Moved by her heartfelt words, Yama, the Lord of Death, was filled with compassion and addressed her again and again. He gently asked, “O auspicious-faced one, tell me where I should place the nooses and the staff.” She replied to Yama, “O Lord of the world, let the nooses you cast enter into me alone. Let the staff rest with me, and me alone.” Hearing her selfless request, the blessed Yama spoke once more, his voice rich with compassion: “May your husband and sons all live, free from suffering.” Yama then restrained the nooses, and Agni, the fire-god, withdrew his weapon. The divine pigeon and the owl, who had been at odds, made peace. The two twice-born beings spoke, “Choose the boon you desire.” But the birds responded humbly, “We have gained your audience, which is difficult to obtain except through adversity. Yet, we are sinful birds—what use have we for a boon from you, O best of gods?” “If a boon must be granted, let it be given to you both with affection. We do not seek any boon for ourselves, even if it is auspicious and offered.” They continued, “He who asks only for his own sake, O lords of the gods, is truly to be pitied. But the one whose life is always devoted to the welfare of others—his life is fruitful. Fire, water, the sun, the earth, and the various grains—all exist for the sake of others, especially in the case of the virtuous. Even Brahma and the others are subject to death; knowing this, O lords of the gods, striving for one’s own sake is in vain. Whatever is ordained by the Supreme Lord for a person at birth never happens otherwise; creatures suffer in vain.” “Therefore, let us request something for the welfare of the worlds, something auspicious and bestowing virtue upon all. May you both approve of this.” Then, both the divine birds, renowned throughout the worlds, spoke together, “For the sake of dharma’s fame and the welfare of beings, may we both have hermitages at this holy place, on both banks of the Ganga. Let us be the protectors of the worlds—this is the highest boon.” They added, “Bathing, giving gifts, recitation, offering oblations, and worship of the ancestors—whether performed by the virtuous or the sinful, however it is done—all these acts become inexhaustible merit; this is the supreme boon.” Yama replied, “So be it. And now, let us speak further, for we are well pleased.” He declared, “Those who recite the hymn to Yama on the northern bank of the Gautamī—among their seven generations, none will meet death before their time. A person who always recites this hymn to Death, with self-control, becomes a vessel of all prosperity. He is not afflicted by eighty-eight thousand diseases; and at this holy place, O best of twice-born, a pregnant woman in her third month—and a previously barren woman, after six months, should bathe there for seven days. She will bear a heroic son, and he will live a hundred years. He will be wealthy, wise, and brave, increasing sons and grandsons. There, by offering rice-balls and other gifts, the ancestors attain liberation; and by bathing, a man is freed from sins of mind, speech, and body.” Then, following Yama’s words, Agni, the fire-god, spoke to the two birds, “Those who, with disciplined vows, recite my hymn on the southern bank—I grant them health, wealth, fortune, and beauty. Whoever recites this hymn anywhere, even if it is merely written and kept in the house, will have no fear from fire. Whoever, pure in body, performs bathing and giving at the fire’s bank attains the fruit of the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice, without doubt.” From that time, the holy place became known as Yāmyam and Āgneyam. The wise came to know the pigeon and the owl, and the fierce owl as well. There are three thousand, and just as many hundreds, and again ninety holy places there; each is a vessel of liberation. By bathing and giving there, even those who have become departed spirits are purified; they attain heaven, blessed with sons and wealth. It is known as the Tapas Tīrtha, the great place that increases austerity, grants all desires, brings merit, and increases the satisfaction of the ancestors. Now hear what happened at that holy place, which destroys sin—the conversation between the waters and the fire, and the mutual discourse of the sages. Some considered the waters to be the greatest, others thought fire was; thus the sages spoke, discussing the merits of fire and water. They pondered, “Where would life be without fire? For fire is the very essence of life; all things are born from fire, which is both self and the recipient of offerings. The world is sustained by fire; indeed, fire is the light of the universe. Therefore, there is no purifier, no great deity, superior to fire. That very one is called the inner light; he alone is the supreme light. Without fire, nothing exists whose radiance encompasses the three worlds. Therefore, there is nothing greater than fire, the vessel of preeminence among beings. Just as a seed is placed by a man in the field of a woman, so it is. His power, beginning with the body, belongs only to fire and not otherwise. Fire is indeed the mouth of the gods; thus, nothing is known beyond this.” But others, versed in the Vedas, considered water to be preeminent. “Food is produced by water, and purity is born from water. Everything is indeed sustained by water; waters are remembered as mothers. Those who know ancient lore say that water is the life of the three worlds. Immortality has arisen from water, and from them comes the origin of plants. Some declare fire to be the eldest, while others say water is the most ancient.” Thus, those seers, versed in the Vedas and holding opposing views, approached me and spoke these words.