When Viśvāmitra, the illustrious royal sage, arrived at the hermitage, the venerable Vasiṣṭha greeted him warmly. With affection and respect, Vasiṣṭha inquired, “O tiger among men, O sinless one, is all well with your armies, treasury, friends, sons, and grandsons?” The king replied that all was well everywhere, and then Viśvāmitra, radiant in his splendor, addressed Vasiṣṭha, whose humility shone like a beacon. The two sages, rich in wisdom and virtue, spent a long time immersed in righteous conversation. Their hearts overflowed with joy as they delighted in each other’s company. When their discussion drew to a close, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, his face bright with a gentle smile, turned to Viśvāmitra and said, “I wish to offer hospitality to your mighty army and to you, whose greatness is immeasurable. Please accept from me what is fitting.” He continued, “Please accept this honor I have prepared for you. You are the foremost of guests, O king, and worthy of worship with utmost care.” Hearing these words, the wise Viśvāmitra 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 our 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.” But Vasiṣṭha, righteous and noble-minded, insisted, inviting him repeatedly to accept his hospitality. At last, Gādhi’s son, Viśvāmitra, relented and said, “So be it! Let it be as the venerable one desires, O foremost of sages.” Overjoyed, Vasiṣṭha, the best among reciters of sacred hymns, summoned his divine cow, Śabalā, also known as Kāmadhenu, purified of all sin. “Come, come quickly, Śabala, and listen to my words,” Vasiṣṭha called. “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.” As Vasiṣṭha commanded, Śabalā, the fulfiller of desires, 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. Heaps of hot, well-cooked rice appeared like mountains, along with delicious dishes, soups, and curds in abundance. There were plentiful foods of various tastes and flavors, sweetmeats, and thousands of well-filled dishes of jaggery. The entire gathering was perfectly satisfied—joyful and nourished people filled the place. O Rāma, Vasiṣṭha fully gratified Viśvāmitra’s army. Viśvāmitra, along with his household, priests, and attendants, was delighted and well-nourished. Honored with his ministers and servants, filled with supreme joy, he turned to Vasiṣṭha and spoke: “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.” Thus addressed, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, foremost of sages, 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, his desire growing stronger, spoke with even greater eagerness: “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. I will give you a crore of cows, of various colors and ages; let the spotted one be given to me. As many jewels or as much gold as you desire, O best of twice-born, I will give you all that; let the spotted one be given to me.” But Vasiṣṭha, steadfast in his resolve, replied, “I will not give you the spotted one under any circumstance, O king. This alone is my treasure, this alone is my wealth; this alone is my everything, this alone is my very life. The new and full moon sacrifices, and all the rites duly performed—these alone are mine, O king, as are the various other rituals.” Thus, Vasiṣṭha made clear that Śabalā was not merely a possession, but the very heart of his sacred duties, his sustenance, and his fulfillment as a sage.