A very long time ago, before the world and the stars were even formed, Lord Brahma, the Creator, was given a very special job—to make the Universe. Among all the amazing things he created, he also made seven wise and holy sages, called the Saptarishis.
These sages were like guiding lights for the world, full of wisdom and goodness. One of them was Sage Vashistha, who is loved and respected even today. He wasn’t born like us; instead, he came from Lord Brahma’s thoughts, which is why he is called a manasputra, or “mind-born son.” Brahma created each of his sons in a unique way, and Sage Vashistha was born from Brahma’s breath.
A while after that, something magical happened on a bright and beautiful full-moon night, which we now call Guru Purnima. Lord Shiva, the greatest of all gods, became a teacher—the first teacher ever. He is called the Adiyogi, the first yogi. Shiva sat by the peaceful waters of a lake called Kantisarovar and shared the secrets of yoga with the Saptarishis.
Yoga is a special way to connect our small soul (Jiva) with the big, eternal soul of the Universe (Paramatma). Shiva taught the Saptarishis so that they could share this amazing knowledge with everyone and through all the four yugas. They travelled far and wide, teaching people how to live in peace and harmony, guiding them to be kind, wise, and happy. Sage Vashistha like the other Saptarishis worked hard to help Brahma’s creation grow and stay balanced.
It was during the Treta Yuga that Shri Ram as a young child went along with his brothers to Sage Vashistha’s ashram to receive an education, learn the duties of a royal prince and train to become an ideal future king of Awadh. Even as an adult Shri Ram always turned to Sage Vashistha when he had any doubt or was confused and needed advice. Moreover, Vashistha was the royal priest of Shri Ram's family.
In the Treta Yuga, there also lived a Kshatriya king named Kaushika, the noble son of King Gadhi. A brave warrior and a proud ruler, he governed his kingdom with fairness and wisdom, ensuring justice and prosperity for all.
One sunny morning King Kaushika decided to go hunting in the forest. His massive army and his sons accompanied him through the dense foliage. After a while as they ventured deeper into the forest they came to a tranquil hermitage surrounded by tall fruit trees, the quietude only broken by the merry chirping of little birds. It was Sage Vashistha’s ashram.
The king and his men were tired, hot and very hungry after their long trek. Sage Vashistha came out and welcomed them warmly. “Welcome to my humble ashram,” he said kindly. “There is a tranquil river nearby. Please go and refresh yourselves in its cool, sparkling waters. When you return, I will have a meal ready for all of you.”
Looking around the simple ashram, King Kaushika wondered how a sage living so frugally and in such modest surroundings, could possibly feed his entire army. However, he was hungry and so were his men so he quickly dismissed the thought and led his men to the river. The river water was crystal-clear and refreshing. But as the king was famished he decided to wash up quickly and hurry back to the hermitage.
To his utter astonishment when he reached Sage Vashistha’s ashram they were served not a simple meal but an extravagant feast. It was a royal spread, with dishes that looked delicious and the heavenly aromas made the meal even more appetizing. Each item was cooked and presented perfectly and there was more than enough food for everyone.
King Kaushika and his men ate to their hearts' content. Every bite was a delight, and the king couldn’t stop marvelling at the feast. Finally, unable to hold back his curiosity, King Kaushika turned to Sage Vashistha and asked with great respect, “Honorable Sage, how did you manage to prepare such a grand and wonderful feast for so many of us so quickly? Your ashram is simple, yet this meal is fit for a king!”
The sage smiled kindly and said, “The feast was made possible by my cow, Kamadhenu.”
Seeing the king’s perplexed expression Vashistha explained, “Kamadhenu is no ordinary cow. She is a wish-fulfilling cow blessed by the heavens to grant anything you desire. When I asked her for a feast to feed you and your men, she created it with ease.”
Kaushika was aghast and for a moment completely speechless. Then his royal pride and arrogance gripped him and he thought to himself, “A magical cow like this doesn’t belong here in a simple ashram,” he thought. “Such a treasure should rightfully belong to a powerful king like me.”
Determined to take Kamadhenu, the king asked to see her. When the graceful, divine cow was brought before him, her beauty and power left him awestruck. In an authoritative tone, he declared, “Such a miraculous cow has no place in an ashram. She should belong to a king. If you wish, I will give you one hundred thousand cows in exchange for Kamadhenu.”
Vashistha shook his head in refusal saying, “Kamadhenu is not for sale. She is part of this ashram, a gift from the gods. I will not part with her.”
Mistaking the sage’s refusal as a demand for more Kaushika upped his offer to “Ten Million cows in exchange for Kamadhenu.”
But Sage Vashistha stood firm, his voice steady and unwavering. “No amount of wealth can replace Kamadhenu. She is priceless, and I will not give her up.”
When the sage firmly turned down the offer the king’s pride turned to anger. In a commanding voice, he ordered his soldiers, “Seize the cow! Tie her up and take her to the palace at once!”
The soldiers moved forward, but Kamadhenu was no ordinary cow. She kicked up her legs and tossed the soldiers aside as if they were twigs. Then, with tears welling up in her large, soft, brown eyes, she rushed to Sage Vashistha and pleaded, “Oh, my lord, I am in trouble. Why do you not help me?”
The sage, deeply disturbed by the unfolding events, gently stroked Kamadhenu’s head. His kind eyes mirrored her sorrow as he replied softly, “Dear Kamadhenu, I feel your pain, but how can I, a simple sage, stand against the might of the king’s entire army? I am powerless to stop them.”
Kamadhenu, with her eyes now shining fiercely, stepped back and declared, “Then I will create warriors to protect the whole ashram!”
All of a sudden magically the air around her shimmered and glowed and out of nowhere there appeared a mighty army armed with the most deadly weapons who fearlessly rushed towards the king’s men. The sound of their battle cries echoed through the forest as they fiercely clashed with the king’s soldiers. Within moments, Kamadhenu’s magical warriors demolished the royal army. The soldiers were no match for these divine protectors.
Kaushika watched in shock and horror as his once-mighty army crumbled before his eyes. Anger boiled inside him. His whole body trembled with rage as he leaped into the battle himself, determined to destroy the warriors. But Kamadhenu’s magic was unyielding. For every warrior that fell, another appeared, stronger and more determined. They emerged from her mouth, udders, and even her pores, surging forth like an endless stream of defenders. No matter how hard the king and his sons fought, they couldn’t stop the warriors from rising again and again.
Realizing the battle was spiralling into utter chaos, Sage Vashistha, deeply distressed, knew he had to act in order to prevent complete destruction. He raised his hand and uttered a single, powerful syllable. In an instant, the divine warriors vanished, turning to ash, like smoke blown away by a breeze.
The forest grew silent, except for the heavy breathing of those who had survived. The king, now powerless and defeated, stared at the sage with a mixture of anger and disbelief. Kamadhenu stood beside Vashistha, her fierce eyes softening as peace returned to the ashram.
King Kaushika had witnessed the immense power of the sage. He had faced total defeat for the first time and was utterly dejected. But his pride would not allow him to accept the greatness of the sage. He was a King and would not be humbled by this unassuming, simple sage.
With a heavy heart, Kaushika returned to his palace. There he made a surprising decision. He gave up his throne, and handed over his kingdom to his only remaining son. Then, leaving behind all his royal comforts and wealth, he journeyed to the quiet and rugged Himalayan Mountains. In the solitude of the mountains, Kaushika began a life of severe penance and prayer. Day after day, year after year, he meditated with unwavering focus, determined to gain power beyond anything he had ever known. He endured the icy winds and harsh conditions, his mind set on a single goal: to gain the strength to defeat Sage Vashistha.
Finally, after many years of his intense penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him. Glowing with divine light, Shiva looked at Kaushika and said, “I am pleased with your penance. Tell me, what is it that you wish for?”
Kaushika’s eyes burned with determination as he bowed deeply before Lord Shiva. His voice was steady but full of the fire of revenge. “Lord,” he said, “grant me the entire knowledge of all weapons and warfare.”
Without hesitation, Lord Shiva nodded. “So be it,” he said, bestowing the boon upon Kaushika.
In an instant Shiva disappeared, leaving the newly empowered Kaushika standing in the silence of the mountains, ready to fulfil his burning desire for vengeance.
Kaushika who was still filled with rage and the thirst for revenge, wasted no time. He marched straight to Sage Vashishta’s peaceful hermitage, his heart burning with hate. He thought only of his vengeance and never even considered the innocent lives within the ashram. Without even a moment’s hesitation he set the hermitage on fire. The flames roared and crackled, spreading quickly, the raging blaze destroying all the thatched huts. The sage’s disciples and the animals living around the ashram were panic- stricken and ran helter-skelter trying to escape
Sage Vashishta himself emerged from the smoke and flames, his eyes blazing with fury. He recognized Kaushika instantly. Seeing that it was Kaushika who had done this heinous deed he was enraged. Looking fearlessly at the king he yelled in a powerful and fearsome voice, “You evil fool, how dare destroy my spiritual hermitage, a sacred place of learning and peace. This time you have gone too far, I will not let you go unpunished!”
Kaushika, confident in his newfound power granted by Lord Shiva, laughed arrogantly. “Do what you will, Sage Vashishta,” he challenged. “I am invincible now!”
Kaushika raised his weapons, unleashing one deadly attack after another at the sage. Vashishta, calm and resolute, stood firm. He knew he had to teach the king an unforgettable lesson.
Facing the vengeful king he said “I will now ruin whatever vanity you or your missiles have. Where stands the force of belligerence when compared to the supreme force of divine wisdom, you abased Kshatriya?”
Summoning his inner strength, Vashishta held his sacred Brahma-baton, a weapon of immense spiritual power. Holding it high, he said to Kaushika, “Your arrogance blinds you, King. Let me show you that wisdom and spirituality are far greater than any weapon or brute force.”
One by one, Kaushika hurled his weapons at the sage. Each monstrous missile was effortlessly absorbed and silenced by the power of the Brahma-baton. Frustrated and desperate, Kaushika finally unleashed the Brahmastra, the most powerful weapon in the universe. But even this ultimate weapon could do nothing against Vashishta’s divine strength. It was neutralized as if it were nothing more than a mere spark.
Kaushika was left stunned and helpless. For the first time, he truly understood that his weapons and anger were powerless against the sage’s spiritual might. His pride shattered, he fell silent.
At that moment, Kaushika realized the futility of his anger and the emptiness of his quest for revenge. His weapons were powerless against Vashishta’s spiritual power. Overcome with humility, he vowed to change. He gave up his hatred and decided to seek the wisdom and spiritual power that Vashishta possessed.
Once again Kaushika returned to the mountains. There, he began a life of strict penance and prayer, determined to purify his heart and become a true Brahmarishi, a sage of the highest order. His journey was long and challenging, but he never gave up.
Years later, Kaushika’s hard work bore fruit. His dedication and humility transformed him into Rishi Vishwamitra, one of the most revered sages in history.
In the end, Sage Vashishta himself acknowledged his transformation and accepted him as a Brahmarishi.
The story of Vashishta and Vishwamitra teaches us that true strength lies in wisdom, humility, and perseverance. It reminds us that even the greatest of rivalries can lead to mutual respect and enlightenment when guided by the light of understanding. It is a captivating narrative that highlights the transformative power of penance, the struggle between desire and renunciation, and the ultimate attainment of spiritual enlightenment. It is a tale of two remarkable individuals who were initially embroiled in conflict but eventually found profound respect and admiration for each other.
LIFE LESSONS
1. There is truth in the saying “pride comes before a fall.”
2. From King Kaushika we learn that we must never try to take something that does not belong to us.
3. From King Kaushika we learn that revenge and hatred does not pay.
4. From Kamadhenu we learn the power of divine blessings.
5. From Sage Vashistha we learn that peace and love are our greatest strength.
6. From King Kaushika we learn the power of determination and true resolve.
7. From Sage Vashistha and Sage Vishwamitra we learn that we should not hold on to enmity but learn to reconcile differences and become friends.
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