King Daśaratha, having greeted Sage Vasiṣṭha, assured him that all was well everywhere. At that moment, Viśvāmitra, radiant and illustrious, turned to Vasiṣṭha, who was humble and wise, and together the two sages spent a long time in righteous conversation, delighting in each other's company and experiencing supreme joy. When their conversation drew to a close, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, with a gentle smile, addressed Viśvāmitra: "I wish to offer hospitality to you and your mighty army, whose greatness is immeasurable. Please accept from me what is fitting. You are the foremost of guests, O king, and worthy of the highest honor and worship. Please accept this hospitality I have prepared for you." Viśvāmitra, wise and gracious, replied, "Your words of welcome have already fulfilled the hospitality, O king. Whatever fruits and roots are available in your hermitage, water for washing feet and sipping, and the sight of your revered self—these are more than enough. In every way, O greatly wise one, I have been properly honored. I bow to you and shall depart—please look upon me with friendly eyes." Yet Vasiṣṭha, righteous and noble-minded, insisted repeatedly, inviting Viśvāmitra again and again to accept his hospitality. Seeing Vasiṣṭha's earnestness, Viśvāmitra, son of Gādhi, finally agreed: "So be it! Let it be as you desire, O foremost of sages." Joyful, Vasiṣṭha, best among reciters, summoned his divine cow, Kāmadhenu, also known as Śabalā, purified of all sin. He called out, "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, 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. 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. Everything was perfectly satisfying, and the people were joyful and nourished. Vasiṣṭha fully gratified Viśvāmitra’s entire army. Viśvāmitra, the royal sage, along with his household, priests, and attendants, was 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, 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, now even more eager and intense, offered, "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 replied firmly, "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. All my rites depend upon her, O king, there is no doubt. Why speak at length? I will not give up the wish-fulfilling cow." Thus, Vasiṣṭha stood resolute, refusing to part with Śabalā, the divine cow who was the very heart of his spiritual life.