Witnessing the auspicious events unfold, the king turned to his son, blessing him with heartfelt greetings and good wishes. “You have fulfilled your duty, my child; may fortune always favor you. Because of you, O sinless one, I have been delivered. Truly, in this world, blessed is that son who rescues his forefathers.” At that moment, the assembled hosts of gods spoke, their voices united for the fulfillment of the divine purpose: “O Rama, best among men, go forth as you desire.” Hearing their words, Rama addressed the gods with humility: “O gods, with my guru and father—what further duty remains for me to accomplish?” The gods replied, “There is no river equal to the Ganga; there is no son like you; no god equals Shiva; and no man is greater than the one who delivers his ancestors. O Rama, by your actions, all duties toward your elders have been completed. You have liberated your ancestors, O honor-giver. Let all now return to their own places, and you too, go as you wish.” Emboldened by the words of the gods, Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana, together with Sita, beheld the grandeur of the Ganga. Astonished by her magnificence, Rama exclaimed, “Ah, such is the power of the Ganga—nowhere in the three worlds is her equal. We are truly blessed, for we have witnessed the Ganga, the purifier of all the worlds.” Filled with great joy, Rama installed the image of the great god Maheshvara upon the riverbank, worshipping the Lord with sixteen offerings and the deepest devotion. Having completed the worship of that Lord—adorned with coverings and endowed with thirty-six energies—Rama, hands joined in reverence, began to praise Shankara: “I bow to Shambhu, the ancient one; to the all-knowing, limitless Lord. I bow to Rudra, the imperishable, to Sharva, with my head bowed low. I bow to the supreme, imperishable God, the Lord of Uma, teacher of the worlds, destroyer of poverty, remover of disease. I bow to the auspicious one of inconceivable form, the source-seed of the universe, the cause of existence and dissolution. I bow to the beloved of Gauri, the eternal, perishable and imperishable one, the embodiment of consciousness, immeasurable, three-eyed. I bow to the compassionate one, who also brings fear to existence, to the giver of all desired things, to Soma’s lord, Uma’s lord from the beginning. I bow to the eye of the three Vedas, to the one beyond the three forms, to the holy one beyond existence and non-existence, the remover of sin. I bow to Him who delights in the welfare of the universe, who assumes many forms, the protector of all, the originator of existence and non-existence, the Lord of the universe. I bow to the Lord of sacrifice, recipient of offerings to gods and ancestors, the path, the ever-auspicious Shiva of the worlds, worshipped and grantor of all, the giver, beloved of gifts, the cherished deity. I bow to the Lord of Soma, not independent, to the victorious consort of Uma; to the Lord of obstacles, Nandinatha, beloved of his son. I bow to the God who destroys the suffering and sorrow of existence, to Him who bears the moon, who holds the Ganga, the praiseworthy Lord, consort of Uma, best of gods. I bow to Him whose lotus feet are worshipped by Indra, the lord of the city of the unborn, and other gods and demons; to Him who, desiring to behold the faces of the goddesses, sought the three imperishable eyes. I bow to Soma, worshipped with five nectars, fragrant ointments, incense, lamps, beautiful flowers, diverse mantras, food offerings, and every form of service.” Pleased by these praises, the blessed Lord Shambhu spoke to Rama, who stood there with Lakshmana: “Choose your boons, O Rama. May all good come to you.” Rama replied to the bull-bannered Lord, “O great Lord, may all those who with devotion please you with this hymn find success in all their endeavors. And may those whose ancestors have fallen into the ocean of hell, by the offering of rice-balls and such, be purified and attain heaven. From birth onward, whatever sins are committed by mind, speech, or body—here, by bathing in this sacred place, may they be instantly destroyed. And here, O Shambhu, whatever even the smallest thing is given with devotion to those in need, may all such gifts become inexhaustible and fruitful to the giver.” “Let it be so,” replied Shankara, delighted by Rama’s devotion. When that best of gods had departed, Rama, together with his followers, slowly made his way to the place where the Gautami river arises. From that time on, that holy place became known as Rama’s Ford. There, moved by compassion, an arrow fell from Lakshmana’s hand, and that spot became known as the Arrow-Ford, a place renowned for removing all calamities. Where Lakshmana, the son of Sumitra, bathed and worshipped Shankara, that site became Lakshmana’s Ford, and likewise the place of Sita’s emergence. By the touch of Rama’s feet, the Ganga gained the power to uproot all manner of countless sins, purifying the three worlds. Where Rama bathed—what need is there to speak further of its greatness? Nowhere is there a ford equal to Rama’s Ford. That sacred ford is known as Putra-tirtha, and is said to be supremely holy. By its greatness, as declared in the scriptures, all desires are fulfilled. Now, O Narada, listen attentively as I describe its true nature. When the sons of Diti, the Dānavas, became diminished, and the sons of Aditi, the eldest, flourished in every way, Diti lamented, “Our children have dwindled, O gentle one, what can we do? In this world, action is most esteemed. Behold the unbroken, excellent lineage of Aditi, endowed with sovereignty, fame, and the glory of victory. Their enemies are conquered, their fame and virtue are exalted, and they are skilled in dispelling the sorrow of my heart. Though equal in husband, conduct, lineage, and even in form, I cannot endure their prosperity and rise; I am worn out, seeing the sons born of Aditi. I dwell in a miserable state, having witnessed Aditi’s supreme abundance.” As she spoke thus, her face exceedingly dejected and sighing deeply, the son of Brahmā, having honored her and free from fatigue, comforted Diti with pleasing words: “Do not be distressed, O gentle one; what is desired is attained only through merit. The means for that is known by the great-souled Prajāpati; he will show you the way.