The two ascetics Vishvamitra and Vashishtha, O Bharata, competed keenly with each other in respect of superiority of their penances.
विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठौ तावहन्यहनि भारत। स्पर्धा तपःकृतां तीव्रां चक्रतुस्तौ तपोधनौ॥