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The Rigveda, the oldest texts ever known to mankind, mentions this great rishi Vishvamitra (and his disciples) as the seer of the third Mandala. It is said that when some sages made Vishvamitra break a vow of silence, these eternal mantras were revealed by him.<ref name=":3" />

The Rigveda, the oldest texts ever known to mankind, mentions this great rishi Vishvamitra (and his disciples) as the seer of the third Mandala. It is said that when some sages made Vishvamitra break a vow of silence, these eternal mantras were revealed by him.<ref name=":3" />

== Conflict with Vasishta ==

== Vasishta and Vishvamitra ==

Once Visvamitra was on a hunting expedition, he and his army were sumptuously entertained by Vasishta. Wondering how a hermit could procure so much delicious food at such short notice, he discovered the great sage Vasishta's wish-fulfilling cow, the Kamadhenu, which tried to take away forcibly but could not succeed. Vishvamitra and his soldiers were defeated by the adhyatmik strength of Vasishta and Kamadhenu. He realized that physical power was no match for the spiritual power, he decided to become a brahmana by practicing meditation and penances. In this way there was always disagreement between the two of them. Then Vishvamitra went to the Himalayas and devoted himself to the most rigorous austerities to gain spiritual parity with his rival sage Vasishta and got the titles Rajarṣi, Ṛṣi, Maharṣi and Brahmarṣi. Finally, a reconciliation was brought about and was acknowledged by Vasishta who paid him homage.

Once Visvamitra, a kshatriya was on a hunting expedition, when he and his army were sumptuously entertained by Maharshi [[Vasishta (वसिष्ठः)|Vasishta]]. Wondering how a hermit could procure so much delicious food at such short notice, he discovered the great sage Vasishta's wish-fulfilling cow, the Kamadhenu, which tried to take away forcibly but could not succeed. Vishvamitra and his soldiers were defeated by the adhyatmik strength of Vasishta and Kamadhenu. He realized that physical power was no match for the spiritual power, he decided to become a brahmana by practicing meditation and penances. In this way there was always a disagreement between the two of them. Then Vishvamitra went to the Himalayas and devoted himself to the most rigorous austerities to gain spiritual parity with his rival sage Vasishta and got the titles Rajarṣi, Ṛṣi, Maharṣi and Brahmarṣi. Finally, a reconciliation was brought about and was acknowledged by Vasishta who paid him homage.<ref name=":3" />

=== Kamdhenu ===

=== Kamdhenu as the cause of enmity ===

When Vishvamitra was a kshatriya king, he visited the hermitage of Vasistha Muni, and he was given a royal reception. The king was surprised how can a mendicant be so opulent. He came to know that there is a cow named Nandini, who is protecting herself and others, and providing for all the necessities of the sage. Vishvamitra said give me this cow as I am the king, but Vasistha refused to deliver it. The sage said this cow represents all our piety, prosperity, tapasya and you cannot take her away. The king forcefully tried to take the cow away, and thus there was a quarrel between the sage and the King. Vasistha muni said to the cow I am not capable of protecting you, please protect yourself. Many soldiers became manifest out of her, and beated up all of Visvamitra’s soldiers. Vishvamitra became very annoyed and uttered - ''dhik balam ksatriyam balam''. To hell with the power of a kshatriya. From there he started doing his tapasya. He underwent severe austerity on the bank of the river Kausika.

When Vishvamitra visited the hermitage of Vasistha, he was given a royal reception. The king was surprised how can a mendicant be so opulent. He came to know that there is a cow named Nandini , who is protecting herself and others, and providing for all the necessities of the sage. Vishvamitra said give me this cow as I am the king, but Vasistha refused to deliver it. The sage said this cow represents all our piety, prosperity, tapasya and its milk is offered to the deities and pitrs in the daily yajnas, hence you cannot take her away. The king insisted that such noble and superior things in the country belonged to the king and are to be used for the benefit of the people. He offered to give a crore cows in exchange for Kamadhenu. When Vasishta refused, he forcefully tried to take the cow away, and thus there was a quarrel between the Vasishta and the King. Vasistha engaged in a battle with astras and eventually told to the cow, "I am not capable of protecting you, please protect yourself." Many soldiers became manifest out of her, and fought off Visvamitra’s soldiers. Vishvamitra further attacked Vasishta who defended himself by using his ''brahmadanda''. Enraged with his own powerlessness in front of Vasishta, frustrated he uttered - ''dhik balam ksatriyam balam'' or fie the power of a kshatriya. Realizing the power of penance he went back to his kingdom and handed over the administration to his relatives and went to the south to perform severe penance. From there he was constantly engrossed in tapas or severe austerity. (Valm. Rama. Bala Kanda. Sargas 51-56)

=== Vasistha's hopelessness ===

=== Trishanku of Ikshvaku Dynasty ===

Vasistha was tormented so much by Visvamitra muni and at one point he thought of commiting suicide. The situation became extremely painful, when Vasistha muni lost his sons and grandsons, so he tied a rock and entered into river to die but the river washed him ashore. Thus his suicide attempt was unsuccessful. As per destiny, he could not die. He had a lot to contribute. Later in the dynasty of Vasistha, Vyasadeva took birth.

The next confrontation between the two seers was due to the king Trisanku of the Ikshvaku (Solar) dynasty.  Satyavrata was the son of Trayyaruna, the Ikshvaku king. But he earned the name Trishanku when Vasishta  cursed him thus "You will from today become a candala. Three sankus (sins) namely wrath of a father, abduction of another man's wife and consumption of cow's flesh will give you life-long trouble and thus you will earn a name, Trisanku (Three Sankus). Instantly Satyavrata became a candala and started roaming about the streets. Later after being crowned ruled the country piously. Soon Trishanku desired to bodily attain ''svarga'' or heaven. Vasistha, as the Guru of the dynasty tried to discourage the king. Disappointed he approached the sons of Vasistha who ridiculed him when he told them of his queer desire. Trisanku became angry and left them saying "Let me see whether there are others in this country who could send me bodily to the heaven." Those arrogant words annoyed Vasistha and his sons and they cursed him and made him a candala again. But Visvamitra took up the matter when Vasishta refused to help the king. Visvamitra began to perform a yajna to lift up the king bodily to svarga, and Trisanku began to rise up higher and higher. But Indra did not allow him to enter bodily into the svarga loka. At last Visvamitra, by the power of his penance created an artificial heaven midway between the heaven and the earth and placed Trishanku in that new place calling it '''''Trisanku svarga'''''. (Sargas 57 to 59, Balakanda, Valmiki Ramayana, 7th Skandha, Devi Bhagavata; 9th Skandha, Bhagavata; Chapter 13, Harivamsa; Sundara Kanda, Kamba Ramayana; Chapter 71, Adi Parva; Chapter 12, Sabha Parva)<ref>Mani, V. (1975). ''Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass Pvt. Ltd. (pp.793-794)</ref><ref name=":1"> Srimad Bhagavatam canto 9 [7.5-6] ''[https://www.vedabase.com/en/sb/9/7/5-6 The descendants of Mandhata]''</ref>

=== Harishcandra ===

=== Harishcandra ===

His meditation was broken when he heard the tinkling of bangles on the hands of Menaka. He fathered a child who is universally celebrated as Sakuntala, the beauty queen of world history.  

His meditation was broken when he heard the tinkling of bangles on the hands of Menaka. He fathered a child who is universally celebrated as Sakuntala, the beauty queen of world history.  

== Sons of Vishvamitra ==

== Sons of Vishvamitra ==