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Vasistha Vishwamitra Arundhati

The residents of the hermitage were all asleep except Vasishta and Arundhati. Arundhati addressed Vasishta and pleaded, "My Lord, Vishwamitra has been practising most rigorous tapas for many year now. Brahma has appeared before him. It is Vishwamitra' s desire to be recognised as a Brahmarshi. The only hurdle is that you will not accept him as a Brahmarshi. Why don't you yield and accept him as a Brahmarshi?" Vasishta said, "Arundhati, you do not understand. It is not easy to become a Brahmarshi. What is the good of Vishwamitra' s austere tapas? I must die and then alone he can become a Brahmarshi. If  does not disappear, he cannot become a Brahmarshi. "Vishwamitra overheard the conversation. He was angry because he thought that Vasishta was adamant and opposed his becoming a Brahmarshi. He misunder- stood T and thought he could not become a Brahmarshi as long as Vasishta was alive. He said to himself, "Let me finish off Vasishta now itself" and entered the hut in a state of anger. Arundhati was frightened. Vasishta was clam and said, "Look Arundhati, How arrogant Vishwamitra is! What is the good of his tapas? He lacks the virtue of peace and calmness. If his ‘I’ (This I stands for Aham; ie utterselfishnes) and arragance does dot die, is it possible for him to become a Brahmarshi?"

Vishwamitra realised his mistake. He understood what T meant according to Vasishta. The I is the ego in man. Unless that ego dies, man can never claim any merit. When Vishwamitra understood this, he was ashamed of his behaviour and felt repentant. He prostrated before Vasishta and pleaded, "Venerable man, I realised my mistake only today. I am a peerless fool. Kindly forgive me."

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