Viśvāmitra went to the south with his wife to perform austerities in order to attain the nature of a brāhmaṇa. Then Lord Brahmā appeared to him in his āśrama and certified him as a rājarṣi, a royal saint, and departed to his own abode. Because Viśvāmitra did not get what he had wanted, he again performed austerities. At this time, a king named Triśaṅku desired to go to Svarga without giving up his body. He approached Vasiṣṭha and requested him to perform a sacrifice to that effect. When his request was rejected, he approached Vasiṣṭha’s sons for the same.