"I'm Sage Viswamitra's wife and they are our sons. He has been away for a long time. I've no means to look after the boys. So, I propose to sell one of them,"answered the hermitess.
"Mother, these boys have been brought up in the forest. They'll be unfit for any work in wealthy households. Let them continue to be with you. I'll give you a share of whatever food I get every day,"said Satyavrata.
The hermitess thanked Satyavrata and went back to her hut. True to his promise, Satyavrata, left some fruits or a piece of meat every day in the hollow of a tree behind Viswamitra's hut.
As has already been said, Sage Vasishtha lived in the palace of King Arun. His hermitage in the forest was not guarded well. One day Satyavrata stole one of his cows. When Vasishtha was informed about it, he came to the forest and found Satyavrata and said angrily, "Once you were harassing Brahmins; then you caused great anguish to your kind-hearted father. Now you've harmed me. You should be called Trishanku (one who has proved to be a menace thrice) and turned into a vampire!”
The curse reduced Satyavrata to a vampire. He roamed about in great grief until a young sage taught him a hymn to the Divine Mother. He got back his peace by reciting the hymn.
One day he met a group of Brahmins and requested them to perform a certain rite for him. They laughed and said, "Do you forget that your own family-priest had cursed you to become a vampire? Who then will be prepared to serve you?”
Satyavrata felt so much humiliated at this that he decided to put an end to his life. He raised a fire at a lonely spot, into which he would plunge himself. However, before doing that, he prayed to the Divine Mother.
Suddenly the flames assumed the colour of dazzling gold. Out of the flames appeared the Divine Mother. Don't kill yourself. Your agony will be over very soon!"She disappeared, after restoring some confidence in Satyavrata.
