The sage Vasishtha had a hundred sons whom he loved above all else in the world. One day, Saktri, the eldest son was walking down the road when he saw King Kalmashpad and his entourage riding towards him on the same road.

The King called out to Saktri to move out of his way. But Saktri, refusing, replied politely, 'Oh King, I am a Brahmin, and you know that by law even the King must give way to a Brahmin. The path is mine.'

The King was furious, and he lashed out at Saktri with his whip.

Now it was Saktri's turn to be angry. 'May you become an eater of human flesh!' he cried, cursing the King.

As luck would have it, Vishwamitra, in invisible form, was present at the scene. So he saw and heard the entire exchange between Saktri and the King, though no one saw him. This gave him the chance that he had been waiting for.

Even as Saktri uttered his curse, Vishwamitra commanded a man-eating rakshasa to enter the King's body. The rakshasa did as Vishwamitra commanded, and immediately King Kalmashpad became a man-eater. His first victim was of course, Saktri.

Vishwamitra then caused the rakshasa in the King's body to eat and kill all of Vasishtha's remaining ninety-nine sons. When Vasishtha heard of the death of his sons, he was devastated. He decided to kill himself.

Two Rivers cont'd... 
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