Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke with divine compassion, revealing profound truths: “Your husband, who manifests as Rudra, shall become the salt ocean itself. This ocean is a portion of my very being, and you, O goddess, are the embodiment of Lakṣmī. In the land of Bhārata, as many rivers as there are—Bhāratī and all the rest—will flow forth. From this day, O goddess of gods, for five thousand years of the Kali age, you shall ever enjoy your secret union with the ocean. All these rivers will honor you, pleasing you with hymns composed by the sage Bhagiratha. Following the meditation taught by Kauthuma, they will worship you, first contemplating your divine form. Whoever utters the name ‘Ganga, Ganga’—even among hundreds—will bring to you the sins washed away by the bathing of thousands of sinners. Likewise, the impurities from touching the corpses of thousands will become yours to bear. Yet, wherever the Ganga flows, and wherever praise is sung of my name and my qualities, there, together with the best of rivers—Sarasvatī and others, O auspicious one—by merely touching even the dust at your banks, even the greatest sinner will be purified. Those who, with knowledge and devotion to you, remember my name, shall become the foremost attendants of Hari for a long time. When a body, ripened with merit, is placed upon your banks after death and the prescribed rites are performed, or if even an ignorant person leaves this life by touching your waters, or elsewhere dies while remembering your name—or even my name—then there is truly no distinction between dying at a holy place or elsewhere. Such a soul is able to purify the three worlds effortlessly. O auspicious one, all those who are relatives of my devotees are virtuous in mind. Wherever they may die—knowingly or unknowingly, in whatever state—they are blessed.” Having spoken thus, Śrī Hari addressed the goddess and also turned to Bhagiratha. Bhagiratha, filled with devotion, praised her and worshipped her with heartfelt reverence. He then bowed deeply to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Soul, the Lord of all. The sage Nārada then said: “The king performed his worship, O best among those learned in the Vedas.” Śrī Nārāyaṇa continued: “Having washed his feet and performed purification, the king acted with restraint and devotion. He worshipped Ganesha, the Sun, Fire, Vishnu, Shiva, and Parvati. He honored Ganesha to remove obstacles, the sinless Sun, Shiva for knowledge, and Parvati for the increase of wisdom. Through meditation, he contemplated all these deities—listen, O Nārada, to this truth. He meditated upon Ganga, radiant as white champaka flowers, destroyer of all sins. She appeared to his mind’s eye clad in garments purified by fire, adorned with gleaming jeweled ornaments, her face slightly smiling and cheerful, ever in the bloom of youth. Her hair was a flowing mass, crowned with a garland of jasmine blossoms. Musk markings decorated her cheeks with intricate designs, and her enchanting row of teeth shone with the brilliance of pearls. Her form was graced with a pair of firm, coconut-shaped breasts, completing her resplendent, divine beauty.