On the sacred banks of the Ganga, there exists a hallowed meeting place known as Suparṇāsaṃgama, as well as Kādravāsaṃgama, where the great god Maheśvara, Lord Śiva himself, abides. Here, the river Apsarā joins the Ganga, and the land is adorned with many fire-pits—fierce, Vaiṣṇava, Saura, gentle, Brāhma, Kaumāra, and Vāruṇa—each sanctified by the presence of the gods. It is said that simply remembering this holy place enables a person to fulfill all their desires. O Nārada, listen with care to the story of how all sins were once removed at this very site. Long ago, the Vālakhilya sages, ascetics of great renown, had been wronged by Indra and, as a result, had relinquished half their austerities. They approached the sage Kaśyapa and pleaded, “Let a son be born from you who will humble Indra’s pride. We offer you half our austerities for this purpose.” Kaśyapa agreed, saying, “So be it.” Thus, the lord of creatures, Kaśyapa, placed embryos in his two wives: Suparṇā, and in Kadrū, the mother of serpents. Before departing, Kaśyapa instructed both his pregnant wives, “Take care that no fault occurs, and do not leave this place. If you do, a curse will surely befall you.” With these words, he departed. No sooner had Kaśyapa left than both Suparṇā and Kadrū, intoxicated by youth and beauty, disregarded his warning. They went to the sacrificial session of the sages, held on the banks of the Ganga, a place filled with hosts of Brahmas and ascetics devoted in spirit. Despite repeated admonitions from the sages, the two wives behaved improperly at the sacrifice and with the offerings, disturbing the gathered Brāhmaṇas. Unable to restrain their misconduct, the sages declared, “Because you will stand in the apamārga plant by the river, you both shall become rivers here.” Thus, Suparṇā and Kadrū were transformed into rivers at that very spot. When Kaśyapa returned home, the sages recounted all that had happened, including the curse placed upon his wives. Filled with wonder, Kaśyapa asked the sages, “What should I do now?” The sages, known as the Vālakhilyas, advised him, “Go to the Gautamī Ganga and praise the great Lord Maheśāna (Śiva). By his grace, you will regain your wives.” It was told that Maheśvara, out of fear of the sin of Brahminicide, ever resides in the midst of the Ganga, at the place called Madhyameśvara. Kaśyapa agreed, bathed in the sacred Ganga, and with pure heart and sacred hymns, praised the supreme Lord Śiva: “May Śiva, Lord of all three worlds, free of pride, master of all, creator and sustainer of the universe, and consort of Śivā, be gracious. You alone remove the sufferings of all beings, both moving and unmoving, afflicted by the threefold torments and the heat of the sun. Even gods like Indra cannot describe your wondrous nature. Ever generous and excellent, you are like Soma itself.” Pleased by these hymns, the Lord Śiva, as Śaṃbhu, granted many boons to Kaśyapa. To his request for his wives, Śiva replied, “Both will again become your wives in the form of rivers, joining the Ganga, the best of rivers. By uniting with them, your form will be restored, and by the grace of Ganga, they will again conceive.” Overjoyed, Prajāpati Kaśyapa summoned the sages dwelling on the bank of the Gautamī. He performed the traditional parting-of-the-hair ceremony for both wives and honored the Brāhmaṇas with proper rites. After the sages had eaten, Kadrū, seated beside her husband, looked at the Brāhmaṇas and laughed at them with her eyes. The sages, disturbed by this, pronounced a curse: “Because you laughed with your eyes, may your eye suffer as a sinner’s would.” Thus, Kadrū became one-eyed and is known as the mother of serpents. Kaśyapa sought to appease the sages, and they relented, saying, “By serving the Gautamī, the best of rivers, she will be protected from a thousand offenses.” Thereafter, accompanied by his wives, the great sage Kaśyapa dwelt at that sacred place, now known as the confluence of Suparṇā and Kadrū, a destroyer of all sins and bestower of all sacrificial rewards. In that same region lies another holy place, Purūravas, known to those learned in the Vedas. Even by remembering it, one’s sins are destroyed, and even more so by beholding it. It was here that Purūravas, having entered the assembly of Brahma, beheld the divine river Sarasvati, sparkling with beauty as she laughed near Brahma himself. Amazed, the king asked Urvashi, “Who is this beautiful and virtuous woman standing near Brahma, outshining all others and illuminating the assembly?” Urvashi replied, “This is Sarasvati, the auspicious daughter of Brahma, a divine river who always comes and goes here.” Astonished, Purūravas asked Urvashi to bring Sarasvati to him. Urvashi agreed, conveyed his message to Sarasvati, and Sarasvati, accepting the invitation, came to where Purūravas was. On the banks of the Sarasvati, Purūravas dwelt for many years. From their union, a son named Sarasvant was born, and from Sarasvant, Brihadratha was born, continuing the illustrious lineage. Thus, these sacred places and their stories are celebrated as sources of great merit, the destroyers of sin, and the bestowers of blessings for all who remember or visit them.