As the travelers approached the sacred river, its banks alive with the graceful presence of swans and cranes, a wave of joy swept through the gathered sages and Rāghava himself. The serene beauty of the place uplifted all their hearts. There, by the river’s edge, they arranged their lodgings for the night. They bathed in the holy waters according to time-honored rites, and with reverence, offered oblations to their ancestors and to the gods. After completing the prescribed fire rituals, they partook of offerings as sweet as nectar. Their hearts light and content, they settled on the auspicious bank of the Jāhnavī, the sacred Gaṅgā, their minds brimming with happiness. In the quiet that followed, the great-souled Viśvāmitra sat surrounded by the sages, with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa seated properly among them. Rāma, his mind filled with wonder and delight, turned to Viśvāmitra and spoke with humility: “Revered one, I wish to hear the story of Gaṅgā, the river that flows in three realms. How did she, after conquering the three worlds, become the lord of all rivers?” Prompted by Rāma’s words, Viśvāmitra, the illustrious sage, began to recount the origins and birth of Gaṅgā. “O Rāma,” he said, “Himavat, the lord of mountains and source of countless minerals, had two daughters of unmatched beauty upon this earth. Their mother was Menā, the lovely and slender-waisted daughter of Meru, and the beloved wife of Himavat. From her, O descendant of Raghu, was born Gaṅgā, the eldest daughter; and the second was Umā by name. “In time, all the gods, seeking to accomplish their divine work, approached Himavat and asked for Gaṅgā, the river that flows in three paths. Himavat, acting with righteousness, gave his daughter Gaṅgā—she who purifies the worlds and moves by her own will—for the benefit of the three worlds. The gods, their hearts gladdened and their purpose fulfilled, departed with Gaṅgā, intent on the welfare of all realms. “The other daughter, Umā, steadfast in her vows, undertook severe austerities. Himavat gave her, revered by all and unmatched in beauty, to Rudra—Shiva—recognizing her fierce asceticism. “O Rāghava, these are the two daughters of the king of mountains, honored everywhere: Gaṅgā, the best of rivers, and Umā Devī. I have thus told you how Gaṅgā, who flows in three paths, first ascended to the sky. This divine and beautiful river, sinless and bearing her sacred waters, rose up to the world of the gods, the cherished daughter of the lord of mountains.” As Viśvāmitra’s tale concluded, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, eager for deeper understanding, respectfully addressed the sage: “O Brāhmaṇa, you have told us a supreme and righteous account. Now, please describe in detail the birth of the eldest daughter of the king of mountains, for you alone know the full story of her divine and human origins. By what cause does Gaṅgā, purifier of the worlds, flow in three streams? How did she, the best of rivers, become known as the threefold-flowing one? And by what deeds and with whose association did she act in the three worlds?” Viśvāmitra, rich in the power of his austerities, replied in the midst of the assembled sages: “Long ago, O Rāma, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha—Mahādeva, the blue-throated Lord—had just wed the goddess. In their union, as Shiva and Pārvatī delighted in each other, a hundred divine years passed, yet no son was born to them. The gods, led by the Grandsire Brahmā, grew anxious: ‘If a being is born from this union, who could withstand its power?’ “So all the gods approached Shiva in supplication: ‘O Lord of gods, you who care for the world, please show us your favor. The worlds cannot bear the energy of your union. For the good of all, restrain your immense energy with your own power. Protect the worlds; do not let them be destroyed.’ “Hearing their plea, the great Lord of all worlds agreed: ‘So be it. I shall restrain my energy along with the goddess, so that peace may come to gods and earth alike. But this supreme energy of mine, now awakened—who will bear it? Let the best of the gods answer me.’ “The gods replied, ‘O Lord with the bull-banner, let the earth bear the energy that has arisen today.’ “Thus addressed, Shiva released his great energy, which filled the earth, its mountains and forests trembling with that mighty force. Once more, the gods spoke, this time to Agni, the fire god: ‘Enter, O Agni, fierce and powerful, accompanied by the wind.’ “Filled again by Agni’s presence, there arose the White Mountain and the divine Saravana, shining with the brilliance of fire and the sun. From this union, the radiant Kartikeya was born, sprung from Agni. The gods and hosts of sages rejoiced and worshipped both Umā and Shiva with great devotion. “But Umā, her eyes blazing with anger, turned to the gods and uttered a curse: ‘Because I was restrained, though I had joined in union for the sake of a child, from this day forth, you gods shall not beget offspring in your own wives; may your wives be childless.’ “Thus, O Rāma, was the tale of Gaṅgā and Umā, the daughters of the mountain king, and of the divine forces that shaped the threefold-flowing Gaṅgā, revealed.