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Determined to take revenge for his loss and humiliation, Kaushik along with his queen went southwards plunged himself into deep tapasya, subsisting only on fruits and roots.

His efforts were successful when Brahmadev appeared in front of him.

"Apne tapasya se tumne Rajarshi ki upaadhi praapt ki hai. Iss liye mai tumhe iss upaadhi se sammanit karta hu. Ab se tum Rajarshi Kaushik ho." Brahmadev proclaimed and disappeared.

But Kaushik was dejected and embarrassed. All this efforts could only help him attain Rajarshi-hood, the title of Sage King. But he was not going to give up and this time doubled his penance.

At the time when Kaushika was deep in tapan there lived a King of Suryavansh named Trishanku. He desired attain heaven with his earthly body. He wanted to enjoy the pleasures of Swarg with his physical body.

Trishanku approached Vasisth to sanctify a yagya that could make it happen. But the Brahmarishi refused, saying such a feat was against the laws of nature and hence not possible.

Trishanku took his request to Vashishthai sons. They too declined to oblige Trishanku and even berated him for seeking other rishis when Brahmarishi Vashishth had discouraged him from the deed.

Trishanku reached out to Kaushik and told him of his desire as well as the rejection by Vasisth and his sons. Kaushik recognised this as a great opportunity to use his newfound powers of Rajarshi and position himself as a more accomplished sage than Vasisth.

He agreed to conduct a grand yajna for Trishanku and sent invitations to many other rishis including Vasisth's sons, to participate in the yagya.

Vasisth's sons scoffed at the invitation. Kaushik was infuriated by the insult. Using the power obtained through his penance, he cursed them with death. The other rishis obeyed him, afraid of his anger and sanctified Trishanku's yajna.

But it didn't seem to work. The devtas refused to be complicit in something that violated the law of nature. This made Kaushik even more furious and determined to send Trishanku to heaven in his earthly body.

As this deed wasn't welcome in the existing heaven, Kaushika decided he would create a new heaven for Trishanku. Thus he created an artificial heaven for the Suryavanshi King and established him there with his earthly body.

This entire incident, however, had disrupted Kaushik's tapasya. Hence he headed to Pushkar to start again. For a few years he did his penance and Brahmadev appeared again.

"Tumhari tapasya ke karan mai tumhe Rishi ki upaadhi deta hu." Brahmadev proclaimed.

The position of Brahmarishi was still very far, Kaushik stayed in Pushkar and continued his penance and austerities.

One day his eyes fell on Apsara Menka, who was taking a bath. Seeing her unmatchwd beauty, shivers of excitement ran throughout his body.

Overcome by lust he approached Menka and attracted by the resplendent Rishi, she acquiesced. Both spent over a decade in each other's company until it dawned upon Kaushik that he had lost both time and merits of his penance due to Lust.

The realisation made him sorrowful, his heavy sighs scared Menka. But the Rishi was gentle with her. Kaushik looked at her affectionately and asked her to leave. Menka was disappointed but she knew this day would come. She wasn't meant to stay forever.

But their union wasn't futile, through them a daughter was born, Shakuntala who was the mother of Bharat, the one who conquered all the kingdoms of the world and gave rise to Bharatvarsh.

After leaving Menka, Kaushik went to North and settled on the banks of Kaushik river, where he undertook ever more intense penance. And soon Brahmadev again appeared in front of him.

"Tumhare atut pratibaddhata se mai atyant prasann hu. Mai, Brahma, tumhe Maharishi ki upaadhi pradaan karta hu." Brahmdev bestowed.

"Pitamah, yadi aap mere punyo se mujhe Brahmarishi ki upaadhi dede toh mai samjhunga ki meri sabhi indriya mere niyantran mei hai." Kaushik requested.

"Abhi tumne woh yogyata purn roop se praapt nahi ki hai putra. Prayas karte raho." Brahmadev said before disappearing.

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A/N

Respect Vishwamitra 🙏

Respect for such dedication ✨🙏

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*Since the day this book published, readers asking if Rameshwari is in this book*

Me -

I understand sailors 🌝

But Rameshwari is not in this book. She's in the next.