[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.3983 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3983 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.3983 - **Language:** English ### [c9.3983](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3983) (i) Reason for the enmity. Viśvāmitra was a King who cared much for the welfare of his subjects. Once he went with his army to hunt. He became tired by the hunt and reached the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha who welcomed them with hospitality. He told them that food would be ready when they returned after a bath. The King and his men bathed quickly and when they returned, a grand feast was ready for so many thousands. The King was in great perplexity. After the meals Viśvāmitra approached the hermit Vasiṣṭha and asked him how he got such a grand feast ready. He replied that the cow Kāmadhenu in his hermitage was capable of granting any wish. The king desired to have the cow. He asked the hermit to exchange the cow for a crore of ordinary cows. Vasiṣṭha did not agree to this. Viśvāmitra said that the noble and superior things of the country belonged to the King. The hermit did not agree to that also. Finally Viśvāmitra was about to take away the cow by force. Thus the quarrel began. Understanding the wish of Vasiṣṭha Kāmadhenu held her horns and tail up and stood as a fierce and cruel figure. From the various limbs of the cow so many thousands of warriors jumped out and a fierce battle ensued in which the hundred sons and the huge army of Viśvāmitra met with defeat. At last Viśvāmitra tried to launch a direct attack against Vasiṣṭha. But the arrows of Viśvāmitra were changed to flowers when they touched the body of Vasiṣṭha. At last the King admitted that the power of the penance of a Brahmin hermit was the real power and he admitted defeat from Vasiṣṭha. From that day onwards a deep-rooted, hatred against Vasiṣṭha arose in the heart of Viśvāmitra. He left the administration of his Kingdom in the hands of his relatives and went to the south where he erected a hermitage and began to do severe penance. He acquired great powers of penance and became a royal hermit of immense attainments and the quarrel between the two great hermits Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra began. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, 5 sargas from 51). - [Previous: c9.3982](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3982) - [Next: c9.3984](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3984) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) ## Cites (1) - [Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.ramayana.valmiki.1.5) — Vālmīki, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3983](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.3983) · Pramāṇa