Turning toward the southern direction, the illustrious sage Viśvāmitra, surrounded by other sages and his mind clouded with anger, created a new lineage of stars. In his wrath, he proclaimed, “I will make another Indra, or else let the world be without an Indra,” and began to fashion new deities as well. Alarmed by these actions, all the hosts of sages, gods, and asuras respectfully approached the great-souled Viśvāmitra with conciliatory words. They pleaded, “This king, O most fortunate one, is afflicted by the curse of his guru. O possessor of ascetic wealth, he does not deserve to ascend to heaven in his body.” Hearing these words of the gods, the eminent sage Kauśika addressed all the deities with a voice of great power. He declared, “A promise has been made for the bodily ascent of Triśaṅku, the king; I cannot bring myself to act falsely. Let heaven be eternal for Triśaṅku in his body, and let all these stars, which are mine, remain fixed. As long as the worlds endure, let these all remain; and whatever the gods have done, you ought to approve.” Thus addressed, all the gods replied to the eminent sage, “So be it; let all these remain, and may good fortune be yours.” In the sky, outside the path of Agni, those many stars blazed among the heavenly lights. Triśaṅku, with his head downward, was to remain like an immortal, and these lights would follow the best of kings. Having achieved his purpose and fame, and attained the heavenly world, Viśvāmitra, the righteous one, was praised by all the gods. In the midst of the sages, mighty ones, and ascetics, the gods said, “So be it.” Then, O best of men, all the great-souled gods and ascetics departed as they had come, at the end of the sacrifice. Now begins the sixty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. Viśvāmitra, radiant and splendid, seeing those sages departing, addressed all the forest-dwelling ascetics, O tiger among men. He said, “A great obstacle has arisen in the southern direction; let us go to another direction and perform our austerities there. In the vast western region, at Puṣkara, we will comfortably practice austerities; that forest is indeed pleasant for asceticism.” Having spoken thus, the great sage, of immense energy, practiced fierce and unassailable austerities at Puṣkara, subsisting only on roots and fruits. At that very time, the great ruler of Ayodhya, renowned as Ambarīṣa, began preparations to perform a sacrifice. But for that sacrificer, Indra seized the sacrificial animal. When the animal was lost, the priest spoke to the king, saying, “O King, the animal brought for the sacrifice has been lost due to your negligence; O lord of men, faults destroy a king who does not protect. This is a great atonement, O best among men; quickly bring the animal before the ritual proceeds.” Hearing the words of his preceptor, the wise and illustrious king searched for the animal among thousands of cows. He searched through various regions, towns, forests, and sacred hermitages. Accompanied by his son and wife, the descendant of Raghu saw Ṛcīka seated on the Bhṛgu mountain. The king of boundless brilliance, after bowing and winning the favor of the great sage blazing with ascetic power, addressed him. After inquiring about Ṛcīka’s well-being, he spoke, “If you are willing, sell your son for a hundred thousand cows. O illustrious Bhārgava, for the sake of the sacrificial animal, I have fulfilled my duty; all regions have been searched, but I cannot find a suitable animal for the sacrifice. You should give me one son for a price.” Thus addressed, the mighty Ṛcīka replied, “O best of men, I would never sell my eldest son.” Hearing Ṛcīka’s words, the mother of those great souls spoke to Ambarīṣa, “The venerable Bhārgava has said the eldest son cannot be sold. Know, O lord, that my youngest, Śunaka, is also dear to me; therefore, I will not give you the youngest son, O king. For generally, O best of men, the eldest is beloved to fathers, and the youngest to mothers; thus I will protect the youngest.” When the sage and his wife had spoken, Śunaḥśepa himself, the middle son, addressed them, O Rāma. He said, “Father says the eldest cannot be sold, mother says the youngest; I think the middle one can be sold, prince, so take me.” Then the king of mighty arms, at the end of these words, spoke to the Brahmin: “With crores of gold, heaps of jewels and gems—” The king, delighted, took Śunaḥśepa in exchange for a hundred thousand cows and departed. The royal sage Ambarīṣa, of great splendor and fame, quickly mounted Śunaḥśepa onto his chariot and set out at once. Now begins the sixty-second sarga. Having taken Śunaḥśepa, the illustrious king, best among men, rested at Puṣkara at midday, O descendant of Raghu.