Hear now the fifty-third chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. When Vasiṣṭha spoke his command, the wish-fulfilling cow Śabalā, ever ready to grant desires, provided for every person whatever they wished. Instantly, she produced sugarcane and honey, roasted grains, the finest wines and liquors, rare drinks, and all varieties of food, both sumptuous and simple. Mountains of hot, perfectly cooked rice appeared, along with delicious dishes, soups, and abundant curds. Foods of every taste and flavor were present, countless sweetmeats, and thousands of bowls brimming with jaggery. All were satisfied, the people joyful and nourished; thus, Vasiṣṭha fully gratified the entire army of Viśvāmitra. The royal sage Viśvāmitra, with his household, priests, and attendants, found themselves delighted and well-nourished. Honored among his ministers and servants, filled with supreme joy, Viśvāmitra addressed Vasiṣṭha: “O Brāhmaṇa, you have honored me with the highest hospitality. Now, master of words, listen to what I ask. Give me Śabalā in exchange for a hundred thousand cows, for this cow is a true jewel, and kings are collectors of such treasures. Therefore, O twice-born, give me Śabalā by right.” To this, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages, replied with righteousness: “O king, I will not part with Śabalā for a hundred thousand cows, nor for hundreds of millions. O subduer of foes, I will not give her up for heaps of silver either; I am not fit to part with her. Śabalā has always been mine, just as the fame of a virtuous man is his own. Through her, I obtain offerings for the gods and ancestors, and my very livelihood. The sacred fire-ritual, offerings, oblations, the utterance of svāhā and vaṣaṭ, and the various branches of knowledge—all depend on her. All of this, O royal sage, is sustained by her, without doubt. She is my everything, my source of fulfillment and truth. For many reasons, O king, I cannot give you Śabalā.” Hearing this, Viśvāmitra’s desire grew even stronger. With great intensity, he spoke again: “I will give you elephants adorned with golden chains and goads, their necks encircled with collars of gold—fourteen thousand such golden elephants. I will give you 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 a thousand and ten more besides. I will give you a crore of cows of every color and age—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; only let the spotted one be mine.” But the venerable Vasiṣṭha replied, “I will not give you the spotted one under any circumstance, O king. This alone is my treasure, my wealth, my everything, my very life. The new and full moon sacrifices, and all the rites I perform—these are mine, O king, as are the many other rituals. All my rites depend upon her, there is no doubt. Why speak at length? I will not give up the wish-fulfilling cow.” Now listen to the fifty-fourth chapter. When the sage Vasiṣṭha refused to give up Kāmadhenu, Viśvāmitra, overcome by desire, began to drag away the spotted cow. As she was being led away by the king’s men, the spotted cow, distressed and weeping, pondered in sorrow: “Abandoned by the supremely noble Vasiṣṭha, why am I, so miserable, being led away by the king’s men, filled with grief? What wrong have I done to that great-souled sage, that he, seeing me innocent and devoted, abandons me, though he is righteous?” Thinking thus, sighing again and again, she swiftly made her way to the exceedingly powerful Vasiṣṭha. Shaking off the king’s men by the hundreds, she rushed with the speed of the wind to the feet of the great-souled sage. There, weeping and crying out, the spotted cow stood before Vasiṣṭha and spoke, her voice resounding like thunderclouds: “O venerable one, son of Brahmā, why have you abandoned me, that the king’s soldiers are taking me away from your presence?” To her, the Brahmarshi Vasiṣṭha spoke gently, as to a grieving sister whose heart was scorched by sorrow: “I do not abandon you, Śabalā, nor have you done me any wrong. But this mighty king is taking you from me by force. My strength is not equal to the king’s, especially today; he is powerful, a Kshatriya, lord of the earth. His full army, crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, bristling with banners, makes him even stronger.” Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, the wise and eloquent cow Śabalā humbly replied to the illustrious Brahmarshi.