In plain words
Steeped in Ahaṅkāra, keeping selfishness and self-interest in view, he tormented great souls, caused pain to their minds, and tried to steal a sacred thing. I said the day before yesterday too that one who tries to enjoy as his own what is not his own is a thief. The śāstra too cast him out. Jamadagni tried in many ways to give such a Viśvāmitra good counsel somehow and bring him onto the right path. People think that maharṣis have anger. Along with individual character, they must without fail have all these: courage, valour, forbearance, sympathy and sacrifice. If courage itself is lacking, they cannot pass their time in this forest. If valour itself is lacking, it is not possible to achieve any task at all. So only when these qualities above go along with this individual character is it possible for them to achieve anything. We must not use anger whenever we like, thinking, "Anger is needed, isn't it?" We must use it according to the time, in a situation where no harm comes to national character or individual character. Viśvāmitra did tapas in many ways with the aim of gaining Vasiṣṭha's nature and Vasiṣṭha's power and ability. But he recognised that it is not something we gain by these tapases. He recognised that physical powers are worthless. He said that the strength of God alone is the true strength, that everything is weak. On the day he recognised this truth, that very moment he fell at Vasiṣṭha's feet. Just by falling at his feet, his Ahaṅkāra was rooted out. He thought that the rooting out of Ahaṅkāra is the true qualification for a brahmarṣi. All the very great souls of those days rooted out what is called Ahaṅkāra, crushed selfishness and self-interest, and went on achieving their work with forbearance and sympathy, with purity and steadfastness.
Steadfastness is certainly needed in students today. But this steadfastness must not be a foolish obstinacy. At the time of achieving something sacred, steadfastness is essential. To gain the grace of God, the strength of God and the strength of Dharma, steadfastness is certainly needed. In this steadfastness we may meet defeats of many kinds. We must regard every one of them as nothing but steps to victory.
There is a painter. That painter takes a brush and keeps painting on a wall. Painting and rubbing out, painting and rubbing out: so it goes on. All these are the very root causes of his progress. In former times they used to start little children on their letters. Writing again and again on the same slate, they would get to know a letter. Writing and reading, writing and reading: that is a step to a higher state, isn't it! If one is to become a great hero in war, one must enter the war. In just the same way, if we are to gain Śānti, we must enter into unrest. They said: Praśānti within unrest, prakānti within Praśānti, paraṃjyoti within prakānti, and within paraṃjyoti itself the principle of the Paramātma.