The revered sage Gautama, honored throughout the three worlds and radiant with the light of Brahman, was known for his gentle ways and powerful words. Through sincere devotion and arduous austerities, he worshipped Bhava, the Lord of the gods, offering hymns with unwavering faith. Pleased by Gautama’s devotion, Shankara himself appeared before the sage and spoke kindly, "Great-minded one, choose any boon you desire, auspicious and dear to your heart. Whatever you wish, I shall grant you today." Hearing these gracious words from Shiva, Gautama, in my presence, responded with humility and focus: "O Shankara, crowned with matted locks, grant me but one boon—the holy Ganga. I seek no other blessing." Once again, Shambhu, the benefactor of all worlds, addressed the sage, saying, "You have asked nothing for yourself. Therefore, ask for something that is difficult to obtain." With joined palms and steadfast spirit, Gautama replied to Bhava, "O Lord, the most difficult of all is to see you. By your grace, I have attained this today." He continued, "Even remembering your lotus feet fulfills the wise—what then of seeing you directly, O Great Lord?" Delighted by these words, Bhava joyfully declared, "For the benefit of the three worlds, you have made this request, noble sage." Yet Shiva again addressed the twice-born Gautama, "You do not ask for yourself, O great-minded one." Thus prompted, the sage, after a moment of meditation, spoke once more to Shiva. Humble, undisturbed in spirit, and filled with devotion, Gautama made his request again, his words heard by the guardians of all worlds: "O Bull-bannered One, as long as the goddess Ganga, sent forth from Brahma’s mountain, flows to the ocean, may she remain everywhere and always." He continued, "O Lord of the world, you alone grant the fruits to those who seek them; other holy places are auspicious only here and there. Wherever your divine presence abides always, that place is known as sacred. Wherever the Ganga, resting upon your matted locks, is found, all holy places are gathered there by your presence." Hearing Gautama’s heartfelt words, Shiva spoke with joy: "Wherever, in whatever way, and by whomever, acts of pilgrimage, bathing, charity, or offerings to ancestors are performed with devotion—" "And whoever hears, recites, or remembers with devotion and self-control at the Godavari, O Gautama—" "The merit that arises from all gifts on earth, with its seven continents, mountains, forests, groves, gems, herbs, and oceans, and blessed by righteousness—" "That merit is attained by remembering the Godavari; it is declared, O Brahmin, to be equal to the gift of cows." "At the time of lunar or solar eclipses, in my presence, whoever, with devotion and self-restraint, offers to Vishnu, the supporter of earth, is truly wise." "Whoever gives beautiful cows with calves at the renowned confluence, O best of twice-born, attains the highest merit there." "Therefore, one attains great merit through bathing, charity, and the like, with devotion, at the Godavari, the great river worshipped by the world." "Thus, the Godavari will become the Ganga, led by you, destroying all sins and granting all desires." "I have heard this, O Mother, from Shiva as he spoke to Gautama; for this reason, Shambhu is ever established in the Ganga." "Who can turn away that ocean of compassion, O Mother? Yet, Mother, humans may be prevented by the bonds of obstacles." "Bound by these, they do not approach even the nearby Godavari, nor do they bow to Shiva, nor remember or praise him." "Therefore, Mother, I shall act for your satisfaction; if there is hardship in restraining, forgive my words." "From then on, the Lord of obstacles creates some hindrance for humans; but whoever worships him proceeds without obstruction." "But disregarding obstacles, whoever approaches the Godavari with devotion becomes fulfilled in this world, with nothing left undone." "Many obstacles arise for the lowest of men wishing to leave their homes; but if one bows at her feet and reaches the Ganga, what fruit does he not obtain?" "Who can fully describe her power, even Sadashiva himself? I have spoken briefly, following the words of history." "Whatever means exist among all moving and unmoving beings for dharma, artha, kama, and moksha—all of that is found here, fully detailed, in this Itihasa." "What is declared in the Vedas, the entire secret of the Shruti, and the true cause—all this is named here; this Purana, filled with many dharmas, has always been rightly seen and spoken for the welfare of the worlds." "Whoever listens to or recites even a verse or a line of this with devotion, or utters the words 'Ganga, Ganga,' that person attains merit." "This Ganga Purana, excellent and supreme, is capable of destroying the stains of Kali, bestows all accomplishments, is auspicious and holy, worthy of worship in the world, and grants the desired fruits." "Well done, Gautama! Blessings to you. Who else is equal to you, who has brought this Gautami Ganga to Dandakaranya?" "Whoever says 'Ganga, Ganga,' even from hundreds of yojanas away, is freed from all sins and goes to Vishnu’s world." "Three crore and half a crore holy places in the three worlds come together to bathe in the Ganga when the Sun is in Leo and Jupiter is the guru." "Bathing in the Bhagirathi for sixty thousand years, or bathing once in the Godavari when the Sun is in Leo and Jupiter is exalted—" Such is the greatness of Gautama, of the Ganga, and of the Godavari, as revealed by Shiva for the welfare of all beings.