As Rāma walked along the forest path, he turned to the sage Viśvāmitra with a question. Viśvāmitra replied, “This is the very path I have indicated, the one traveled by the great sages.” With the sage’s guidance, the company of sages, along with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, continued their journey, observing the varied and wondrous forests around them. They traveled a long distance, and when half the day had passed, their eyes beheld the sacred Jāhnavī—the foremost among rivers, frequented by sages and holy beings. The sight of this blessed river, its waters graced by swans and cranes, filled the hearts of all present with great joy. On the banks of the Jāhnavī, they made their camp. Following custom, they bathed in the sacred waters and offered oblations to the ancestors and to the gods. After performing the fire rituals and partaking of the offerings, which tasted as sweet as nectar, joy filled their minds as they rested on the auspicious riverbank. Seated around the great-souled Viśvāmitra, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa joined the circle of sages. Rāma, his heart uplifted, addressed Viśvāmitra with reverence: “Revered one, I wish to hear the story of Gaṅgā, the river that flows in three paths. How did she come to be the sovereign of all rivers, after conquering the three worlds?” Thus prompted, Viśvāmitra began to recount the sacred tale of Gaṅgā’s origin and birth. “O Rāma,” he said, “Himavat, lord of mountains and source of countless minerals, had two daughters of incomparable beauty. Their mother was Menā, the graceful and slender-waisted daughter of Meru, beloved wife of Himavat. From her, Gaṅgā was born as the eldest daughter, and the second was Umā. “Desiring to accomplish the work of the gods, all the deities approached Himavat and asked for Gaṅgā, the river who flows in three paths. Himavat, righteous and compassionate, gave his daughter Gaṅgā—purifier of the worlds, who flows by her own will—for the benefit of all three worlds. The gods, their purpose fulfilled, departed joyfully with Gaṅgā. “As for Umā, the other daughter, steadfast in severe vows, she performed intense austerities. The lord of mountains gave Umā, honored by the worlds and unmatched in beauty, to Rudra, for she was endowed with fierce austerity. Thus, O Rāghava, these two daughters of the king of mountains—Gaṅgā, the best of rivers, and Umā Devī—are both honored by the world. “I have told you how the threefold-flowing Gaṅgā first ascended to the sky. This divine and beautiful river, daughter of the lord of mountains, rose to the world of the gods, pure and bearing sacred waters.” After Viśvāmitra finished his tale, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, welcoming the story, addressed the sage again: “O Brāhmaṇa, you have narrated this supreme and righteous account. Please describe in detail the birth of the eldest daughter of the king of mountains. How did the purifier of worlds, Gaṅgā, come to flow in three paths? How did she become renowned as the threefold-flowing one? By what deeds and through whose association did she act in the three worlds?” Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, replied in the midst of the sages. “Long ago, O Rāma, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha—Mahādeva, the blue-throated lord—was newly wed to Umā. Beholding the goddess, the blessed Lord united with her, and as the wise Mahādeva sported thus, a hundred divine years passed. Yet, no son was born to her. This caused great concern among the gods, led by the Grandsire, Brahmā. “The gods wondered, ‘If a being is born here, who will be able to withstand its power?’ So, they approached Śiva, bowed down, and spoke: ‘O God of gods, great Lord, who delights in the welfare of the world, by our prostration, please show us your favor. The worlds cannot bear your energy. For the good of all, restrain your power and practice penance with the goddess. Protect the worlds—do not let them become uninhabitable.’ “Hearing these words, the great Lord of all worlds agreed: ‘So be it. I shall restrain my energy with energy itself, along with the goddess; let the gods and the earth find peace. But this supreme energy of mine, now stirred—who will bear it? Let the best of the gods tell me this.’ “The gods replied, ‘The earth will bear the energy you have released today.’ Thus addressed, the mighty Lord released his great energy, filling the earth and all its mountains and forests. “Then the gods spoke to Agni: ‘O fire-god of great energy, fierce and swift, enter this energy, accompanied by the wind.’ Filled again by Agni’s power, there arose the White Mountain and the divine Saravana, shining like fire and the sun. There, from Agni, was born the greatly radiant Kartikeya. At that time, the gods and hosts of sages worshipped Umā and Śiva. “Thus, O Rāma, have I told you the divine story of Gaṅgā and the wondrous events that led to her threefold flow and the birth of Kartikeya, the son of Śiva and the goddess.