Everything in Vasiṣṭha’s ashram was perfectly satisfying, filled with joyful and well-nourished people. O Rāma, the sage Vasiṣṭha ensured that Viśvāmitra’s entire army was fully gratified and content. After this generous hospitality, Viśvāmitra, the royal sage, along with his priests, attendants, and household, felt delighted and thoroughly nourished. Honored among his ministers and servants and filled with supreme joy, Viśvāmitra then addressed Vasiṣṭha with these words: “O Brāhmaṇa, you have honored me with the highest hospitality. Now, O master of words, please listen as I speak. Give me Śabalā in exchange for a hundred thousand cows, for this cow is a jewel—and kings are collectors of such treasures. Therefore, O twice-born sage, grant me Śabalā by right.” To this, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages, replied with unwavering righteousness: “O king, I will not give up Śabalā for a hundred thousand cows, nor for hundreds of millions. I will not give her up for heaps of silver either, O subduer of foes. I am not fit to part with her. Śabalā has always been mine, just as a virtuous man’s fame belongs to him. Through her, I obtain offerings for the gods and ancestors, and she is my very livelihood. The sacred fire-ritual, offerings, oblations, the utterance of svāhā and vaṣaṭ, and all branches of knowledge—everything depends upon her. She is my everything, my source of satisfaction and truth. For many reasons, O king, I cannot give you Śabalā.” Hearing this, Viśvāmitra’s desire only grew stronger. With great eagerness, he offered, “I will give you elephants adorned with golden chains and golden goads, their necks encircled with golden collars. Fourteen thousand such golden elephants, chariots made of gold drawn by four white horses, eight hundred horses of noble lineage and great strength adorned with tinkling bells, and a thousand and ten more—all these I will give 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 and wise, replied, “I will not give you the spotted one under any circumstance, O king. She alone is my treasure, my wealth, my everything—my very life. The new and full moon sacrifices and all my rites depend upon her, as do the other rituals. Why speak at length? I will not give up the wish-fulfilling cow.” Now, O Rāma, when Vasiṣṭha refused to give up Kāmadhenu, Viśvāmitra, his desire inflamed, began to drag away the spotted cow. As she was being led away by the king, Śabalā, 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 great 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 and sighing again and again, she swiftly went 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. Weeping and crying out, her voice thundering like the clouds, she stood before Vasiṣṭha and pleaded: “O venerable one, son of Brahmā, why have you abandoned me, that the king’s soldiers are taking me away from your presence?” Vasiṣṭha, compassionate and gentle, replied to her as if to a grieving sister: “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 Kṣatriya, and lord of the earth. His full army—crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, bristling with banners—only increases his might.” To this, Śabalā, skilled in speech, humbly replied, “They do not say that the strength of a Kṣatriya is greater. O Brāhmaṇa, the divine power of Brahmanic strength surpasses that of Kṣatriyas. Your strength is immeasurable; Viśvāmitra, though mighty, is not stronger than you—your energy is unassailable. Command me, O great-splendored one, endowed with Brahmanic power; I shall destroy the pride, strength, and effort of that wicked one.” Thus addressed, the renowned Vasiṣṭha said, “Release your power, destroyer of enemy forces.” Hearing his words, Surabhi, the wish-fulfilling cow, bellowed mightily and, by her cry, produced hundreds of Pahlavas to defend her beloved master.