In that sacred place, a gathering of peaceful sages assembled, each expounding their own teachings. United in purpose, they remembered and invoked the goddess Sarasvatī. Responding to the devotion and love of those great, sacrificial seers, the blessed river Sarasvatī herself appeared in the eastern direction, radiating grace. Honored by the sages, Sarasvatī came to be known as the Eastern-flowing One. O King, listen now to another wondrous tale that unfolded upon this earth. It is said that once, the brāhmaṇa Maṅkaṇaka was wounded by a blade of kuśa grass. To his astonishment, from the wound on his hand, sweet sugarcane juice began to flow. Overcome with joy at this miraculous sight, Maṅkaṇaka began to dance ecstatically. As he danced, his radiance bewitched all things, so that the entire world—both moving and unmoving—joined him in that dance. The gods, led by Indra, and the ascetic sages were astonished at this spectacle. News of these events reached Brahmā, who was told, “He should not dance in this way.” At Brahmā’s command, Rudra was sent for the sake of the sage. “He must not dance so fiercely,” Brahmā instructed, “You should tell him this.” Rudra approached Maṅkaṇaka and, seeing the sage overwhelmed with joy, addressed him: “O best of brāhmaṇas, for what reason are you dancing? As you dance, the whole world dances with you.” Though thus restrained, the excellent sage continued his dance and replied, “Do you not see, O god, that sugarcane juice flows from my hand? This wonder fills me with great joy.” The god smiled at the sage, who was deluded by passion, and replied, “O brāhmaṇa, I am not amazed by this; look at me here.” Thus addressed by Mahādeva, Maṅkaṇaka wondered in his meditation, “Who is this who has stopped me?” To demonstrate, the sage struck his own thumb with his fingertip, and from the wound there emerged not sweet juice, but ash—white as snow. Seeing this, Maṅkaṇaka became ashamed and, falling at Rudra’s feet, said, “I consider no one greater than you, O god. You, O wielder of the trident, are the refuge of the moving and unmoving universe. The wise declare that all this was created by you; at the end of the age, everything again enters into you. Even the gods cannot fully comprehend you—how could I? In you are seen all the gods, even Brahmā and the others. You alone are the creator and cause of all the gods; by your grace, all the gods here become fearless.” Having thus praised the great god, the sage bowed and spoke, “O Lord, by your grace, my austerity is not diminished here.” Pleased in mind, Rudra replied, “May your austerity increase a thousandfold, O Brahmin, by my grace. I shall dwell always in the east here with you, especially in this field of the highly sacred Sarasvatī. There is nothing difficult to obtain in this world or the next for one who abandons his body on the northern bank of the Sarasvatī. One devoted to recitation on the eastern shore does not die here again; having bathed, he attains the abundant fruit of a horse-sacrifice.” Rudra further described the greatness of this place: “By disciplines and fasts, emaciating his own body, the ascetic subsists on water, air, or leaves. Likewise, those who sleep on the ground and practice other separate disciplines—whichever disciplines and vows the best of twice-born performs, he attains the supreme state of Brahman with a purified body. And whatever is given at that sacred place, even a morsel of sesame or gold, is equal to a gift of Mount Meru, so said the Lord of Creatures long ago. Those who perform ancestral rites at that sacred place, accompanied by twenty-one generations, will go to heaven. The ancestors, satisfied by a single ball of rice at that sacred place, will go to the world of Brahma, having been delivered here by their own son; and if they do not desire food again, they proceed on the path of liberation.” “Now, hear the ancient origin of the Sarasvatī as it truly was. The Sarasvatī was formerly spoken of by all the gods together with the Vasus. The gods were told: ‘You must go to the shore in the west of the salt ocean, and taking this submarine fire, deposit it in the sea. When this is done, all the gods become free from fear; otherwise, the submarine fire burns with its own energy. Therefore, protect the gods from this danger soon; be like a mother, O beautiful-hipped one, granting fearlessness to the gods.’” Thus addressed by the mighty Vishnu, the goddess Sarasvatī replied, “I am not independent; let my father, the sovereign, be chosen. Always obedient to his command, a maiden here, steadfast in vows, I do not go even a single step anywhere without my father’s instruction. Therefore, let some other means be considered.” Understanding her intention, all the gods approached the Grandfather, Brahmā. They said, “No one else is able to lead the submarine fire, O Forefather, except for your daughter, who is free from unseen faults and is a maiden.” Bringing Sarasvatī, the radiant maiden, and placing her on his lap, Brahmā affectionately smelled her head and then spoke to her: “O goddess, the gods called me; now you, illustrious one, speak. Lead and cast this submarine fire into the salty ocean.” Hearing her father’s words, Sarasvatī became separated, like a female crane parted from her kin, and at that very moment, the maiden wept, her mind distressed.