Once, the herbs of the world approached the divine Mother, Ganga, with a heartfelt prayer: “O Mother of the world, grant us a husband—a king of great splendor.” Hearing their plea, the sacred river Ganga replied to the herbs with gentle words: “I am of the very nature of nectar, and you, O immortal mothers, possess immortality yourselves. I shall give you as your husband Soma, whose very soul is nectar.” The gods and sages, along with Soma himself and the herbs, all joyfully accepted Ganga’s words. With the matter settled, each returned to their respective abodes. Thus, the great herbs received Soma as their king—a lord whose essence is immortality, who removes all suffering and the burdens of sin. That sacred place became known as Soma-tirtha, the holy ford of Soma, bestower of the fruits of drinking Soma. There, by bathing and making offerings, one’s ancestors are said to attain heaven. Whoever hears, recites, or remembers this story with devotion is blessed with long life, wealth, and children. This place is also called Dhanya-tirtha, the sacred ford of grain, renowned for granting all desires to people, bringing abundance, security, and the removal of all calamities. The herbs, now joyful with Soma as their lord, spoke forth the desires of the world and of Ganga. There is a revered Vedic story, known among the learned, about the merit of giving fertile land—a mother equal to one’s own mother. Whoever gives such gifts near the Ganga attains all their desires: fertile land, cows, and herbs, all received with joy. If one gives to a person embodying Vishnu, Brahma, or Shiva, know that such a gift is imperishable, and all desires are fulfilled. Understanding that the herbs are of Soma’s lineage and that Soma is their lord, whoever gives these herbs as taught by the Brahmanas attains all desires and is honored in the world of Brahma. The herbs themselves, pleased, spoke again and again: “O King, whoever gives us in the Ganga, we carry him across; and you, supreme lord of herbs, all that moves and does not move is under your dominion.” The herbs addressed Soma, their king: “O King, whoever gives us to the Brahmins, we carry him across. We are of the form of Brahman, and indeed the form of life itself. Whoever, steadfast in vows, always gives us to the Brahmins, he has our devotion; we carry him across. Whatever in this world, fixed or moving, is engaged by us—whoever gives us to the Brahmins, we carry him across. Whatever is offered as oblation, ancestral offering, nectar, or anything enjoyed—whoever gives that which is most excellent, O King, we carry him across. Whoever hears, remembers, or recites this Vedic verse with devotion, we carry him across.” Wherever this verse is recited together with Soma, the king, on the banks of the Ganga with the herbs, that place is known as the sacred ford of grain. From that time onward, that ford is medicinal, auspicious, immortal, Vedic, and is also called a mother’s ford. Whoever bathes, recites, offers oblations, gives gifts, makes ancestral offerings, or gives food there, attains endless merit. On both banks of the Ganga, there are more than six hundred thousand sacred fords—destroyers of all sins and increasers of prosperity. Now, listen to the tale of the sacred confluence of Vidarbha, and likewise the confluence of Revati, as known by those versed in the Puranas. There lived a sage named Bharadvaja, renowned for his great austerity. He had a sister, Revati, who was deformed in appearance and whose voice was distorted. Seeing his sister’s plight, the mighty Bharadvaja pondered deeply as he stood on the southern bank of the Ganga: “To whom can I give this sister, this maiden of dreadful appearance? No one will accept her, yet a sister must be given. Alas, for a daughter is often the sole cause of sorrow; for a living being, at every step, it is as if death comes even while alive.” As he reflected in his hermitage, a great sage came to see the steadfast Bharadvaja. This sage was a youth of sixteen, handsome, calm, self-controlled, and a repository of virtues, known by the name Katha. He bowed respectfully to Bharadvaja, who in turn honored him and inquired about the reason for his visit. Katha replied, “I have come as a seeker of knowledge, desiring your audience; please do what is appropriate.” Bharadvaja said, “Study whatever you wish—Puranas, Smritis, Vedas, and the many sources of Dharma.” Katha answered, “I know everything, O wise one; speak without delay. A noble-born, dharma-devoted, obedient, humble, and learned disciple is attained through merit. O Brahmin, teach me, your disciple, who is free from sin, devoted to service, faithful, noble-born, and truthful.” Bharadvaja agreed, saying “So be it,” and imparted all knowledge to Katha. Having received this wisdom, Katha, pleased, spoke to his teacher: “I wish to give you a gift, O teacher—whatever pleases your heart; speak, even if it is difficult to obtain. O teacher, I bow to you. For even after obtaining knowledge, those who, out of delusion, do not give satisfaction to their teacher, go to hell for as long as the moon and stars endure.