O King, listen to the tale of my past, for it is filled with sorrow and lessons. My own parents were steeped in sin; their words were harsh, lacking all compassion, and their hearts were greedy for the company of heretics. Because of them, all that gives life its value—manliness, wealth, family, learning, fame, and every possession—was rendered fruitless. Again and again, I reflected on this in my mind, and, out of contempt, I abandoned the service of my parents, though such service is considered auspicious. Because of this act, O King, I and my wife were seized by the messengers of Yama and cast into hell, where my parents, those two greatest sinners, were also taken. Together, the four of us—my parents, my wife, and I—dwelt in a terrible hell, suffering greatly for thousands and hundreds of crores of ages. When our time in hell ended, my beloved and I were born among the race of vultures, subsisting on dead flesh. My parents, after leaving hell and desiring rebirth, were born in the lineage of moths, to reap the fruits of their own actions. Listen now, O King, to the deeds those two performed as moths, for they will astonish you. One day, a mighty wind swept them up and cast them into the pure waters of the Ganga. As their delicate bodies fell into the river, they perished at once, and all their accumulated sins were washed away. Then, messengers with beautiful eyes arrived, bringing celestial chariots endowed with every enjoyment. Freed from all sins and adorned with garlands of tulasi, they ascended a divine chariot and set out for the city of Vishnu. For a time, they dwelled in the realm of Brahma, the unmanifest-born, and then, by Brahma's command, they went to the city of Indra. There, they enjoyed happiness rare even for the gods, and after some time, they were born again to enjoy life on earth. Born into your own pure and illustrious lineage, O King, they were freed from rebirth by their death in the Ganga. Yet, to enjoy the earth, they were born again as the most virtuous, living long and enjoying the world surrounded by sons and grandsons. Having attained death in the Ganga—a feat difficult even for yogis—these two will attain union with Narayana. All this I have recounted, O King, by the power of remembering my past births. Having reached death at the Ganges, these two have attained this exalted state; but who will deliver us, wicked as we are? Disregard of friends among men brings the torment of hell; I have seen this myself, O ruler of the earth. Devotion to one's father, O best of twice-born, brings suffering here and hereafter; here it leads to loss of wealth, and beyond, to hell. I consider that even the sin of killing a Brahmin and other grave sins is preferable, for atonement is sometimes possible, but this sin remains eternal. The tree of merit, painfully acquired and capable of destroying all afflictions, is cut down on earth by men wielding the axe of disregard for fathers. Whatever is given into the mouth of one's ancestors, O King, is eaten by Vishnu himself, for Hari takes the form of the ancestors. Those who serve their parents, who are visible gods, day and night, attain all accomplishments by the grace of the Lord of the world. Those men who live without devotion to their fathers remain in hell for a thousand ages. Therefore, this great suffering has come upon me now; when will I attain liberation with my wife? I do not know. Vyasa then said: Hearing these words, the king embraced the speaker, delighting in his tale and repeatedly astonished. The king declared, "Truly wonderful are these words, O vulture, heard from your mouth; neither I nor these others find conviction in our hearts." At that moment, a voice thundered from the sky: "True, true, true is this; there is no doubt here." Then, O sage among Brahmins, the bird, together with his wife, was restored to his former divine state due to the narration of the greatness of the Ganges. Drums resounded in the heavens, Gandharvas sang, Apsaras danced, and a shower of flowers fell. A divine chariot arrived, endowed with every enjoyment, sent by the messengers of the enemy of Kaitabha. Then, he, all-pervading, together with his beloved wife, immediately ascended the chariot and went to the abode of Hari. Hearing of this wondrous deed, the king, together with his sons and wife, became devoted to the service of the Ganges. Truly, there is no holy place in the three worlds equal to Bhagirathi; by merely uttering her name, anyone attains liberation. Thus, O best of twice-born, the greatness of Gangadvara, destroyer of all sins, has been told to you. What else do you wish to hear? Those who recite this chapter with utmost reverence in a temple, and those devoted twice-born who listen, have their sins destroyed at once. Vyasa said: Once again, O foremost of Brahmins, I will declare to you the supreme glory of Ganga; drink the nectar of Ganga's stories if you desire liberation.