O Hara, such is the power of simply remembering her, that whatever merit is gained elsewhere—by bathing, charity, or other restraints—arises here as well. Wherever this sacred river flows on her journey to the ocean, you, O Lord, must be present; let this be the boon she grants. For ten yojanas above her course, and for all within that distance, even the greatest sinners, and their ancestors, O Śiva, who come to bathe—or even those who die between their baths—may all attain liberation. All the sacred fords in heaven, earth, and the netherworld together are surpassed by this one; enough, O Śambhu, homage to you. Hearing these words spoken by Gautama, Śiva replied, “So be it.” He declared that there has never been, nor will there ever be, a ford greater than this. “Truly, truly, and again truly, as established in the Veda, the Gautamī is the most sacred of all,” he proclaimed, and then he vanished from sight. When the revered one, worshipped by the worlds, had departed, Gautama, empowered by her command, took up the sacred river from the matted locks, and, surrounded by the gods, entered Brahmagiri. As Gautama arrived and Nārada released his own matted locks, a shower of flowers fell from the heavens, and the lords of the gods gathered together. The great and fortunate sages, along with Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas, honored Gautama with joyful cries of victory. Having thus taken Gaṅgā from the matted locks of Maheśvara, Gautama came to the sacred place of Brahmā. There, on the mountain, Gautama, pure and with concentrated mind, was worshipped by the gods, Gandharvas, and those dwelling upon the mountain. Placing the matted locks on the summit, and remembering the three-eyed god, the best of the twice-born spoke to Gaṅgā with joined palms: “O giver of all desires, born from the matted locks of the three-eyed one, forgive, O Mother! You are peaceful—go happily and do what is beneficial.” Thus addressed, Gaṅgā, the goddess, assumed a divine form, adorned with heavenly garlands and fragrant unguents. She spoke to Gautama: “Should I go to the abode of the gods, or into the water-pot, or should I descend to the netherworld? You have been born; you are one who speaks the truth.” Gautama replied, “For the benefit of the three worlds, I was requested by Śaṃbhu and thus given, O goddess—let it not be otherwise.” Hearing this, Gaṅgā accepted the words of the twice-born sage, and dividing herself threefold, she went to heaven, earth, and the netherworld. In heaven she became fourfold, on earth sevenfold, and in the netherworld fourfold—thus assuming fifteen forms. Everywhere, she is the very essence of all beings, the destroyer of all sins, the giver of all desires, eternal—so she is praised in the Veda. Mortals see only her form on earth; they do not see her who has gone to the netherworld, nor do those of ignorant mind behold her in heaven. As long as the goddess flows to the ocean, she is regarded as divine; released by Gautama, she proceeded toward the eastern ocean. Then Gautama, tiger among sages, circumambulated the auspicious Mother of the world, who was honored by the divine sages. First worshipping the three-eyed Lord of the gods, Gautama resolved, “I will bathe at both banks.” At that very moment, as soon as he remembered, the ocean of compassion appeared there. Gautama asked Śarva how bathing could be accomplished there. With hands joined in reverence, devoted and bowed in faith, Gautama addressed the three-eyed one: “O God of gods, great Lord, tell me in detail the procedure for bathing at the sacred fords, for the welfare of all worlds.” Śiva replied, “O great sage, listen as I explain the entire procedure for the Godāvarī. First, one should perform the nāndīmukha rite and purify the body. After feeding the Brāhmaṇas and receiving their permission, one should proceed in celibacy, avoiding contact with the fallen. He whose hands, feet, and mind are well-controlled, who possesses knowledge, austerity, and fame, attains the full fruit of the sacred ford. Abandoning evil intent and established in one's own duty, one should offer proper food and massage the weary. One should give clothes and blankets to the poor and virtuous, and listen to divine tales of Hari and the origin of Gaṅgā; by proceeding in this way, one attains the full fruit of the sacred ford.” Tryambaka thus spoke to Gautama, who was surrounded by sages: “O Gautama, sacred fords will arise at every two arm-lengths; I am present everywhere, granting all desires. The Narmadā, best of rivers, is on the Amarakantaka mountain; the Yamunā joins there, and at Prabhāsa, the Sarasvatī. The Kṛṣṇā, Bhīmarathī, and also the Tuṅgabhadrā—where these three meet, that ford grants liberation to men. Where the Payoṣṇī joins, that place too grants liberation; but this Gautamī, dear child, is wherever I command. “For all people at all times, bathing here will grant liberation; at certain times, some fords are most holy, some during the coming of the gods. For all people at all times, Gautamī is the sacred ford—there is no doubt; it extends three crores and half a crore, two hundred yojanas. O best of sages, sacred fords will arise here, O Gautama; this is the Maheśvarī Gaṅgā, also called Gautamī and Vaiṣṇavī.