In the celestial realms, a wondrous celebration unfolded. Drums thundered in the heavens, Apsaras danced with grace, the greatest sages recited the Vedas, and Gandharvas sang melodious hymns. The sounds of mridangas, murajas, vinas, dhakkas, damarus, bells, and conches reverberated throughout the three worlds, filling every corner with divine music. Amid these festivities, all present joined their palms and placed them upon their heads, offering heartfelt praise to the Great Goddess. With voices united, they proclaimed, “Victory, Mother! Victory, O Ruler!” Pleased by their devotion, the Great Goddess graciously bestowed individual boons upon each, granting them, as they desired, abundant devotion to herself. As the gods watched, the Goddess vanished from sight. Thus was recounted the glorious deeds of Bhramari. It is said that whoever reads or listens to this tale has their sins destroyed; its wondrous narration helps one cross the ocean of worldly existence. The deeds of all Manus, intertwined with the greatness of the Goddess, bring auspiciousness and dispel sin when heard or read. Whoever daily reads or listens to this story is freed from all sins and attains union with the Goddess. At this point, the sages, filled with curiosity, spoke: “Your account of the cause of pregnancy is astonishing, and a doubt has arisen among us ascetics. Vyasa’s mother is known as Satyavati, who was once married to King Shantanu. How did Vyasa, her son, come to be while she remained in her own house? How was she, as she was, again chosen by King Shantanu? Tell us the truth of her two sons, O steadfast one. Relate in detail the supremely purifying story of their births. We wish to hear it once more.” Suta, with reverence, bowed to the supreme Power, the bestower of the four aims of life, and began to narrate the ancient, auspicious tale of the primordial Power. Merely uttering her name brings eternal success, especially through the seed syllable of Vagbhava, even indirectly. For the fulfillment of all desires, the Goddess who grants all wished-for things should always be remembered wholeheartedly by all. He began: There was a king named Rajoparichara, righteous and steadfast in truth, lord of the Cedi land, illustrious and devoted to the worship of Brahmins. Pleased by his austerity, Indra gifted him a splendid crystal palace, beautiful and coveted for pleasure. Mounted upon it, the king traveled everywhere in his divine chariot, unbound by the earth. Renowned throughout all worlds, Rajoparichara Vasu was ever devoted to dharma. His wife, Girika, was of exquisite form and beauty. The king had five sons, each of great valor and equal strength, whom he established as rulers in separate lands. One day, Girika, having bathed and purified herself, expressed her desire to the king, for it was her time for conception. On that day, his ancestors instructed him, “Go hunt animals.” Hearing this, the king thought of his wife, who was in her fertile period. Respecting the command of his ancestors, the king went hunting, but his mind remained fixed on Girika, radiant and beautiful as the goddess of fortune. While staying in the forest, the royal sage recalled Girika in his heart. Overcome by passion, his seed was released as he remembered her. The king quickly caught it on a banyan leaf, realizing it had been spilled in vain, yet knowing it was her fertile time. Confident that his seed was always effective, he resolved to send it to his beloved. Observing the auspicious time, he sanctified and placed his seed upon a banyan leaf. Addressing a hawk nearby, he spoke to the brahmin: “Take this, O fortunate one, and swiftly go to my house. For my sake, gentle one, bring it to Girika, for today is her fertile time.” Having spoken thus, the best of kings gave the leaf to the hawk, who soared swiftly into the sky. As the hawk flew, holding the leaf in its beak, another hawk spotted it and rushed forward, recognizing the meat. The two engaged in a fierce beak-fight in the sky, and during their struggle, the seed fell into the waters of the Yamuna as the leaf dropped and the birds flew away. At that moment, an apsaras named Adrika, devoted to her twilight prayers, approached the brahmin. Immersed in water play, she seized the brahmin’s foot. Absorbed in breath-control, the brahmin saw the lustful apsaras and cursed her: “Become a fish, since you disturbed my meditation.” Thus, Adrika, the excellent apsaras, became a beautiful and splendid fish in the Yamuna. As the seed fell from the hawk’s grasp, Adrika, now transformed into a fish, swiftly seized it, thus beginning a new chapter in the tale.