When Śaṅkara spoke in Goloka, within the divine assembly of the gods, his words filled the hearts of all present with joy. The assembled deities, beholding him, rejoiced and offered their praises to the Supreme Person. In due course, the blessed Śambhu composed a treatise on the science of weapons, imparting his knowledge for the benefit of all. At that time, Gaṅgā, who had arisen from Goloka, existed in her pure, liquid form. In various sacred places, she was established by Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Soul, sanctifying those lands with her presence. Nārada, ever eager to understand the mysteries of the divine, inquired, “Where did that most fortunate one go? Please explain this to me.” Nārāyaṇa replied, “When the period of her curse had ended, Gaṅgā returned once more to Vaikuṇṭha, the supreme abode. Having left Bhāratī in the realm of Bhārata, she journeyed to the dwelling place of Hari. Know that Gaṅgā, Sarasvatī, and Lakṣmī—these three are especially beloved to Hari.” Nārada pressed further, “She was once in the water-pot of Brahmā and upon the head of Śaṅkara. O best of sages, how did Gaṅgā, so dear to Nārāyaṇa, come to be so honored?” To this, it was revealed: formerly, in Goloka, Gaṅgā existed in her liquid form, presiding as the deity of all waters. On earth, she is unmatched in beauty and form. Her face shines like a lotus in full bloom at midday in autumn, adorned with a gentle, radiant smile. Her brilliance is soft yet dazzling, and she embodies the very essence of pure existence. Her breasts are high, full, and perfectly rounded, while her abundant, wavy hair is decorated with fragrant jasmine garlands. Her cheeks, charming and fair, are marked with delicate spots of musk, and her shining teeth gleam like ripe pomegranate seeds. In her longing, Gaṅgā bashfully approached the side of Kṛṣṇa. Overwhelmed by divine ecstasy, she lost consciousness for a moment, her form radiant with the marks of bliss. She was accompanied by thirty million gopīs, and together their brilliance rivaled the light of millions of moons. Gaṅgā herself glowed with the whiteness of campaka flowers and moved with the majestic grace of a proud elephant. Around her neck hung a priceless necklace adorned with rubies, glowing as purely as fire. Her feet, soft and radiant as lotus flowers, delighted the hearts of the gods. Descending from a celestial palace studded with the king of all jewels, she bore a tilaka of musk on her forehead, adorned with sandalwood and marks like the moon. The tilaka shone brightly beneath her hairline, and her beautiful, abundant hair trembled as she herself trembled with emotion. Gaṅgā came and stood beside Kṛṣṇa upon his splendid, jewel-encrusted throne. Seeing her approach, Kṛṣṇa, the infallible Lord, rose respectfully in her honor. The gopas, struck with awe and a touch of fear, bowed humbly with their necks bent low. Gaṅgā, gathering herself, rose quickly and began to speak. Yet she stood in a humble posture, her throat, lips, and palate parched with nervousness. Kṛṣṇa, seated gracefully upon the lotus throne, offered her reassurance and granted her fearlessness. Looking up, Gaṅgā beheld Rādhā, seated above on the throne—she who is the primal source of countless Brahmas, the eternal origin of creation, and unrivaled among all beings in both form and quality. Auspicious and fortunate, Subhadra was there too, blessed with the good fortune of her Lord. Rādhā, half of Kṛṣṇa’s very being, shone with a brilliance, youth, and radiance equal to his own, embodying the supreme and eternal union of the divine.