O sage, there once lived two sons of Kakṣīvat, both virtuous and capable. Yet, though the younger son was fit in every way, he refrained from marriage and from performing the sacred fire rituals, for he feared the consequences of inheritance. Seeing this, the hosts of ancestors—those who dwell beyond—addressed both brothers, the elder and the younger, separately, urging them: “Let marriage be undertaken, for only thus can the threefold debt be removed.” The elder son responded with doubt, “No—what debt, and by whom is it incurred?” The younger, too, replied to the ancestors, “Marriage is not suitable for me.” Both, still uneasy about inheritance, repeated their stance to the ancestors. The ancestors then counseled, “Let both sons of Kakṣīvat journey to the sacred Gautamī. Bathe in her holy waters, for the Gautamī fulfills all desires.” They explained further, “Those who go to the Gautamī Ganga, purifier of the three worlds, and bathe and make offerings there with faith, are blessed. To see, bow to, or even meditate upon the Gautamī is to have all wishes granted. There are no barriers of place, time, caste, or circumstance for entering her waters. Only the eldest who is free from debts truly becomes so—there is no other way.” Heeding these words, Pṛthuśravas, the eldest, bathed and made offerings at the Gautamī. By this act, he became free of his debts to the three worlds. From that time, the sacred spot came to be known as the “debt-releasing ford.” O Nārada, it is said that by bathing and giving offerings there, one is freed from Vedic, ancestral, and other debts, and finds happiness. In that holy region, there also lies the meeting place called Suparṇāsaṃgama, as well as Kādravāsaṃgama, where the great god Maheśvara himself resides on the bank of the Ganga. There, too, are the fire-pits of various kinds: the fierce, Vaiṣṇava, Saura, gentle, Brāhma, Kaumāra, and Vāruṇa. At this sacred confluence, the river Apsarā joins the Ganga; merely remembering this place is said to fulfill one’s purpose. Now, O Nārada, hear of the complete removal of all sins. In ancient times, the great Vālakhilya sages, having been harmed by Indra and forced to relinquish half their austerities, approached the sage Kaśyapa. They pleaded, “Let a son be born from you who will humble Indra’s pride. We will give you half our austerity.” Kaśyapa agreed, saying, “So be it.” The lord of creatures, Kaśyapa, then placed an embryo in Suparṇā, and in time, another in Kadrū, the mother of serpents. Before departing, he instructed both pregnant wives: “Let no fault occur, and do not go elsewhere. If you do, a curse will surely follow—there is no doubt.” But as soon as their husband had left, both wives, intoxicated by their youth and beauty, went to the sacrificial session of the sages by the Ganga’s bank, where many Brahmas had gathered. Though the sages, who saw the truth, tried to restrain them, both Suparṇā and Kadrū misbehaved at the sacrifice and with the offerings. The Brahmins were disturbed by their conduct. Because of their actions, a curse was pronounced: “Since you will stand in the apamārga plant by the river, you both shall become rivers here.” When Kaśyapa returned home, the sages told him all that had happened and the curse upon his wives. Filled with wonder, he pondered what to do, and addressed the sages, recognizing them as the Vālakhilyas. They advised him, “Go to the Gautamī Ganga, and there praise the great Lord Maheśāna. By his grace, your wives will be restored to you.” Out of fear for the sin of killing a Brahmin, the god Maheśvara always abides in the midst of the Ganga, known as Madhyameśvara. Kaśyapa, steadfast in his vows, bathed in the Ganga and praised Maheśvara with sacred hymns: “May Śiva, Lord of all three worlds, free from pride, the master, creator, and sustainer of all, and consort of Śivā, be gracious. You alone remove the suffering of all beings, both moving and unmoving, who are afflicted by the threefold torments, heat, and the sun’s rays. Even the gods cannot describe your wondrous union of qualities; you are always joyful, generous, and excellent, like Soma.” Pleased by these and other hymns, Śiva, Lord of Gaurī, granted many boons to Kaśyapa. To his plea for wives, Śiva said, “Both will become your wives in the form of rivers, who, upon reaching the Ganga, the best of rivers—by merely uniting with them, your own form will be restored, and by Ganga’s grace, both will become pregnant again.” Delighted, Prajāpati Kaśyapa summoned the sages who dwelt on the bank of the Gautamī. He performed the parting of the hair ceremony for both wives and honored the Brāhmaṇas with the proper rites. After the Brāhmaṇas had eaten, Kadrū, seated near her husband, looked at the sages and laughed at them with her eyes. The sages, agitated, cursed her: “Because you laughed with your eyes, may your eye suffer as a sinner’s would.” Thus, Kadrū became one-eyed, and so she is known as the mother of serpents. Thereafter, the venerable Kaśyapa sought to appease the sages. Pleased, they said, “By serving the Gautamī, the best of rivers, she will be protected from thousands of offenses.