There once were men who lived by the ways of the Śūdra, yet after fasting for three nights and generously giving wealth to the twice-born—those endowed with the power of Brahma—they attained a remarkable fate. Upon death, these men were carried on celestial vehicles, seated upon lotus thrones, adorned with four arms, and thus achieved union with Brahma, never to be born again. At the sacred place where the Gaṅgā, the greatest of rivers, reaches the Gaṅgodbheda, the river Sarasvatī, longing to see Gaṅgā, descended from the sky for consolation. Sarasvatī arrived there, purified by the holy waters, attended by gods and siddhas, and worshipped by hosts of vidyādharas. She became known to all. Anyone who drank even a single handful of water at that spot, having reached that supreme state, would turn toward the east and declare, "Gaṅgā, friend, by you—" expressing their loneliness and separation, asking, "Where shall I go, without kin?" Understanding Sarasvatī’s sorrow, Gaṅgā saw her weeping, distressed and afflicted. Moved by compassion, Gaṅgā came from the eastern region to comfort Sarasvatī, whose mind was troubled. Upon seeing the noble Sarasvatī, Gaṅgā embraced her, soothing her suffering. Wiping Sarasvatī’s tears, Gaṅgā gently spoke, "Do not weep, O noble one; you have accomplished a difficult task, my friend." Gaṅgā explained that the work Sarasvatī had done could not have been accomplished by anyone else; thus, all the gods had assembled there to see her. Sarasvatī was invited to worship the assembled gods with her speech, mind, body, and actions. She performed the worship according to the prescribed manner, honoring the lords of the gods. Afterward, Sarasvatī, the daughter of Brahma, rejoined her circle of friends. Among the eldest and middle companions, their reunion became renowned throughout the world. Sarasvatī faced west, while Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) faced north. All the gods gathered at Puṣkara, recognizing Sarasvatī’s difficult deed, and praised her: "You are wisdom, you are understanding, you are Lakṣmī, you are knowledge, you are the supreme path. You are faith, the highest steadfastness, wisdom, intelligence, delight, and patience. You are accomplishment, svadhā, svāhā, and the great sacred doctrine. Twilight, night, radiance, prosperity, intelligence, faith, Sarasvatī, sacrifice, knowledge, great knowledge, and secret knowledge—all these are splendid within you. That which is called inquiry, livelihood, and the science of governance—salutations to you, O sacred waters; homage to you, O one who flows to the ocean. Homage to you, O remover of sin; homage to you, O goddess beloved of the world." Thus praised by those devoted to their own purpose, the divine goddess Sarasvatī stood facing east, embodying all sacred fords, accompanied by all the immortals. The wise know her as Prācī, as spoken by Brahma. There lies the holy place called Śuddhāvaṭa, remembered as the ancestral ford. Even the greatest sinners, by merely seeing this sacred place, enjoy pleasures like those who delight in happiness, purified near Brahma. Excellent men who undertake a fast unto death there, upon dying, ascend to heaven on Brahma’s vehicle, free from all fear. Whatever small gift is given there by those whose souls know Brahman, for a hundred lifetimes those thoughtful souls enjoy the fruit of their gift. Those who perform rites for broken or scattered bones at this place, having attained the world of Brahma, always rejoice happily. Whatever worship, recitation, or offering is performed there by embodied beings, its results are endless for those devoted to Brahma. By offering a lamp there, one attains wisdom surpassing the senses; by offering incense, one attains a place attended by Brahma. Why speak at length? Whatever is given at the confluence yields endless fruit, whether for the living or the dead. Bathing, recitation, and offering oblations there accomplish endless results. It was here that Rama came and offered the funeral cake for Dasharatha. Rama performed the funeral rite as instructed by Markandeya. There is a four-sided pond where men offer the funeral cake. All those who offer the funeral cake at this pond travel to heaven in a vehicle yoked with swans. In that pond, Brahma himself performed the ancestral rite. The best of those who know sacrifice performed a sacrifice there, complete with the finest gifts. The Vasus, the ancestors, and the Rudras are known as the forefathers; the Adityas are their great-grandfathers. All three groups, having been summoned, were addressed again by Virinchi: "You must always accept the offering of the funeral cake and other rites here. Whatever ancestral rite is performed here yields endless fruit. For sustenance, fathers and grandfathers, satisfied, receive fulfillment from the offering of oblations and attain heaven through the gift of rice balls. Therefore, abandoning all else, one should become a giver of rice balls in the east; having given, the son should diligently satisfy all the ancestors." Before the lord of the east, established there, lies the original holy place; even by seeing it, liberation is granted. By touching the water there, one is freed from the bondage of birth; by immersion, one always becomes an attendant of Brahma. Whoever bathes at the original holy place and gives even a little food with concentration generally attains heaven. Whoever, having bathed there, gives wealth—even a small amount or gold—to devotees of Brahma, rejoices happily in heaven. Why do men seek anything higher at the eastern Sarasvatī? The fruit of bathing there is satisfaction, equal to the results of austerity, sacrifice, and the like. Those who drink the sacred eastern goddess Sarasvatī are not to be regarded as mere mortals, so declared the sage Markandeya.