Illustrated Classics From India Over 86 million copies of over 400 titles sold worldwide! Amar Chitra Katha is a collection of illustrated classics that retell stories from Indian mythology, history, folktale and legend through the fascinating medium of comics. Over 430 stories from all over India have been told in this series that has been endorsed by educationists and recommended by teachers the world over. Through a masterful blend of commentary, dialogue and illustration, Amar Chitra Katha presents complex historical facts and intricate mythology in a format that would appeal to children. They not only entertain, but also provide a fitting introduction to the cultural heritage of India. In a country so vast and varied, the series also serves as a medium for national integration, by introducing young readers to the rich cultural diversity of the country and highlighting the achievements of local heroes. ‘Amar Chitra Katha comics are like family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation. These timeless illustrated classics are now also available online on www. [Link]. Start your own collection today! No. 599 * Rs 30 -~ (BH INDIA BOOK HOUSE September 2006. ISBN: 81-7508-323-9 j00k House Pvt Ltd, Mahalaxmi Chambers, sai Road, Mumbai 400 026, India. 5th Floor, 22 BhulatROAMING OVER THE EARTH WITH HI5 HUNDRED SONS AND ONCE , LONG AGO , WHILE =| VAST ARMIES , THE MIGHTY j| KING VISHWAMITRA CAME: UPON THE HERMITAGE OF THE “| POWER Ful. SAGE VASISHTHA.- IT 1S SURPRIS— ING, BUT THE SIGHT OF THESE ASCETICS WHO HAVE “RENOUNCED THE WORLD EXHILA~ RATES ME.| PRESUME ALL IS WELL IN YOUR KINGDOM. VISHWAMITRA_ SAT NEAR THE SAGE AND THEY TALKED OF MANY THINGS » THEN — | WISH TO HONOUR )O WISE SAGE, yOu AND YOUR ROYAL RETINUE.. PLEASE LET ME BE THE HOST AT A BANQUET IS A PRIVILEGE AND THIS GRACI- OUS WELCOME ,AN T INSIST THAT yOu BE THE GUESTS AT MY FEAST. WE WILL STAY, SINCE IT 1S YOUR THEREUPON VASISHTHA SENT FOR HIS: FAVOURITE COW, THE DIVINE KAMADHENU.* 4 DEAR KAMADHENU; V ! PROVIDE US WITH FOOD \ FIT FOR A GREAT KING- FE * THE WISH-FULFILLING COW.IN AN INSTANT; THERE EMERGED ROYAL VISITORS. FROM THE DIVINE COW, CHOICE FOOD FOR THE VISHWAMITRA_ AND HIS MEA! ATE TO THEIR. HEART’S CONTENT WHEN THE FEAST WAS OVER — KAMADHENU IS A JJEWEL AND JEWELS BELONG TO THE = KING. BY RIGHT SHE SHOULD BE MINE. YET | WILL GIVE you A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILCH_ COWS IN RETURN. | HAVE NEVER TASTED SUCH DELICACIES BEFORE - KAMADHENU SHOULD BELONG TO ME! NO.1 CANNOT PART WITH HER EVEN FOR 1,00,00,0001 WILL GIVE YOU 14,000 ELEPHANTS] HARNESSED AND CAPARISONED IN GOLD; 800 CHARI ~ OTS OF SOLID GOLD EACH DRAWN BY FOUR MILK ) WHITE HORSES, i, N\A 11,000 THOROUGH-| Ld BRED HORSES ) ALSO HARNESSED FIN GOLD AND 10 MILLION i COWS OF VARIOUS HUES. f| ALL THIS AND AS MUCH H GOLD AS YOU WANT, A\SHALL BE YOURS. GIVE ME_KAMADHENU. Pe | THEN | SHALL HAVE. TO TAKE HER AWAY BY FORCE. VASISHTHA’S REFUSAL MADE VISHWAMITRA’S DESIRE” KEENER. HE INCREASED HIS PRICE. BUT VASISHTHA TURNED DOWN THE OFFER. FOR NO TREA-G# SURE ON EARTH WILL | PARTI WITH HER, O KING. ISHE 1S THE VERY SOURCE OF MY SPIRITUAL LIFE. SHE PROVIDES ME WITH ALL I NEED FOR MY RITUALS. SEIZE THE SAGE’S COW OF PLENTY AND BRING HER TO ME.KAMABHENU TOSSED ASIDE HER CAPTORS ... =] WHY DOES THE HOLY ONE PERMIT THIS OUTRAGE © | HAVE ALWAYS =\ LOVED AND SERVED HIM !1 WILL = SHAKE. OFF MY TORMENTORS AND GO TO HIM.SHE STOOD BEFORE VASISHTHA , WEEPING AND LOWING . DEAR ONE, | AM HELPLESS AGAINST THE KING AND HIS MIGHTY ARMY: O LORD, HAVE YOU_FORSAKEN ME 2 DID YOU NOT SEE HOW | WAS TREATED? YOUR SPIRITUAL POWERS ARE DIVINE AND BOUNDLESS. HIS MORTAL STRENGTH |S GREAT BUT LIMITED.O HOLY ONE, COMMAND ME AND BY YOUR LIMITLESS SPIRITUAL POWERS 1 SHALL HUMBLE THE PRIDE OF THIS WICKED WARRIOR. SO BE IT, KAMADHENU,++» AND SOON DESTROYED THEM. ENRAGED, THE SONS OF WSHWAMITRA RUSHED TOWARDS VASISHTHA. SE THE SAGE STOOD FIRM AND CALM. HE UTTERED BUT ONE SYLLABLE .-- .+» THE MERE SOUND OF WHICH BURNT] THE PRINCES AND THEIR HORSES» CHARIOTS » WEAPONS AND ALL. NOW | HAVE BUT THE ONE | SON WHO | STAYED BACK TO RULE THE KINGDOM.VISHWAMITRA RETURNED TO HIS KINGDOM FULL OF GRIEF HE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE HIMALAYAS AND BEGAN PRACTIS— ING SEVERE AUSTERITIES AND SHAME . THERE — Vail Wy. SON, THE KINGDOM IS YOURS. RULE VIRTU-| OUSLY OVER IT.1 PLAN TO RETIRE TO THE 4 bh. FORESTS FORA | SHALL PROP!— |TIATE LORD SHIVA AND BY HIS GRACE AVENGE THE DEATH OF MY GLORIOUS ~ | [A TRIUMPHANT VISHWAMITRA | INOW TURNED HIS FOOTSTEPS TOWARDS VASISHTHA’S: =) ; MERCY, O KING- MERCY. AT LAST SHIVA WAS PLEASED. HE STOOD BEFORE VISHWAMITRA. THE BOON THAT | you SEEK | © KING, SHALL BE YOURS. BY YOUR f GRACE ,LET ALLY KNOWLEDGE OF WEAPONS AND WARFARE BE > MINE. SHIVA GRANTED THE BOON AND WENT BACK TO HIS ABODE. |AS SOON AS VISHWAMITRA REACHED THE HERMITAGE HE SENT OUT FLAMING MISSILES AND SET IT ABLAZE. THIS: HERMITAGE |S NO LONGER A HAVEN FOR THE HOLY. VASISHTHA TRIED TO STOP THEM, BUT IN VAIN.’ | WILL DESTROY” THE EVIL KING. IA DEADLY SILENCE DESCENDED OVER THE DESERTED HERMITAGE - /T WAS BROKEN BY THE’ RESONANT" VOICE OF VASISHTHA- WICKED, DELUDED. ONE. YOU HAVE. WANTONLY DESTROYED MY ANCIENT HERMITAGE .FOR THIS. YOU SHALL DIESNATCHING HIS STAFF HE ADVANCED TOWARDS VISHWAMITRA - BEWARE ! MY WEAPONS WILL CONSUME. EVIL WARRIOR; LET US SEE HOW YOUR WEAP- ONS OF DESTRUCTION ENCOUNTER SPIRITUAL POWER. | Reig HURLED THE WEAPON. [ADMIT NOW, THE IMPOTENCE OF ALL YOUR WEAPONS-UT THEY WER! AT LAST VISHWAMITRA SENT OUT * ALL ABSORBED THE FATAL BRAHMASTRA. BUT... \_| VASISHTHA’S «eee." VISHWAMITRA , HIS PRIDE HUMBLED, HAD. TO ADMIT DEFEAT. THE MIGHT OF A WARRIOR 1S USELESS SPIRITUAL POWER IS THE GREATEST POWER OF ALL. 1 SHALL REALISE. BRAHMAN AND THE STATUS OF BRAHMARSHI* HE LAID DOWN HIS ARMS AND WENT HOME TO'HIS QUEEN. WANT TO BECOME(AS YOU COMMAND MY LORD. | A HERMITAGE IN THE SOUTH. THERE YOU WILL HELP ME. IN MY PENANCES. SO VISHWAMITRA AND HIS QUEEN| SET OUT. THEY REACHED THE CHOSEN HERMITAGE AND --+ THIS TIME | SHALL SEEK THE FAVOUR OF BRAHMA. * BRAHMA: RISHI.THEN VISHWAMITRA CONTINUED HIS AUSTERITIES WITH GREATER. SEVERITY INTIL. BRAHMA HAD TO APPEAR BEFORE HIM. Vou ARE THE GREATEST \THE STATUS ASCETIC AMONG KINGS. OF MERE. | CONFER UPON YOU RAJARSHI 1S THE STATUS OF NO REWARD FOR THE PEN— RAJARSHI* ANCES | HAVE. UNDERGONE - 1 SHALL ASK MEANWHILE TRISHANKU , A GREAT| KING OF THOSE TIMES, WAS SUDDENLY SEIZED WITH AN AMBITION. | WILL ENTER HEAVEN IN MY MORTAL BODY. A | SHALL ASK MY GURU, VASISHTHA , Ee TO HELP ME PER- SSS FORM A SACRI \ FicE TO RAJA RISHI BUT BRAHMA HAD ALREADY DEPARTED. VISHWAMITRA WAS DEJECTED: IN SPITE OF ALL MY PENANCES | AM ONLY A RAJARSHI TO THE | [cops ..1 WILL STRIVE HARDER FOR GREATER SPIRITUAL | WISH TO ENTER HEAVEN IN. THIS MORTAL FRAME OF MINE, SO... O KING! THAT CAN NEVER Be! ZAG TALIBUT TRISHANKU REFUSED TO GIVE UP THE IDEA. IF MY GURU WILL NOT HELP ME,HIS SONS WILL. 1 SHALL GO TO THEIR HERMITAGE IN THE SOUTH. 4 HOW DARE YOU SEEK OUR AID WHEN YOUR HAS DISAPPROVED. YOU ARE NOT FIT TO CLAIM HIM AS YOUR GURU, YOU IGNORANT ONE. GURU, OUR WISE FATHER, THERE TRISHANKU TOLD THE SONS OF VASISHTHA OF | THEIR. FATHER’S DECISION. PRAY, WILL You BECOME MY GURUS AND HELP ME 2 BUT TRISHANKU WAS BENT | UPON PERFORMING THE SACRIFICE. | THEN | SHALL Bm HAVE TO SEEK THE HELP OF | SOMETHE SONS OF VASISHTHA WERE FURIOUS WITH THE ADAMANT O EVIL KING , MAY you BECOME A CHANDALAT ALAS! ALAS! WHAT HAVE 1, A VIRTUOUS KING,DONE TO DESERVE THIS? WHICH SAGE WILL HELP ME Now, OUTCASTE AS 1AMO THEN SUDDENLY , HE REMEMBERED VISHWAMITRA . | WILL GO TO THE RAJARSHI. HE WILL HELP ME. *AN OUTCASTE- AS HE EXPECTED , VISHWAMITRA RECEIVED HIM COMPASSIONATELY AND LISTENED TO HIS TALE OF WOE. O HOLY SAGE, APART FROM YOU THERE IS NONE | CAN TURN TO.| BESEECH You, HELP ME OUT OF THIS PLIGHT.VISHWAMITRA CONSOLED AND. COMFORTED THE MISERABLE KING. YOU ARE A VIRTUOUS PERSON! WILL HELP MAKE ALL YOU PERFORM THE ARRANGEMENTS SACRIFICE. YOU WILL + FOR THE ENTER HEAVEN AND ae SACRIFICE - IN THIS VERY FORM © WHICH YOUR. GURU'S SONS HAVE IMPOSED £= NEXT VISHWAMITRA CALLED HIS DISCIPLES TO HIM. THE DISCIPLES RETURNED AFTER A FEW DAYS. ISAGE VASISHTHA MAY THEY BE AND HIS SONS DESTROYED FOR REFUSE TO COME. }\ DISREGARDING ONE THE SONS SAY WHO IS A SAGE THEY WOULD AND FREE OF GUILT. INVITE ALL THE PIOUS AND THE LEARNED OF THE LAND HERE FOR THE GREAT SACRI- FICE. WASSOCIATING ONESELF WITH UNTOUCHABLES MADE ONE UNICLEAN.THIS VIRTUOUS KING SEEKS YOUR GOODWILL FOR THIS SACRIFICE IN A NOBLE PURSUIT. WHEN THE RITES WERE OVER— THEN THE RITES BEGAN, WITH | VISHWAMITRA OFFICIATING AS THE CHIEF PRIEST. O DEVAS’, COME |YE FROM THE HEAVENS. ACCEPT THESE OFFERINGS AND LEAD THIS GREAT KING TO HEAVEN IN HIS OWN BODY. [VISHWAMITRA WAITED. BUT NONE OF THE DEVAS APPEARED. [HE WAS ENRAGED. VISHWAMITRA THEN LOOKED SKYWARDS. MAY YOU ASCEND TO HEAVEN AS YOU ARE ,O VIRTUOUS KING - O KING, ! WILL RAISE YOU TO HEAVEN ON THE STRENGTH OF ALL THE SPIRITUAL POWERS | HAVE ACCUMULATED.BUT WHEN HE REACHED HEAVEN, INDRA AND THE DEVAS BARRED HIS ENTRY. WRETCH! YOU HAVE BEEN CURSED BY YOUR. GURU’S SONS. HEAVEN HAS NO PLACE FOR YOU. MAY YOU GO DOWN TO THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH. SAVE ME! © HOLY ONE, SAVE ME! VISHWAMITRA WOULD NOT ACCEPT DEFEAT- MAY YOU STOP WHERE YOU ARE. | SHALL CREATE A HEAVEN AROUNDAND VISHWAMITRA SEVEN PLANETS, THE SAPTARSHIE BUT HE WAS SATISFIED. | WILL CREATE ANOTHER INDRA. OR BETTER STILL ! WILL HURL INDRA OUT OF HEAVEN AND MAKE TRISHANKU_ THE. KING OF THE DEVAS! WHEN THE DEVAS DIVINED HIS WNTENTIONS, ‘THEY WERE PERTURBED. EFORE HIM H HIM O SAGE, THE KING HAS BEEN cuR D BY HIS 6URU’S SONS. HOW CAN WE GIVE HIM A PLACE IN HEAVEN © WE MUST STOP HIM.BUT VISHWAMITRA WAS iim FIRM. Se at Sates < | HAVE PROMISED TO HELP HIM. LET HIM ENTER YOUR HEAVEN. LET THE PLANETS | HAVE CREATED EXIST AS LONG AS YouR HEAVEN DOES. THEN INDRA SHALL REMAIN IN HEAVEN , THE SOLE KING OF THE DEVAS. SO BE IT- TRISHANKU , SURROUNDED BY THE PLANETS THAT SHINE ON HIM, SHALL BECOME IMMORTAL AND REMAIN SUSPENDED IN HEAVEN , HEAD DOWNWARDS. AS THE DEVAS, HEAVING SIGHS OF RELIEF, DEPARTED TO HEAVEN - EVEN AS A RAJARSHI, VISHWAMITRA HAS HUMBLED US. WE MUST ENSURE THAT HE NEVER BECOMES A BRAHMARGHI. | HAVE HUMBLED THE DEVAS BUT EXHAUSTED MY SPIRITUAL. POWERS. | WILL START ALL OVER AGAIN.HE TURNED TO HIS SONS ANP DISCIPLES. THE WORLD HAS BEEN TOO MUCH WITH ME HERE. MY PENANCES HAVE COME TO NAUGHT. | SHALL GO WEST TO THE PEACEFUL PUSH- KAR TO RESUME MY YOUR MAJESTY, Vy THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL HAS BEEN STOLE IAMBARISHA HUNTED FAR AND WIDE FOR THE ANIMAL. BUT AS INDRA WAS THE UNKNOWN THIEF HIS SEARCH WAS HOPELESS. THE PRIEST GAVE HIM THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE . YOU WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE A HUMAN VICTIM: TO COMPLETE THE SACRI- MH FIcE. OR ELSE GREAT SUBJECTS. 3 AND YOURAMBARISHA TOLD HIM ALL. AMBARISHA SET OUT AGAIN. HIS QUEST TOOK HIM THROUGH CITIES AND FORESTS TILL HE CAME UPON THE HERMITAGE WHERE RICHIKA LIVED WITH HIS WIFE AND SONS- GREAT KING, WHAT ) 3a BRINGS YOU TO } OUR HUMBLE fs py ABODE © { O SAGE, GIVE ME ONE OF YOUR SONS FOR 100,000 COWS AND HELP ME COMPLETE THE SACRIFICE. MY YOUNGEST \ SHALL EVER REMAIN WITH SHUNAHSHEPA, THE MIDDLE SON, STEPPED FORWARD BEFORE HIS PARENTS COULD TAKE ME,THE MIDDLE SON ,O KING, AND GIVE MY PARENTS 100,000 cows. DELIGHTED THAT HIS SEARCH Y AYA COME TO AN END, AMBARISHA| TOOK SHUNAHSHEPA AND MOUNTING HIS CHARIOT TURNED R<) HOMEWARD.AS THE KING RESTED, SHUNAHSHE- PA WANDERED ABOUT THE HERMITAGE - SUDDENLY — OO on SnneA LET US REST FOR A WHILE AT THAT HERMITAGE OVER SAGE VISHWAMITRA, MY MOTHER’S BROTHER HERE! SHUNAHSHEPA RAN TO HIM ,FELL| AT HIS FEET AND TOLD HIM ALL. THEN — BE CONSOLED, O HOLY ONE ,I HAVE \ O VIRTUOUS NEITHER FATHER | SON.1 WILL NOR MOTHER - NOT LET PLACE AND RESCUE |O LORD, PROTECT You DIE. HIM. | HAVE. GIVEN ME. LET ME LIVE, HIM MY WORD. HELP ME KEEP ONE OF YOU TAKE HIS AL LIFE AND ATTAIN HEAVEN. O FATHER; WOULD you ABANDON ONE OF YOUR OWN SONS TOYOU ARROGANT SONS=HAVE YOU NO AFFECTION FOR ME 2 MAY You LOSE YOUR CASTE AND WANDER ABOUT THE EARTH EATING THE FLESH OF DOGS. VSHWAM:TRA THEN ADDRESSED SHUNAHSHEPA - | WILL TEACH YOU TWO MANTRAS IN PRAISE QF “INDRA. REPEAT-7HEM AT THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR AND YOU WILL BI [SHUNAHSHEPA LEARNT THE _ MANTRAS AND RETURNED TO AMBARISHA - O KING,LET US HASTEN TO THE SACRIFICIAL GROUND. WHEN THEY REACHED THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR; AMBA— RISHA_HANDED_SHUNAHSHEPA OVER TO THE PRIEST. SHUNAHSHEPA REPEATED THE MANTRAS THAT. VISHWAMITRA HAD TAUGHT HIM. SUDDENLY INDRA APPEARED BEFORE HIM. | AM PLEASED WITH YOUR _WOR- SHIP. MAY THE. LONG LIFE You SEEK BEHE HAD KEPT HIS WORD BUT VWISHWAMITRA HAD ONCE AGAIN SPENT HIS SPIRITUAL) y— a] FORCE IN CURSING HIS SONS, [{ IT’S THE IRRESISTIBLE APSARA , MENAKA. THIS TIME | MUST MAKE HER 4 1 WILL 5 REMAIN HERE AND RESUME. MY PENANCES. ONE DAY WHILE HE WAS ON THE BANK OF THE PUSHKARA LAKE — [AS MENAKA CAME OUT OF THE LAKE, VISHWAMITRA DECLARED HIS LOVE TO HER. A FEW YEARS PASSED BEFORE VISHWAMITRA SUDDENLY REALISED | AM-HONOURED, O VENERABLE | SEE Now! THE DEVAS MUST HAVE SENT you HERE To DISTRACT ME. MENAKA , AWARE OF THE SAGE’S FIERCE TEMPER, TREMBLED WITH FEAR. 8UT 1 SHALL GO TO THE HIMALAYAS AND PERFORM MY PENANCES ON THE BANKS OF THE KAUSHIKI RIVER. GO BACK TO THE DEVAS, 0 APSARA. MAY YOU FARESO SEVERE WERE HIS PENANCES THERE THAT THE DEVAS WERE PERTURBED. THEY APPROACHED LET VISHWA- MITRA HAVE ie PECL ( Your AUSTERITY. YOU _HAVE EARNED, YES. YOU MY PENANCES WERE : f HAVE NOT YET FOR THE STATUS . GAINED MASTERY OF A BRAHMARSHI. ee p : OVER YOUR YOU REGARD ME ay ONLY AS A MAHARSHI. 5 SENSES. | WILL HAVE TO SUBDUE MY *MAHA RISHIWHEN BRAHMA DEPARTED, VISHWAMITRA INTENSIFIED HIS AUSTERITIES. THROUGH THE RAINY SEASON |HE CONTINUED STANDING. AND IN WINTER HE STOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLD STREAM.THE DEVAS WERE ONCE AGAIN PERTURBED. THEN INBRA HAD AN IDEA. YOU MUST ATTRACT MAHARSHI VISHWA-— MITRA AND DISTURB HIS PENANCES- J PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME. ON THIS TASK: THE SAGE HAS A TERRIBLE -G TEMPER AND A ac fe *. READY CURSE. BUT INDRA REASSURED HER. DO NOT WORRY, RAMBHA - | WILL TAKE THE FORM OF A CUCKOO AND WILL SIT ON A BRANCH NEAR BY. GO, / ADORN YOURSELF. AS SOON AS RAMBHA WAS READY, THEY CAME TO VISHWAMITRA’S GROVE. | WILL ROUSE HIM WITH MY NOTES. THAT 1S THE MOMENT FOR you To APPROACH HIM. 4WHAT HEAVENLY NOTES! RAMBHA OF INDRA’S COURT ? HERE? THIS 1S ONE OF INDRA’S TRICKS. WHEN HE HEARD THIS, INDRA FLED FROM THE SCENE. ONCE AGAIN MY SPIRITUAL FORCE . HAS BEEN CONSUMED BY ANGER. | WILL NEITHER EAT; io RAMBHA » FOR THIS IMPERTINENCE MAY YOU BE TURNED INTO ROCK- SO YOU SHALL REMAIN FOR 10,000 / YEARS TILL A SPEAK NOR, BREATHE TILL 1 HAVE. CON — QUERED THIS PASSION.VISHWAMITRA WENT EASTWARD IAND BEGAN HIS MOST SEVERE SUCCEEDED. AUSTERITIES . WHEN HE WAS 1 SHALL FIRST ISURE THAT HE HAD CONQUERED BREAK MY LONG FAST. IT WAS INDRA WHO HAD COME IN THE GUISE OF A BRAHMAN TO TEST HIM. VISHWAMITRA WITHOUT UTTERING A WORD OFFERED HIM THE FOOD. AFTER YEARS OF FURTHER PENANCE,| THE TERRIBLE POWERS AMASSED BY VISHWAMITRA BEGAN TO EMIT PERVASIVE THIEK SMOKE» STRIKING OFTERRIFIED » INDRA AND THE DEVAS pene TO BRAHMA.- IF THE STATUS OF BRAHMAR- & 1S NOT GRANTED TO VISHWAMITRA NOW, HE WILL DESTROY THE THREE WORLDS f AND THEN HE WILL BE CONTENT ONLY WITH THE SOVER- = Ee BB 7 DO NOT BY FEAR. 1 SHALL. ceed GRANT HIM THE ye, STATUS OF BRAHMARSHI.~ HE DESERVES ‘O VISHWAMITRA, THEN INSTRUCT [ACCOMPANIED BY BY THE POWER ME IN THE LORE ALL THE DEVAS OF YOUR PEN- OF THE BRAHMAN APPEARED ANCES YOU HAVE AND LET ¢ ACHIEVED THE VASISHTHA STATUS OF ACKNOWLEDGE BRAHMARSHI. @agg\ MY PRESENT STATUS. MY GREETINGS To you, - O BRAHMARSHI- VISHWAMITRA TOO PAID HOMAGE TO VASISHTHA. THEN, HAVING ACHIEVED WHAT HE HAD SET OUT TO ACHIEVE » VISHWAMITRA ENRICHED THE WORLDS WITH HIS GOOD DEEDS.Illustrated Classics From India Vishwamitra Known as the Land of the Rishis or Rishi Bhoomi, India proudly claims the heritage of the rishis (sages) as its own. Here, Vishwamitra stands out as a superlative example of the accomplishments of the rishis. Vishwamitra was a Kshatriya king who constantly explored the realms of immortality beyond the kingdom of earth. His confrontation with Sage Vasishtha convinced him of the superiority of spiritual power over physical strength, and so he set out to atta When he was given the status of Rajarshi, he was not content. This was because the word connoted a rishi who was born a Kshatriya and was considered inferior to a Brahmarshi, a rishi who had been born a Brahmin. The arduous paths that Vishwamitra had to tread to conquer his passions in order to reach spiri are described in detail, giving us a glimpse of the glory of the rishis, ights India was later named after Bharata, the grandson of Vishwamitra. Editor: Anant Pai Script: Kamala Chandrakant _ Illustrations: Ram Waeerkar + Cover: Ram Waeerkar Related Titles Ramayana ¢ Ancestors of Rama Rama ¢ Bheeshma Drona ¢ Andhaka Hanuman 150N 81-7508-323-9 Lt INDIA BOOK HOUSE