In the sacred land, there exists the delightful Bindusara lake, a place of great significance where King Bhagiratha, in his quest to bring the Ganges to earth, resided for many years performing austerities. It was here that the bones of his ancestors, cleansed by the waters of the Ganges, attained heavenly realms, for this was the very spot where the goddess Tripathagā first descended to earth. Emerging from the foot of Soma, the moon, the divine river divided herself into seven streams. The area is adorned with sacrificial posts made of jewels and celestial palaces fashioned from gold, bearing witness to the grandeur of the gods. Here, Indra, together with the hosts of gods, performed sacrifices and attained perfection. The radiant path of shadows and the circle of stars are also found in this holy region. At night, the luminous goddess Tripathagā can be seen traversing the sky and heavens before descending to earth. When she fell upon the highest part of Bhava, she was checked by the power of yoga, and some drops, shed in anger, reached the earth below. From these drops, many lakes were formed, giving the name Bindusara—lake of drops. As the goddess was suddenly restrained by Bhava’s wrath, understanding her intent and fierce purpose, Bhagiratha broke through and led the river into the netherworld, carrying Śaṅkara with her current. Śaṃkara, perceiving the goddess’s arrogance, became angry and resolved to make the river vanish from his own body. At that very moment, he saw Bhagiratha before him, his veins prominent, emaciated, and his senses disturbed by hunger from years of austerity. Śaṃkara reflected, “I have already been satisfied by him before, for the sake of the river; knowing this, I restrained my anger and granted the boon.” Remembering Brahmā’s words, he held the river and then released her, who had been restrained by his power. For the sake of Bhagiratha and satisfied by his intense austerity, Śaṃkara released Gaṅgā in seven streams. Three streams flowed eastward, and three westward, thus dividing the river of three paths into seven channels. The eastern streams were Nalinī, Hlādinī, and Pāvanī; the western streams were Sītā, Cakṣu, and Sindhu. The seventh stream, Anugā, followed Bhagiratha southward, and so Bhāgīrathī entered the southern ocean. These seven rivers flooded the land known as Himāhvaya, arising from Lake Bindusaras. They inundated lands inhabited mostly by mlecchas and their mountains: Kukuras, Raudhras, Barbaras, Yavanas, and Khasas, as well as Pulikas, Kulatthas, Aṅgalokyas, and other peoples. The river, having divided, entered the southern ocean through the Himalaya. The Vīramarus, Kālikas, Śūlikas, Tukaras, Barbaras, Pahlavas, Pāradas, and Śakas were among those peoples nourished by the river, along with the Cakṣus stream, which after flooding these lands, reached the ocean. The Daradas, Urjagus, Gāndhāras, Aurasas, and Kuhus, as well as Śivapauras, Indramarus, Vasatīs, Saindhavas, Urvasas, Barbas, Kupathas, Bhīmas, and Romakas, all benefited from the river’s bounty. The Śunāmukhas, Urdhamarus, and those sustained by Sindhu, along with Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Vidyādharas, and Nāgas, were nourished by her waters. The Kalāpagāmakas, Kimpuruṣas, men, Kirātas, Pulindas, Kurus, and Bhāratas, as well as the Pāñcālas, Kauśikas, Matsyas, Māgadhas, Aṅgas, Brahmottaras, Vaṅgas, and Tāmraliṭṭas—all these noble peoples received the auspicious blessings of Gaṅgā. Eventually, blocked by the Vindhya mountains, she entered the southern ocean. The auspicious and delightful river then flowed eastward, flooding the surrounding lands and even all the Nishadas. She inundated the fishermen, the Rishikas, Nalimukhas, Kekaras, Ekarna people, and Kiratas. The waters swept over the Kalanjaras, Vikarnas, Kushikas, and those dwelling in both heavenly and earthly realms, encircling the ocean and reaching all its shores. The river Nalinī, too, flowed eastward, flooding impassable paths and even the lakes of Indradyumna. In the same way, she inundated harsh regions, the paths of Vetra and Shanku, and passing through Ujjāna and the Kamarus, she reached lands covered with Kutha grass. Near the island of Indra, she entered the salt ocean. The river Pāvanī then swiftly proceeded eastward, flooding the Tomaras and the paths of swans, traversing the eastern lands, breaking through mountains in many places, and reaching the Karna-prāvaraṇa and the Ashvamukhas. Pāvanī watered Mount Meru and reached the Vidyādharas, entering the great lake within Shaimi’s region. Hundreds and thousands of other rivers and streams join these mighty rivers, and from there Indra causes rain to fall. On the bank of the Vaṃśaukasā river lies the Surabhi forest, home to Hiraṇyaśṛṅga, the wise and self-controlled son of Kubera. He, of great might and valor, has renounced sacrifice and is surrounded by Agastya and other learned Brahmarakshasas. These four are attendants of Kubera, residing there with him, and their mutual association doubles their merit, desire, and wealth. On the summit of Hemakūṭa, that lake is known as the abode of serpents. From there flows the Sarasvatī, called Jyotiṣmatī, which is immersed between the eastern and western oceans.