In the celestial realms, the sage Gautama was honored among the gods. They praised him, saying, “What even the hosts of gods could not achieve, Gautama has accomplished.” Such was the power of his austerity, as I have heard, O goddess. Through his ascetic practice, Gautama was able to move the sacred Ganga, who dwelled in the matted locks of Shiva. By his devotion—whether through austerity or other means—after worshipping the three-eyed Lord, Gautama alone managed to dislodge Ganga, the beloved of my father, from Shiva’s matted hair. Now, a plan was needed: let the Brahmin Gautama be asked to request her, so that by his influence, the greatest river might descend from Shiva’s head. Having spoken thus to his mother, the lord of obstacles, accompanied by his brother and Jaya, went to the hermitage where Gautama, the slender bearer of the Brahma-sutra, resided. They stayed for several days within the circle of Gautama’s hermitage. Then, the lord of obstacles addressed all the Brahmins present. He said, “Let us return to our own abodes and pure hermitages, having been nourished by Gautama’s food. Let us approach the sage Gautama.” After deliberating, the eminent sages asked Gautama, but he lovingly restrained each one with gentle wisdom. With joined hands, Gautama humbly declared, “I sit here and serve at your feet, O eminent sages. My desire to serve you, as one would a son, always abides in me. It would not be proper for me to attend to other hermitages, O divine sages of the earth. This hermitage alone is holy for all, so I believe; there is no need for another, nor for going elsewhere.” Upon hearing Gautama’s words and recalling the obstruction, the leader of the hosts, with joined palms, spoke to the Brahmins. “We have purchased food; why do you restrain us, O Gautama? By gentle means, we are unable to return to our own dwellings. This excellent twice-born does not deserve punishment, for he is helpful. Therefore, I resolve with discernment—let all consent to this.” All the foremost Brahmins replied, “Let it be done,” for the benefit of Gautama and with the desire for the welfare of the worlds. “Do as would bring the highest good to all Brahmins,” they said. Hearing their words, the leader of the hosts considered their statement, “Whatever is done, let it accord with the qualities and nature of Gautama, especially.” Having repeatedly sought the approval of all the Brahmins, the noble-minded lord himself assumed the form of a Brahmin, bowed again to the Brahmins, and, following his mother’s counsel, addressed Jaya. “Do so, O auspicious one, so that no one else knows. Take the form of a cow and go to where Gautama resides. Eat the rice, destroy it, and cause a change, O beautiful one. When struck, when shouted at, when looked at, fall down with a pitiable sound—do not die, nor remain alive.” Jaya, obedient to the lord of obstacles, did just as commanded. She went to Gautama’s hermitage, taking the form of a cow. She ate the rice, and Gautama, seeing the cow deformed, restrained her with grass. When restrained, the cow made a sound and fell. A great cry arose as she fell. Hearing the commotion and seeing Gautama’s actions, the Brahmins, distressed, spoke, led by the king of obstacles. “We all must depart from here; we must not remain in your hermitage. All have been nurtured like sons; you have been questioned, O eminent sage.” Hearing these words, Gautama was struck as if by thunder and fell before the Brahmins. All the Brahmins said to him: “Let us see this fallen one upon the earth—the mother of the Rudras, the goddess, beloved purifier of the worlds. O best of sages, since this cow, embodying the holy places and gods, has fallen here by the force of fate, what remains is to proceed accordingly. Just as an observed vow comes to an end, so does our stay in your hermitage, O Brahmin; we possess no other wealth, only the wealth of austerity.” Standing humbly before the Brahmins, Gautama spoke: “You alone are my refuge; you ought to purify me.” Then the blessed Lord of Obstacles, surrounded by Brahmins, spoke: “She neither dies nor lives here; what can we say in this great uncertainty—whether of expiation or of a path forward? How will this cow rise again, and what expiation is there in this matter? You ought to declare it; I will do all that without doubt.” By the agreement of all, the wise one would declare the solution, and whatever he said, Gautama, that would be their authority. Urged by the Brahmins and the powerful Gautama, the Remover of Obstacles, in the form of Brahma, spoke these words to all: “With the consent of all, I will speak the truth as it is; let the sages, and Gautama as well, approve my words. We have heard that in the matted locks of great Shiva, the water from Brahma’s water-pot, source of the unmanifest-born, abides. Bring that swiftly, with austerity and discipline; with it, bathe this cow who has taken refuge on earth, O Lord. Then we shall all remain as before in your dwelling.” When the lord of Brahmins had spoken thus in the assembly, a shower of flowers fell and cries of victory rang out. Gautama, with joined palms and bowed head, spoke these words in gratitude.