As night descended, the banks of the Śoṇa became alive with movement. All the night-dwelling beings roamed about, mingling with hosts of yakṣas, rākṣasas, and fierce, flesh-eating spirits. Their presence lent an otherworldly atmosphere to the place. After describing these wonders, the great sage Viśvāmitra, radiant with immense brilliance, fell silent. The assembled sages honored him, exclaiming, “Excellent, excellent!” in appreciation of his wisdom. They praised the noble lineage of the Kuśikas, always devoted to righteousness, and declared the descendants of Kuśa to be noble souls, comparable to Brahma himself, foremost among men. Especially Viśvāmitra was renowned, and Kauśikī—the best among rivers—was said to bring glory to his lineage. With the delighted sages offering their praise, the glorious son of Kuśika, Viśvāmitra, settled into sleep, like the sun setting at day’s end. Rāma and his brother Saumitri, somewhat amazed by all they had heard and witnessed, praised the foremost sage and then, too, took to sleep. Thus concludes the thirty-fourth chapter. Now begins the thirty-fifth. At dawn, having spent the remainder of the night on the banks of the Śoṇa with the great sages, the night grew bright, and Viśvāmitra spoke: “The night is bright, Rāma; the early dawn is beginning. Rise, rise! May all be well with you. Prepare yourself for the journey.” Hearing these words, Rāma performed the morning rites and, eager to depart, asked, “This Śoṇa river is beautiful—its water pure and deep, adorned with sandbanks. By which path, O sage, shall we cross?” Viśvāmitra replied, “This is the path I have indicated, by which the great sages travel.” Guided by the wise sage, the group proceeded, observing the various forests along the way. After traveling a long distance and when half the day had passed, they came upon the Jāhnavī, the foremost river, frequented by sages. Seeing this sacred river, inhabited by swans and cranes, all the sages, along with Rāma, were filled with joy. On its bank, they arranged their lodging. After bathing according to custom, they offered oblations to the ancestors and deities. Having performed the fire rituals and eaten the offerings, which were as sweet as nectar, they settled upon the auspicious bank of the Jāhnavī, their minds filled with joy. Surrounding the great-souled Viśvāmitra, all sat properly, including the Rāghavas. Rāma, his mind delighted, addressed Viśvāmitra: “Revered one, I wish to hear about Gaṅgā, the river that traverses three paths. How did she, after conquering the three worlds, become the lord of rivers?” Prompted by Rāma’s words, the great sage Viśvāmitra began to recount the origin and birth of Gaṅgā: “O Rāma, Himavat, lord of mountains and source of great minerals, had two daughters of incomparable beauty upon the earth. Their mother was Menā, the lovely and slender-waisted daughter of Meru, beloved wife of Himavat. From her, O descendant of Raghu, was born Gaṅgā, the eldest daughter of Himavat; the second daughter was named Umā. Then, desiring to accomplish the work of the gods, all the deities sought the eldest, Gaṅgā—the river that flows in three paths—from the lord of mountains. Himavat, acting righteously, gave his daughter Gaṅgā, purifier of the worlds, who flows by her own will, for the benefit of the three worlds. Having received Gaṅgā for the sake of all realms, those desiring the welfare of the worlds departed, their purpose fulfilled. O delight of the Raghus, the other daughter, Umā, steadfast in severe vows, practiced intense austerity. The lord of mountains gave Umā, revered by the worlds and unmatched in beauty, to Rudra, for she was endowed with fierce austerity. O Rāghava, these are the two daughters of the king of mountains, honored by the world: Gaṅgā, the best of rivers, and Umā Devī. O best of the wise, all this has been told to you—how the threefold-flowing Gaṅgā first ascended to the sky. Then this beautiful, divine river, daughter of the lord of mountains, ascended to the world of the gods, sinless and bearing water.” Now begins the thirty-sixth chapter. When Viśvāmitra had spoken, the heroic Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa, having welcomed the tale, addressed the eminent sage: “O Brāhmaṇa, you have told this supreme and righteous account. Please describe in detail the birth of the eldest daughter of the king of mountains, for you know the full story of her divine and human origins. By what cause does the purifier of worlds, Gaṅgā, flow in three paths? How did she, renowned as the best of rivers, become known as the threefold-flowing one? In the three worlds, O knower of dharma, by what deeds and with whose association did she act?” As the descendant of Kakutstha spoke thus, Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, replied. In the midst of the sages, he narrated the entire story: “Long ago, O Rāma, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha was newly wed. Beholding the goddess, the blessed Lord engaged in union with her. As the great and wise Mahadeva, the blue-throated god, sported thus, a hundred divine years passed. Yet, O Rāma, no son was born to her, scorcher of foes. Then all the gods, led by the Grandsire, became greatly concerned. ‘If a being is born here, who will be able to withstand it?’ So, all the gods approached, bowed down, and spoke thus…” And so, the tale unfolds, revealing the divine origins and the wondrous deeds of Gaṅgā, the threefold-flowing river, as narrated by the sage Viśvāmitra to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa amidst the assembly of sages.