the venerable one desires, O foremost of sages.” Delighted, Vasiṣṭha summoned Kalmāṣī, purified of sin, and called out, “Come, come quickly, Śabala, and listen to my words! I am resolved to provide this royal sage with a most excellent meal and honor—arrange it for me. For each and every one, according to their desire, with six flavors and full honor, let all those divine wish-fulfilling things rain down for me, O Kāmadhenu. O Śabalā, quickly produce every kind of food—solid, liquid, to be licked, and to be sucked—rich with flavors, grains, and drinks.” Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Śabalā, the wish-fulfilling cow, provided for each person whatever they wished. She produced sugarcanes, honey, parched grains, the finest wines and liquors, costly drinks, and all kinds of foods, both rich and simple. There appeared heaps of hot, well-cooked rice like mountains, delicious dishes, soups, and curds in abundance. Plentiful foods of various tastes and flavors, sweetmeats, and thousands of well-filled dishes of jaggery were set out. Everything was perfectly satisfying, filled with joyful and nourished people. Vasiṣṭha fully gratified Viśvāmitra’s entire army. Viśvāmitra, the royal sage, along with his household, priests, and attendants, became delighted and well-nourished. Honored with his ministers and servants, filled with supreme joy, he spoke to Vasiṣṭha, “O Brāhmaṇa, you have honored me with the highest hospitality; listen, O master of words, as I speak. Give me Śabalā in exchange for a hundred thousand cows; for this cow is a jewel, and kings are collectors of jewels. Therefore, O twice-born, give me Śabalā by right.” Vasiṣṭha, the venerable sage, replied, “I will not give up Śabalā for a hundred thousand cows, nor for hundreds of millions. O king, I will not give up Śabalā for heaps of silver either; I am not fit to part with her, O subduer of foes. Śabalā has always been mine, as is the fame of a virtuous man; through her, I obtain offerings for gods and ancestors, and my very livelihood. Through her depend the sacred fire-ritual, offerings, oblations, the utterance of svāhā and vaṣaṭ, and various branches of knowledge. All this, O royal sage, depends on her—there is no doubt; she is my everything, my source of satisfaction and truth. For many reasons, O king, I will not give you Śabalā.” Viśvāmitra, now even more eager, spoke with great intensity, “I will give you elephants adorned with golden chains and golden goads, their necks encircled with collars of gold. I will give you fourteen thousand such golden elephants, and chariots made of gold, drawn by four white horses. I will give you eight hundred horses, adorned with tinkling bells, born of noble lineage and great strength, and one thousand and ten more, all for you, O steadfast one.” Thus, the story unfolds with Vasiṣṭha’s unwavering devotion to Śabalā and Viśvāmitra’s fervent desire to possess her, revealing the depth of their principles and the grandeur of their exchange.