In a gathering of the best among Vaiṣṇavas, their voices trembled with emotion and their eyes brimmed with tears as they spoke, for their hearts, homes, and all that belonged to them were entrusted entirely to the Lord. The Supreme Lord then revealed his boundless nature, declaring that from the highest post of Brahmā down to the tiniest blade of grass, all that moves and does not move originates from him. He spoke of countless millions of universes, each with their own Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and other deities, all radiant and supreme, serving as forms of grace for the devotees. He explained that all beings, born from nature, arise from him and are withdrawn back into him. With these words, the Lord of gods ceased his speech, leaving the assembly in awe. Then Gaṅgā, the sacred river goddess, addressed the king, saying, “By your command, O king, and by the austerity I perform at this time, whatever sins the sinful may give to me, I shall bear. But for how long shall my stay be limited in Bhārata? Whatever else I desire, you know it all, O all-knowing one.” Śrī Kṛṣṇa replied with divine assurance: “Your husband, in the form of Rudra, will become the salt ocean. The ocean is my own portion, and you, Gaṅgā, are the embodiment of Lakṣmī. As many rivers as there are in Bhārata—Bhāratī and others—from today, O goddess of gods, you will remain for five thousand years of Kali. During this time, you will always enjoy secret union with the ocean. The people will please you with hymns composed by Bhagiratha, and by meditating as taught by Kauthuma, they will worship you after contemplating your form. “Whoever utters ‘Ganga, Ganga’ even among hundreds of people, the sin from bathing of thousands of sinners will become yours, and the sin from touching corpses of thousands of sinners will also be yours. Wherever there is Gaṅgā and praise of my name and qualities, together with the best rivers—Sarasvati and others, O auspicious one—by merely touching your dust, even a sinner becomes purified. Those who, with knowledge and devotion to you, remember my name, will become the foremost attendants of Hari for a long time. “The body of one who has died with much merit is placed upon you. After arranging the body and offering the prescribed rites, if an ignorant person gives up life by touching your water, or elsewhere gives up life, remembering your name beforehand, or elsewhere gives up life, remembering my name beforehand, there is no distinction at all between dying at a holy place or elsewhere. Such a one is able to purify the three worlds effortlessly. Those who are relatives of my devotees, O auspicious one, are all virtuous in mind. Wherever they may die, whether knowingly or unknowingly, in any state, they are blessed.” Having spoken thus, Shri Hari addressed Gaṅgā and also spoke to Bhagiratha. Bhagiratha, filled with devotion, praised and worshipped the goddess. He then bowed to Shri Krishna, the Supreme Soul and Lord. Narada narrated: The king performed worship, O best of those versed in the Vedas. Shri Narayana added: Having washed his feet and performed purification, the king acted with restraint and devotion. He worshipped Ganesha, the Sun, Fire, Vishnu, Shiva, and Parvati, honoring each with reverence and devotion.