Nārada, ever inquisitive and wise, approached the divine Mahādeva and asked, “Who is this Bhagiratha, renowned for his austerity, whom you have spoken of? By whose efforts was the sacred site brought forth for the benefit of all worlds?” He reflected on the sanctity of the Ganges, declaring it to be a holy place of immense merit, capable of destroying all sins. It was widely proclaimed that simply uttering “Ganga, Ganga,” even from hundreds of yojanas away, could free one from all sins and grant passage to the world of Viṣṇu. Nārada pressed further, eager to learn how the Ganges was brought and for what purpose. Mahādeva, the compassionate lord, responded, promising to recount the story in order. He began with Hariśchandra, the protector of truth in the three worlds. Hariśchandra’s son was Rohita, devoted to Viṣṇu, whose son was Vṛka, steadfast in righteousness. Vṛka’s son, Subāhu, was born in that noble lineage, and Subāhu’s son was Gara, who was not exceedingly righteous. In time, Gara became sorrowful for reasons brought about by fate. His kingdom was threatened, and for the sake of righteousness, he took his family and sought refuge in the Bhārgava hermitage. There, Bhārgava’s compassion shielded them, and in that holy place, Gara’s son Sagara was born. Sagara grew up under Bhārgava’s protection, and all the rites—investiture with the sacred thread, practice of weapons, and study of the Vedas—were performed for him. Sagara received the powerful Agni missile from Bhārgava and, traversing the earth, struck down the Tāla-jaṅghas and Haihayas. He also defeated the Śakas and Pāradas. Nārada, eager for more, asked Śaṅkara to describe Sagara’s greatness in detail. Mahādeva explained that Sagara was a mighty king of the solar dynasty, renowned for his strength. When calamity befell his family, his kingdom was seized by the Haihayas, Tāla-jaṅghas, Śakas, Yavanas, Pāradas, Kāmbojas, and Pahlavas. These five groups, allied with the Haihayas, deprived Sagara of his realm, forcing him into the forest. Afflicted with sorrow, Sagara was accompanied by his virtuous, pregnant wife, who remained steadfast in her vows. Bhārgava had previously been chosen by her co-wife in hopes of bearing a son, but now, after performing funeral rites for her husband in the forest, she lamented deeply. Aurva, the sage, restrained her and promised that her son would be righteous and dear. Hearing this, she chose not to end her life, and after two months, her child grew in Aurva’s hermitage. Aurva performed all the rites for the child, including the sacred thread ceremony, and instructed him in the Vedas and related knowledge. After imparting wisdom and sciences, Aurva taught him the art of weapons and granted him the Agni missile, a weapon formidable even to the gods. With this power and his own strength, Sagara became mighty in battle. In his wrath, Sagara struck down the Haihayas, earning fame among the people. The Śakas, Yavanas, Kāmbojas, and Pallavas, having been defeated, sought refuge with the sage Vasiṣṭha. Vasiṣṭha, radiant with brilliance, brokered an agreement, restraining Sagara and granting them protection. Sagara, respecting his teacher’s words and recalling his vows, subdued these groups by righteous means and transformed them. He shaved half the heads of the Śakas and released them; the Yavanas and Kāmbojas had all their heads shaved similarly. He subdued the Pāradas, the shaven-headed, the Pallavas, and the bearded protectors. Having conquered all, Sagara established righteous duties throughout the land. Victorious, Sagara prepared for the horse sacrifice. Yet, as he conducted the rite, his horse was stolen near the eastern and southern seas, close to the shore, and led into the earth. With his sons, Sagara began to dig all around the region, but even as they dug into the great ocean, the horse was not found. In their haste, they encountered the Primeval Person—Kapila, the lord of worlds, that divine First Being. As Kapila awoke, fire blazed from his eyes, burning sixty thousand sons, leaving only four survivors: Hṛṣīketu, Suketu, Dharmarathopara, and Śūra, along with Pañcajana, who became the progenitors of Sagara’s line. The blessed Hari himself granted Sagara five boons: lineage, liberation, good fame, the ocean, and a son. By these acts, Sagara attained the state of the ocean, recovered the horse for his sacrifice from the sea, and performed a hundred horse sacrifices. Mahādeva then turned to the greatness of the Gaṅgā, as declared by sages. Simply hearing her story destroys sin at that very moment. Whoever utters “Gaṅgā, Gaṅgā,” even from hundreds of yojanas away, is freed from all sins and attains the world of Viṣṇu. Gaṅgā, renowned as the one born from the lotus feet, is the destroyer of great heaps of sins, her glory shining forth for all to behold.