Having spent a long time in righteous and uplifting conversation, Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra, joined in supreme joy, delighted in each other’s company. When their discourse drew to a close, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha, his face radiant with a gentle smile, addressed Viśvāmitra, O descendant of Raghu, with warm words. He said, “I wish to offer hospitality to your mighty army and to you, whose greatness is immeasurable. Please accept from me what is fitting.” With reverence, Vasiṣṭha 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.” Viśvāmitra, wise and gracious, replied, “It is done, O king, by your words of welcome.” He added, “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—please 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 relented, saying, “So be it! Let it be as the venerable one desires, O foremost of sages.” Filled with joy, Vasiṣṭha, best among reciters, summoned his divine cow, Kalmāṣī, purified of sin. He 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.” Now begins the fifty-third chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, 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. Everything was perfectly satisfying, and the people were joyful and nourished. O Rāma, 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 and filled with supreme joy, he spoke to Vasiṣṭha, saying, “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, with heightened eagerness and great intensity, offered further, “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, unwavering, 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. 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 concludes this chapter.