Legend of Vishwamitra and Vashishta is one of the many Brahmanical myths and legends in the Mahabharata. Vishwamitra was a warrior, the son of King Gadhin of Kanyakubja (Kannauj). One day, in the course of his hunting, he came to the hermitage of Rishi Vasistha. The latter had a marvellous cow which fulfilled all his wishes. When he desired anything, whether food or drink, jewels or garments, or whatever it might be, he had only to say `Give` and the cow Nandini granted it to him. When Vishwamitra saw the excellent cow, he desired to have it, and offered Vashishta ten thousand ordinary cows for it. But the latter would not give it up as it gave him everything he ever wanted for sacrificial purposes. Vishwamitra now wanted to steal the cow, according to "warriors` custom." Vashishta, as a gentle Brahmin, did not hinder him in this, but the marvellous cow itself brought forth out of its body, mighty hosts of warriors, by whom the troops of Vishwamitra were defeated and put to flight. Then the proud king sees that the power of Brahmins is after all greater than that of warriors; he gives up his kingdom and performs severe austerities in order to become a Brahmin, in which he succeeds after tremendous efforts.

Even after Vishwamitra has become a Brahmin, his enmity with Vashishta continued. Instigated by Vishwamitra, Kalmasapada, who is possessed by a Baksasa, kills the sons of Vasistha. But the latter is so fall of mildness that he will rather die than give vent to his anger. He is about to end his life, and throws himself down from Mount Meru, but falls on a pile of wool. He enters the fire, but it does not burn him. With a stone around his neck he throws himself into the sea, but is thrust out again living. So he returns with a sorrowful heart to his hermitage. But when he sees his home empty of children, grief brings him back anew to thoughts of suicide. He hurls himself into a swollen mountain stream, after having tied his limbs fast with ropes, but the current tears his fetters and throws him on to a bank. Wandering further, he comes to a river which is fair of crocodiles and horrible monsters and he throws himself in, but the wild animals timidly shrink away from him. As he sees that he cannot die by his own hand, he returns again to his hermitage, after having wandered over hills and countries. On the way he meets his daughter-in-law Adrsyanti, and he hears a voice like that of his son singing Veda hymns. It is the voice of his as yet unborn grandchild, who already in his mother`s womb -Adrsyanti has been pregnant with him since twelve years- has learned all the Vedas. As soon as he knows that he is to have descendants, he gives up his thoughts of suicide.

This is the story of Vishwamitra and the saint Vashishta.