How King Kaushika Became Sage Vishwamitra

 

Once upon a time, King Kaushika and his army went on a hunt. They soon became tired and hungry. So, they searched for food and water everywhere. They then came across Sage Vasishta's hermitage and asked him for food and water. Sage Vasishta and his wife Arundhati, offered them a sumptuous meal. King Kaushika was puzzled. He wondered how a poor Sage like Vasishta could offer him and his huge army such a sumptuous meal. He asked the Sage how he was able to do so. Vasishta told Kaushika that he could do this with the help of his cow, Kamadhenu (wish-fulfilling cow) which he had got as a gift from Lord Indra. King Kaushika then thought such an animal would be more useful to a king that a Sage. He asked Vasishta if he could give his cow. Vasishta said the cow was like a daughter to him and hence could not part with it. Kaushika pleaded several times but the Sage did not relent. This angered Kaushika and he asked his army to take possession of the cow forcefully! Vasishta asked Kamadhenu to protect herself. Kamadhenu then grew in size and a huge army emerged out of her and defeated Kaushika's army. King Kaushika wondered how a Sage could defeat him and decided to take revenge. So, he meditated on Lord Shiva to obtain powerful weapons. Lord Shiva was pleased with his penance and offered him those weapons. King Kaushika again challenged Sage Vasishta. But Vasishta's weapons destroyed his. Humiliated, he got to know that true power was in penance and not in weapons. He handed over his kingdom to his son and again performed a severe penance. He then came to be known as Sage Vishwamitra.