Pārvatī, filled with reverence and curiosity, approached Mahādeva and said, “O wise one, tell me once again of the greatness of the Gaṅgā. Hearing her glory, even the sages become free from passion, and I long to hear more. Her origin I have heard, but the fullness of her greatness remains unknown to me. You, O Lord of all beings, eternal deity, are the foremost among gods—please reveal her glory.” Mahādeva began to recount a sacred episode. He spoke of the time when the greatest sages, equal to Bṛhaspati in wisdom and to Indra in prowess, gathered to see Bhīṣma, who lay upon his bed of arrows. Among them were Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Aṅgirā, Gautama, Agastya, Sumati, and the self-controlled sage. Also present were Viśvāmitra, Sthūlaśirā, the all-knowing, the lord of the Pramathas, Raibhya, Bṛhaspati, Vyāsa, Pāvana, Kaśyapa, and Dhruva. Durvāsā, Jamadagni, Mārkaṇḍeya, Gālava, Uśanas, Bharadvāja, Kratu, and Āstīka joined them as well. Sthūlākṣa, Sarvalokākṣa, Kaṇva, Medhātithi, Kuśa, Nārada, Parvata, Sudhanvā, and Cyavana the twice-born were also there. Matibhū, Bhuvana, Dhaumya, Śatānanda, Kṛtavraṇa, Jāmadagnya, Rāma, Ṛcīka, and many others assembled. Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira, together with his brothers, greeted these venerable sages with proper salutations and worshipped them according to the prescribed rites. The ascetics, honored and seated comfortably, rich in austerity, joined Bhīṣma in discussions rooted in divine dharma. At the conclusion of their discourse, the sages, their minds purified, bowed their heads to Bhīṣma. Yudhiṣṭhira then posed a question: “O grandfather, which regions, mountains, and hermitages are most holy? Which should always be served by those who seek dharma? Please tell me.” Bhīṣma replied, “O best of men, I recall an ancient tale—a conversation between a sage who lived by gleaning and a perfected being, a siddha.” He continued, “A certain siddha, having wandered across the whole earth, arrived at the house of the noble Shibi, who lived by gleaning. Shibi was ever self-controlled, a knower of the truth of the self, skilled in both knowledge and practice, free from attachment and aversion, and adept in wisdom and action. Foremost among Vaishnavas, he was devoted to the duties of Vishnu, never spoke ill of Vaishnavas, and remained steadfast in righteousness. Constantly practicing yoga, bearing the conch and discus, he was ever devoted to Shri Kanta and performed worship three times a day. Learned in the Vedas and their branches, discerning righteousness and unrighteousness, he recited the Vedas daily and honored guests unfailingly. Firmly established among those who lived by gleaning, his mind was set on holy places, and he meditated on whatever was sung by the self-born in the four Vedas. This twice-born sage, embodying the form of Vishnu, knew all meditations and hymns of the Vedas, and his mind was fixed on the imperishable, always clear in matters of righteousness and wealth. One day, the siddha visited Shibi’s house. Shibi, seeing him, performed the rites of hospitality with great devotion and then asked about the welfare of the regions. Shibi inquired, ‘Which lands, peoples, mountains, and hermitages, O best of twice-born, are holy? Out of affection, please point them out to me.’ The siddha replied, ‘Those lands, peoples, mountains, and hermitages are holy in whose midst the triple-flowing, best of rivers, the Gaṅgā, always abides. By austerity, celibacy, sacrifice, or giving, no creature attains the state that is reached by serving the Gaṅgā. The satisfaction that arises in disciplined men who have bathed in her waters cannot be matched even by a hundred sacrifices. Just as the sun dispels intense darkness, so too does bathing in Gaṅgā water cast off all sin. Like a heap of cotton destroyed by fire, immersion in the Gaṅgā removes all sin. Whoever drinks Gaṅgā water heated by the sun’s rays is freed from the sin of killing a cow and surpasses even fire in purity. If one bathes in the Gaṅgā with even a single foot, he surpasses the merit of a thousand Chandrayana vows. If a man hangs with his head downward for ten thousand years, or if he serves the water of the Gaṅgā for just one month, he is freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin and attains the sinless state of Vishnu. The Veṇī is indeed holy, pure, and a destroyer of sins. By merely remembering her, even a child-killer is instantly released. Prayaga, the king of holy places, is truly rare among Vaishnavas. Bathing there, O best of men, one quickly attains Vaikuntha, knowing neither friend nor foe, nor perceiving righteousness or unrighteousness. Bathing in the Gaṅgā frees one from great sins. Whoever says ‘Gaṅgā, Gaṅgā,’ even from hundreds of yojanas away, is freed from all sins and goes to the world of Vishnu. Even a Brahmin-killer, a cow-slayer, a drinker of liquor, or a child-murderer is freed from all sins and swiftly ascends to heaven. Beholding Madhava or seeing the Lord and bathing in the Veṇī, one proceeds toward Vaikuntha. Just as darkness vanishes at sunrise, so too do sins perish merely by bathing there. By bathing at Gangadvara, Kushavarta, Gallika, Nilaparvata, or at the holy place Kanakhala, there is no further rebirth.’ Thus, Mahādeva narrated to Pārvatī the supreme glory of the Gaṅgā, whose presence sanctifies all lands, and whose waters grant liberation and purity beyond all other means.