The devatas hoped that Visvamitra would turn away from his penance bewitched by Rambha. But Rambha trembled at the very thought.Aware of Visvamitra's flaming temper she had no intention whatsoever of provoking the wrath of that Sage who was so deeply involved in penance. But Indra allaying her fears said that, come spring and with the trees in bloom, he would transform himself into a cuckoo to enchant and captivate Visvamithra while Kandarpa the god of love would help to make their efforts easy. Yielding to Indra's persuasion, Rambha reached Visvamitra who was listening to the cooing of a nightingale. Opening his eyes he beheld the nymph Rambha, in all her glory singing ever so softly. Her stunning beauty brought Visvamitra to the very brink of disaster, when with a start he recognized it to be the work of Indra!And in his fury he cursed the hapless, Rambha. "I condemn you and your evil attempts to instigate and entice me who am trying to curb my anger and my passion. May you turn into a rock and remain so for ten thousand years until Vasishta a Brahmin of tremendous ascetic power liberates you!"

The minute the curse was pronounced Rambha turned into rock, Indra and Kandarpa fled in panic and Visvamitra was flooded with remorse, for having lost control over his temper. Tormented, at having labored in vain to subjugate his senses, witnessing the merit of all his limitless austerities disappear in a single moment, Visvamitra swore to resume his penance for another thousand years. "Starving my body and suspending my very breath, I shall not relent until I am declared a Brahmarshi. May my body sustain the power of my penance and not waste away!"