O Rama, listen to this wondrous tale of the daughters of Himavat, the lord of mountains, who is the great source of minerals upon the earth. Himavat’s beloved wife was Menā, the slender-waisted and lovely daughter of Meru. From their union were born two daughters of incomparable beauty: Gaṅgā, the eldest, and Umā, the second. Desiring to accomplish the work of the gods, all the deities approached Himavat and requested his eldest daughter, 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, having received Gaṅgā for the welfare of all realms. Meanwhile, the other daughter, Umā, steadfast in severe vows, practiced intense austerity. Himavat gave Umā, revered by the worlds and unmatched in beauty, to Rudra, for she was endowed with fierce austerity. Thus, O Rama, these two daughters of the king of mountains—Gaṅgā, the best of rivers, and Umā Devī—are honored by all. All this has been told to you: how the threefold-flowing Gaṅgā first ascended to the sky. The beautiful and divine river, daughter of the lord of mountains, ascended to the world of the gods, pure and bearing water. When the sage had finished his tale, Rama and Lakṣmaṇa, eager and attentive, addressed him: “O Brāhmaṇa, you have spoken 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 Gaṅgā, purifier of worlds, flow in three paths? How did she become renowned as the threefold-flowing one? In the three worlds, by what deeds and with whose association did she act?” Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, replied in the midst of the sages, narrating the entire story: Long ago, O Rama, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha—Mahādeva, the blue-throated god—was newly wed to Umā. Beholding the goddess, the blessed Lord engaged in union with her, and a hundred divine years passed as they sported together. Yet, O Rama, no son was born to them. The gods, led by the Grandsire, became greatly concerned: “If a being is born here, who will be able to withstand it?” The gods approached Mahādeva, bowed, 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. For the good of all, restrain your energy within energy, and protect these worlds—you must not render them uninhabitable.” Hearing their words, the great Lord replied, “So be it,” and spoke further: “I shall restrain my energy with energy itself, along with the goddess; let the gods and earth attain peace. This supreme energy of mine, which has been stirred—who will bear it? Let the best of the gods tell me this.” The gods answered, “The energy of yours that has been stirred today, the earth will bear it.” Thus, the mighty Lord released his great energy, filling the earth, its mountains, and forests. Again, the gods spoke to Agni: “Enter, you of great energy, fierce and accompanied by wind.” Agni entered, and from his presence arose the White Mountain and the divine Saravana, shining like fire and the sun. From Agni was born the radiant Kartikeya. At that time, the gods and the hosts of sages worshipped Umā and Shiva with great devotion, their minds exceedingly pleased. But the daughter of the mountain, Umā, spoke to the gods, her eyes reddened with anger: “Because I was restrained, though I had joined for the sake of a child, you shall not beget offspring in your own wives; from this day forth, may your wives be childless.” She also cursed the earth: “O earth, you shall not have a single form; you shall become one with many wives. And you, whose mind is clouded, will not obtain the joy that comes from a son, for you do not desire my son and have angered me.” Seeing all the gods afflicted, the lord of the gods set out toward the region guarded by Varuṇa. There, on the northern slope of a peak born of Himavat, Shiva undertook austerities together with the goddess. O Rama, this account has been related to you by the daughter of the mountain. Now, listen as I tell you, along with Lakṣmaṇa, the origin of Gaṅgā.