He commanded his own (homa) cow, saying, ‘Create a number of terrible Savaras!’ Thus addressed, the cow created a swarm of men of frightful visages.  These encountered the army of Vishvamitra and began to cause a great carnage everywhere.  Seeing this, his troops fled away.  Vishvamitra, the son of Gadhi, however, regarding ascetic austerities highly efficacious, set his heart upon them.  In this foremost of tirthas of the Sarasvati, O king, he began to emaciate his own body by means of vows and fasts with fixed resolve.  He made water and air and (the fallen) leaves of trees his food.  He slept on the bare ground, and observed other vows (enjoined for ascetics).  The gods made repeated attempts for impeding him in the observance of his vows.  His heart, however, never swerved from the vows (he had proposed to himself).  Then, having practised diverse kinds of austerities with great devotion, the son of Gadhi became like the Sun himself in effulgence.  The boon-giving Grandsire, of great energy, resolved to grant Vishvamitra, when he had become endued with ascetic merit, the boon the latter desired.  The boon that Vishvamitra solicited was that he should be permitted to become a Brahmana.  Brahma the Grandsire of all the worlds, said unto him, ‘So be it.’  Having by his austere penances acquired the status of Brahmanhood, the illustrious Vishvamitra, after the attainment of his wish, wandered over the whole Earth like a celestial.  Giving away diverse kinds of wealth in that foremost of tirthas, Rama also cheerfully gave away milch cows and vehicles and beds, ornaments, and food and drink of the best kinds, O king, unto many foremost of Brahmanas, after having worshipped them duly.  Then, O king, Rama proceeded to the asylum of Vaka which was not very distant from where he was, that asylum in which, as heard by us, Dalvya Vaka had practised the austerest of penances.”

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Vaishampayana said, “The delighter of the Yadus then proceeded to the asylum (of Vaka) which resounded with the chanting of the Vedas.  There the great ascetic, O king, named Dalvyavaka poured the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, the son of Vichitravirya, as a libation (on the sacrificial fire).  By practising very austere penances he emaciated his own body.  Endued with great energy, the virtuous Rishi, filled with great wrath, (did that act).  In former times, the Rishis residing in the Naimisha forest had performed a sacrifice extending for twelve years.  In course of that sacrifice, after a particular one called Viswajit had been completed, the Rishis set out for the country of the Pancalas.  Arrived there, they solicited the king for giving them one and twenty strong and healthy calves to be given away as Dakshina (in the sacrifice they have completed).  Dalvya Vaka, however, (calling those Rishis), said unto them, ’Do you divide those animals (of mine) among you!  Giving away these (unto you), I shall solicit a great king (for some).’  Having said so unto all