As the revered sage arrived, the king greeted him with a heart overflowing with joy. He spoke warmly, saying, “Your presence here fills me with delight, just as one feels upon being reunited with a beloved, or finding something precious that was lost. The happiness I feel is like ascending to the heavens, or welcoming back someone thought to be gone forever. O great Brahman, my joy at your arrival is boundless. “Who would not rejoice at the presence of one who dwells in Brahmaloka? Truly, O sage, your coming brings me such happiness—I speak sincerely. Tell me, what is your highest wish? What can I do for you? You are worthy of all honor, O supremely righteous Brahmin, and I am blessed by your visit. “You are deserving of the title ‘royal sage,’ for your subjects are illumined by your austerities. Having attained the exalted state of a brahmarshi, you command my deepest reverence. The delight I feel upon seeing you is as refreshing as bathing in the sacred waters of the Ganga; your presence cools and gladdens my heart. “Free from desire, fear, and anger, you stand detached and untroubled, O Brahman. It is truly wondrous that you have come to me. In your presence, I perceive myself pure and unstained, as if I were the full moon immersed in clear water, O best among those who possess true knowledge. “Your arrival, O sage, is as though Brahman itself has manifested before me; I am purified and blessed by your coming. By the merit of your presence, my heart is gladdened—today, my birth finds fulfillment, and my life is truly blessed. “Having seen you, I bow to you in honor, and then bow again within myself, just as the ocean bows to the moon reflected in its waters. Whatever purpose has brought you here, O foremost of sages, consider it already accomplished, for you are greatly honored by me. “You should reflect upon your own duty, O Kaushika, for there is nothing unattainable for you in your endeavors. And you must consider your purpose in accordance with righteousness; I am wholly at your service, and you are the supreme divinity here.” Hearing these words—so sweet, humble, and full of understanding—the great sage was filled with supreme joy. The king’s speech, adorned with virtue, pleased him deeply. Moved by the king’s wondrous and expansive words, the radiant sage Vishvamitra, his hair bristling with emotion, replied, “O tiger among kings, only you could speak so fittingly, being born of a noble lineage and guided by Vasiṣṭha’s wisdom. But as for the matter that weighs upon my heart, you, O great king, must now decide its proper course and uphold righteousness. “I have undertaken a sacred vow, seeking its fulfillment. Yet, terrible demons have arisen to obstruct my purpose. Whenever I perform a sacrifice for the assembly of gods, these night-wandering rākṣasas come and destroy my rites. Many times, their chiefs have performed their own sacrifices there, defiling the place with flesh and blood. Weary and disheartened by this pollution, I departed from that place. “My mind does not incline to anger, O king; nor is it right to curse them. Such is my forbearance regarding the great sacrifice. By your grace, may I attain its fruit without hindrance. “I have come to you, afflicted and seeking refuge. It is a reproach among the virtuous to abandon one who seeks help. You have a son, illustrious and mighty as a lion, a hero like Indra himself—Rāma, destroyer of rākṣasas. That son, O king, steadfast in truth and valor, with dark locks and heroic bearing—him I ask you to entrust to me. “Under my protection, with his own divine brilliance, he alone can subdue those evil rākṣasas. I will grant him a blessing, manifold and endless, by which he will be honored in all three worlds. When he confronts them, the night-dwellers will not withstand him, just as deer cannot face an enraged lion in the forest. “No one but Rāma, the lion among men, is capable of facing these powerful foes—just as only a lion can confront maddened elephants. These wicked ones, emboldened by their strength, are as deadly as poison; they are the servants of Khara and Dūṣaṇa, furious as death itself. “O king, the arrows of Rāma will be unbearable to them, like dust cannot withstand the pouring rain. Do not let your affection for your son sway you, for nothing in this world should be withheld from a great soul. “I know for certain—consider those rākṣasas already slain; for wise men like us do not hesitate when action is required. I know Rāma, the great soul with lotus eyes, and so does the mighty Vasiṣṭha, and others of far-reaching vision. “If righteousness, greatness, and fame are dear to you, then grant me your son, as I desire. I have a sacrifice lasting ten nights, during which Rāma must destroy the rākṣasas who are my enemies and the obstacles to my sacrifice. “Let your ministers, led by Vasiṣṭha, give their approval, and then release Rāma accordingly. O knower of time, time does not overstep its bounds—so it is for me, O Rāghava. Therefore, act as is best for you, and let not sorrow trouble your mind.” Thus, with reverence and clarity, the king and the sage spoke, each honoring the other and upholding the highest dharma.