Praised by the delighted and foremost sages, the glorious son of Kuśika, Viśvāmitra, entered into restful sleep, just as the sun sets at the close of day. Rāma and Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa), somewhat amazed by all they had witnessed, offered their own praise to the great sage and then, too, settled into sleep. The night passed quietly on the banks of the Śoṇa river, with the company of great sages. As dawn approached and the darkness gave way to a bright, clear morning, Viśvāmitra roused the princes. “The night is bright, Rāma, and the early dawn is beginning. Arise, arise, may all be well with you. Prepare yourself for our journey.” Hearing these words, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa performed their morning rites and, eager to continue, addressed the sage: “This Śoṇa river is beautiful—its waters pure, deep, and graced with sandbanks. By which path, O sage, shall we cross?” Viśvāmitra replied, “This is the path I have indicated, the very way the great sages themselves travel.” Thus instructed by the wise Viśvāmitra, the company of sages and the two princes set forth, observing the many forests around them as they journeyed. After traveling a long distance, and with half the day gone, they came upon the Jāhnavī—the sacred Gaṅgā—foremost of rivers, beloved by sages. The sight of this holy river, whose banks teemed with swans and cranes, filled the hearts of Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and all the sages with joy. On the riverbank, they arranged their lodging. Following custom, they bathed in the sacred waters and offered oblations to the ancestors and deities. Having performed the fire rituals and partaken of the offerings, which tasted as sweet as nectar, their minds were filled with joy as they rested on the auspicious bank of the Jāhnavī. Gathering around the great-souled Viśvāmitra, the sages and the two princes seated themselves with reverence. Rāma, his mind delighted, spoke to Viśvāmitra: “Revered one, I wish to hear about Gaṅgā, the river that flows in three paths. How did she, after conquering the three worlds, become the lord of all rivers?” Prompted by Rāma’s words, Viśvāmitra began to recount the sacred origins of Gaṅgā: “O Rāma, Himavat, the lord of mountains and great source of minerals, had two daughters of incomparable beauty. Their mother was Menā, the lovely and slender-waisted daughter of Meru, and Himavat’s beloved wife. From her was born Gaṅgā, the eldest daughter, and the second was Umā. “Desiring to accomplish the work of the gods, all the deities approached Himavat and sought the eldest, Gaṅgā, the river that flows in three paths. Himavat, upholding dharma, gave his daughter Gaṅgā, purifier of the worlds, to flow for the benefit of the three worlds. Having received Gaṅgā for this purpose, the gods departed, their mission fulfilled. “As for Umā, steadfast in severe vows, she practiced intense austerity. Himavat gave her, revered by the worlds and unmatched in beauty, to Rudra (Śiva), as she was endowed with fierce penance. Thus, O Rāghava, these two daughters of the king of mountains—Gaṅgā, best of rivers, and Umā Devī—are honored by the world. “All this I have told you, O best of the wise—how Gaṅgā, who flows in three ways, first ascended to the sky. This beautiful, divine river, daughter of the lord of mountains, then rose to the world of the gods, sinless and bearing pure water.” As Viśvāmitra finished, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, eager to know more, addressed him respectfully: “O Brāhmaṇa, you have told us this supreme and righteous account. Now, 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 Gaṅgā, the purifier of worlds, flow in three paths? How did she become known as the threefold-flowing one? In the three worlds, by what deeds and with whose association did she act?” Thus asked, Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, began to narrate the full story before the assembled sages: “Long ago, O Rāma, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha (Śiva) was newly wed. Beholding the goddess (Umā), the blessed Lord joined with her in union. As the great and wise Mahādeva, the blue-throated god, sported thus with the goddess, a hundred divine years passed. Yet, O Rāma, no son was born to her. “All the gods, led by the Grandsire Brahmā, became greatly concerned. ‘If a being is born here, who will be able to withstand it?’ they wondered. So the gods approached, bowed down, and spoke: ‘O God of gods, great Lord who delights in the welfare of the world, by our prostration, you ought to show us your favor. The worlds will not be able to bear your energy, O best of gods. Endowed with Brahma’s austerity, practice penance together with the goddess. For the good of the three worlds, restrain your energy within energy; protect all these worlds. You must not render the worlds uninhabitable.’ “Hearing these words, the great Lord of all worlds replied, ‘So be it,’ to them all, and then spoke again…” Thus, the story of the sacred Gaṅgā’s origin and her connection to the gods and the worlds began to unfold, as told by the great sage Viśvāmitra to the attentive Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa on the holy banks of the Gaṅgā.