He began his worship with deep devotion, first offering his prayers to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and to the sinless Sun, seeking to clear his path of all hindrances. Turning next to Shiva, he prayed for the gift of knowledge, and to Parvati, he entreated for an increase in wisdom. With a heart full of reverence, he meditated upon these deities, focusing his mind and spirit upon them. "Listen, Narada," he was told, "to this truth." His meditation then turned to the sacred Ganga, whose radiance shone like white champaka flowers, and who was renowned as the destroyer of all sins. In his vision, she appeared clothed in garments purified by fire and adorned with splendid jeweled ornaments. Her face glowed with a gentle, cheerful smile, ever youthful and serene. Her hair was gathered in a luxuriant mass, crowned with a garland of fragrant jasmine flowers. Her cheeks bore delicate markings of musk, decorated with intricate designs, and her enchanting teeth sparkled with the brilliance of pearls. She was depicted with a pair of firm breasts, shaped like coconuts, and her lotus feet shone with the radiance of land-born lotuses. The soles of her feet were tinged red by the pollen from the coral tree that adorned Indra’s crown. Her head was graced with lines of bees, drawn to the flowers worn by ascetics. This vision of Ganga was of the best among the excellent, a generous giver of boons, always eager to bestow her grace upon her devotees. Having meditated upon this auspicious goddess, revered as the deity of the threefold path, he continued his worship with loving care. He offered her a seat, water for washing her feet, water for welcoming her, water for bathing, and fragrant ointments. He presented garments, ornaments, garlands, perfumes, and water for sipping. Having made these offerings with deep devotion, he bowed before her with folded hands and praised her with sincere words. He recited the sacred hymn revealed by Kauthuma, as well as the dialogue between Vishnu and Brahma. In that dialogue, Brahma addressed Vishnu, saying, “O Vishnu, the hymn to your feet destroys all sin and brings great merit.” Narayana replied, “I bow to that Ganga who arose from the very essence of Radha’s body.” He recalled how, at the dawn of creation in Goloka, within the circle of the divine rasa dance, Ganga appeared, surrounded by cowherds and cowherd maidens, during the auspicious great festival of Radha. The descriptions of Ganga’s expanse were wondrous and vast: at times she was said to be ten million yojanas wide and a hundred times as long, or sixty hundred thousand yojanas wide and four times as long, or twenty hundred thousand yojanas wide and four times as long, or thirty hundred thousand yojanas wide and five times as long. Sometimes she was described as six yojanas wide and ten times as long, or stretching a hundred thousand yojanas in breadth and seven times that in length. The variations continued: a hundred thousand yojanas wide and six times as long, sixty thousand yojanas in length and ten times that, or ten hundred thousand yojanas wide and five times that in length. In other places, she was a thousand yojanas wide and seven times as long, or in Pātāla, the city of Bhogavatī, only ten yojanas wide. In some regions, she narrowed to just one krośa, and then diminished further, unlike anywhere else. Her appearance changed with the ages: in Satya Yuga, she was as white as milk; in Treta Yuga, she resembled the moon; in Kali Yuga, she shone with the radiance of pure water, and in no other place on earth was she seen thus. The power and glory of Ganga were declared to be incomparable, as heard in the Purāṇas and the Vedas. Thus, the worshipper completed his meditation and rituals, honoring the goddess with devotion, and acknowledging her supreme and unfathomable greatness.