To the one of countless forms and appearances, who is beyond all qualities, the supreme Self, I offer my salutations. Homage to Hiranyagarbha, the lord of gold, and to the one whose very form is meditation itself, the eternal witness of all meditative states. It is by him that this entire universe, both moving and unmoving, shines forth in splendor. Like rain descending from a cloud, he is born from the Supreme Principle and the Cosmic Person. The knowers of truth call him the illuminator, the sun that gives sight to all living beings. He is the conqueror of death, the great god, supreme among the supreme, pervading everything. O Kaparddin, I bow before you; salutations to the ever-newly born. To Manyu, to Isha, to the lord of swift ones, to the thread of sacrifice—I offer my reverence. To you whose seed is fire, to the one of great soul, I bow. You are steadfast and moving, great and small, manifest and unmanifest, living and non-living. To the independent one, the unique, the very essence among all qualities, I bow again and again. From the king’s intense and unbroken austerity, he appeared—three-eyed, of noble form, adorned with a serpent as his sacred thread. Clad in an elephant hide, his lotus feet were worshipped by the gods. Then, rising swiftly, the king stood before Shiva, hands joined in deep reverence. Recognizing the king’s unwavering devotion, Śaṅkara, the moon-crested Lord, spoke: “I am truly pleased with you—by your hymn and your austerity as well.” With hands folded, the king addressed the Lord of lords, “Then, grant me Gaṅgā for the liberation of my ancestors.” Shiva replied, “Liberation is granted to you and to them,” and, with that, he vanished from sight. Gaṅgā, purifying the whole world, followed Bhagiratha. In the three worlds, she became renowned as Bhāgīrathī, O sage. That supreme river, Gaṅgā, flooded the land, and at that very moment, those souls sunk in hell were lifted up, freed from their sins. Bathed in Gaṅgā’s sacred waters, they were honored by Bhagiratha himself. After bowing and worshipping them with due respect, he addressed them with a joyful heart, “Freed, ascend the celestial chariot and go to Viṣṇu’s abode.” Assuming divine bodies, they reached the world of Viṣṇu. From that time, Gaṅgā became famed in all the worlds as the destroyer of great sins. Whoever recites or even listens to this account attains the merit of bathing in the Ganges. Such a one goes to the abode of Viṣṇu, from which there is no return. Thus has the supreme glory of the Ganges, destroyer of all sins, been proclaimed. Then, O Sūta, what did you further ask of the eminent sage Sanaka? I will now recount exactly what was asked again. Having heard, the son of Brahma once more respectfully inquired as follows: “O compassionate sage, from you I wish to hear the greatness of the Ganges, which destroys sin. Various instructions do not forcibly awaken the mind that is truly pure and clear. The compassionate one grants devotion to those who worship; for her, liberation is indeed known as a servant. Considering the great effort in serving the devotees, hardly anyone attains the yoga of devotion.