#vashishtha

She is the sister of Vrihaspati, an extremely learned woman- a brahmavaadini and perhaps the earliest noted globetrotter.

She eventually marries Dyu/Prabhasa, the youngest of the Ashta-vasus. Her son is Vishvakarma, the architect of the Devas.

कागज़ पर तराशना भूल गए।

आँखों से मंज़ूर करते रहे उन्हें,

कबूल होटों से करना भूल गए।

वशिष्ठ

In an attempt to end his life after his son is murdered, Vashishtha ties his own arms (since he can swim) and jumps into a young and strong mountainous river.

The river, apparently, in the form of a local woman, unties his hands and saves him. Grateful, he names her and the river- Vipasha (the untier).

Though not directly mentioned in Mahabharata, her name appears in Manu Smriti as a wife of the rishi Vashishtha. She is mentioned separately specifically due to her being a member of the Shudra caste.

T.W. Gore

She is the wife of the king Saudaasa Kalmaashapaada of the Ikshvaku dynasty.

When Saudasa is cursed and driven from his kingdom by Vashishtha, Madayanti is made to have a child with Vashishtha who is named Ashmaka, who is an ancestor of Rama.

When her body wouldn't go into active labour at the right time, she cut open her own belly with a sharp stone, and thus her son was named Ashmaka or 'born of a stone'. He grew up to establish his capital in the city named Paudanya.

After being unsuccessful in his attempt to end his life, Vashishtha moves on to a stronger river, Haimavati.

Here, too, his life is spared as the river divides itself into a hundred shallow streams (perhaps a local woman pulls him to a shallower end).

Vashishtha is now finally dissuaded from this crusade, and he reunites with his daughter-in-law Adrishyanti and grandson Parashara.

Before leaving, Vashishtha renames the river (and the woman) as Shatadru.

She is the wife of Shakthri (Vashishtha's son), and the mother of Parashara. Vyasa, the author of the epic, is her grandson. Her name translates literally to 'the invisible one'.