Śunaḥśepa, having carefully received the two sacred verses, approached King Ambarīṣa with urgency and reverence. Addressing the king, he said, “O lion among kings, wise and illustrious, let us proceed swiftly; O king of kings, fulfill your vow and declare the completion of the sacrifice.” Hearing these words from the sage’s son, Ambarīṣa was filled with joy and, without delay, made his way to the sacrificial enclosure. With the approval of the officiating priests, the king marked Śunaḥśepa, the chosen victim, with a sacred sign, draped him in red garments, and bound him to the sacrificial post as prescribed. Bound thus, Śunaḥśepa praised Indra and Indra’s younger brother with excellent and fitting words. Pleased by the secret hymn of praise, Indra, the thousand-eyed, granted Śunaḥśepa a long life. Ambarīṣa, the noble king, successfully completed the sacrifice and, by the grace of Indra, obtained abundant rewards. Viśvāmitra, too, righteous and steadfast in his austerity, undertook further penance at Puṣkara for another hundred years. Now, listen to the sixty-third chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. When Viśvāmitra’s thousand-year vow was complete, all the gods approached him, the great sage, who had bathed after his penance, desiring to grant the fruit of his austerity. Brahmā, radiant and brilliant, spoke kindly: “You are a sage, blessed one, by your own virtuous deeds.” Having said this, the lord of the gods returned to heaven, while Viśvāmitra, full of energy, resolved to undertake even greater austerity. After some time, Menakā, the foremost among apsarases, came to bathe at Puṣkara. The mighty and radiant Viśvāmitra saw her there, her beauty unmatched, like lightning flashing in a cloud. Overcome by desire, the sage welcomed her, saying, “Welcome, O apsaras! Please stay in my hermitage. Grant me your favor, for I am bewildered by passion.” Hearing his words, Menakā, lovely and graceful, took up residence in his hermitage. For ten years, Menakā’s presence became a great obstacle to Viśvāmitra’s austerity. Those years passed pleasantly in the serene hermitage, but when that time had elapsed, Viśvāmitra was filled with anxiety and sorrow, ashamed and indignant. He realized, “This is the work of the gods, a great theft of my austerity; ten years have passed in the span of day and night. This obstacle has arisen for me, overwhelmed by desire and passion.” Sighing in remorse, he saw Menakā, trembling and fearful, standing with joined palms. With gentle words, he released her. Determined to conquer himself, Viśvāmitra journeyed to the northern mountains. On the banks of the Kauśikī, he undertook severe austerity, difficult to accomplish, practicing fierce penance for thousands of years. His intense penance caused fear among the gods, and they, along with the sages, gathered and consulted. They agreed: “Let Kuśika’s son attain the title of great sage.” Brahmā, the grandfather of all worlds, spoke sweet words to Viśvāmitra: “Welcome, O child! You have pleased me with your intense penance. I grant you greatness and the foremost status among sages, O Kauśika.” Viśvāmitra, hands joined and head bowed, humbly addressed Brahmā: “If you declare the incomparable title of Brahmarṣi for me, earned by my own virtuous deeds, then I am one who has conquered the senses.” Brahmā replied, “You have not yet conquered the senses. Strive, O tiger among sages,” and departed to heaven. When the gods had gone, Viśvāmitra, resolute, raised his arms unsupported and subsisted on air alone. He stood amidst five fires in the heat, remained exposed to the sky in the rains, and lay in water day and night during winter. For a thousand years, he undertook terrible austerity. As Viśvāmitra burned with penance, great distress arose among the gods and Indra. Indra, together with the Maruts, spoke to Rambhā, the apsaras, seeking his own benefit and intending harm to Kauśika. Now, listen to the sixty-fourth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa. “O Rambhā,” said Indra, “this is a great task for the gods that you must accomplish. Entice Kauśika here, filling him with desire and delusion.” Thus addressed by the wise thousand-eyed one, Rambhā, bashful and with joined palms, replied, “O lord of the gods, Viśvāmitra, the great sage, is terrible. Without doubt, he will unleash dreadful anger upon me, O god. Therefore, I am afraid; you should grant me your favor.