Thus, when Vasiṣṭha had spoken, the mighty Viśvāmitra, his heart ablaze with determination, invoked the fiery Agni missile and called out, "Stand, stand!" In response, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, his anger aroused, raised his Brahma-staff—a staff radiant and formidable, like a second rod of Time itself. With a voice resounding with power, he declared, "O destroyer of the Kṣatriya race, I am standing before you. Show me your strength! Today, O son of Gādhi, I shall humble your pride in weapons. Where is your Kṣatriya might compared to the supreme power of Brahman? Behold my divine Brahmanic force, O dust of Kṣatriyas!" Viśvāmitra released the dreadful and supreme missile of fire, but Vasiṣṭha met it with his Brahma-staff. As water quenches fire, so did the Brahma-staff subdue the Agni missile. Enraged, Viśvāmitra unleashed missile after missile: Varuṇa, Rudra, Indra, the fearsome Pāśupata, and the Aiṣīka. He called forth the Mānavāstra, the bewildering Mohana, the Gāndharva, the sleep-inducing Svāpana, the Jṛmbhaṇa of yawning, the Mādana of passion, and the Saṃtāpana and Vilāpana missiles of burning and lamentation. He hurled the Śoṣaṇa that dries, the Dāraṇa that tears, the invincible Vajra, the bonds of Brahma, Kāla, and Varuṇa. He sent forth the beloved Pināka, the thunderbolts both dry and wet, the Daṇḍa of punishment, the spectral Paiśāca, and the Krauñca missile. He released the wheels of Dharma, Time, and Vishnu, the wind weapon, the churning rod, and the horse-head missile. Two spears he hurled, alongside the Kankala weapon, the club, the mighty Vidyadhara missile, and the dreadful Kala missile. He did not hold back: the fierce trident, the Kapala missile, and the Kankana missile—all were discharged. Yet, Vasiṣṭha, foremost among those who recite mantras, stood unshaken. With his Brahma-staff alone, he consumed every weapon as if it were a marvel to behold, the power of Brahma overwhelming all. When all other missiles were subdued, Viśvāmitra, desperate, invoked the ultimate Brahma missile. At this, the gods led by Agni, the divine sages, Gandharvas, and the great serpents—all were seized with terror; the three worlds trembled at the sight. But even that most dreadful Brahma missile, O Rāghava, was utterly absorbed by Vasiṣṭha’s Brahma-staff. As Vasiṣṭha absorbed the weapon, his form grew fearsome, bewildering the three worlds. From every pore of his body, rays of light burst forth, blazing like smokeless flames of fire. The Brahma-staff in his hand shone with a destructive brilliance, like the staff of Yama himself. Seeing this, the hosts of sages praised Vasiṣṭha, the best of mantra-knowers: "O Brahman, your power is unfailing! Sustain your brilliance with your radiance. By you, O sage, mighty Viśvāmitra has been subdued. Your power is supreme and unwavering—may the worlds be free from fear!" Hearing these words, Vasiṣṭha, radiant and mighty, composed himself and became calm. Viśvāmitra, defeated, sighed deeply and spoke in sorrow: "Fie upon the power of the warrior, the strength of the Kṣatriya! True strength is the energy of Brahman. With a single Brahma-staff, all my weapons have been destroyed." With this realization, he gathered his senses and mind, resolving, "I will undertake great austerity, for that alone is the path to becoming a Brahman." Now hear the next chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa. Viśvāmitra, his heart scorched by grief and the memory of his defeat, sighed again and again, feeling enmity toward the great-souled Vasiṣṭha. He journeyed southward with his queen, and there, Viśvāmitra, now a great ascetic, undertook the most severe austerities. Sustaining himself on fruits and roots, practicing supreme self-control, he performed the highest penances. In time, sons were born to him—Haviṣpanda, Madhuṣpanda, and the mighty chariot-warrior Dṛḍhanetra—each devoted to truth and righteousness. When a thousand years of austerity had passed, Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, appeared and spoke sweet words to Viśvāmitra, who had amassed great ascetic power: "O son of Kuśika, through your austerity, you have conquered the realms of royal sages. By this penance, we know you as a royal sage." Having thus spoken, Brahmā and the gods departed to their heavenly abode. Hearing this, Viśvāmitra felt a shade of disappointment and modesty. Overcome by sorrow and anger, he declared, "Though I have performed immense austerities, they recognize me only as a royal sage! All the gods and hosts of sages—truly, I see no fruit of austerity." Thus resolved, the great ascetic, his mind unwavering, undertook even greater penance. At that very time, there lived a king named Triśaṅku, renowned for enhancing the Ikṣvāku lineage, a man of truth and self-mastery. A desire arose in his heart: "I shall perform a sacrifice and, with my own body, attain the supreme state of the gods." He approached Vasiṣṭha and revealed his intention. But the great-souled Vasiṣṭha replied, "It is impossible." Rejected, Triśaṅku journeyed southward. Seeking to fulfill his purpose, the king approached the sons of Vasiṣṭha, who were engaged in austerities—one hundred radiant and steadfast ascetics, whom Triśaṅku now beheld.