As the beautiful, divine river—Gaṅgā, daughter of the lord of mountains—ascended to the world of the gods, bearing her sinless waters, the tale of her origins and deeds was eagerly awaited. When the sage had finished speaking, the heroic Rāghava and his brother Lakṣmaṇa, full of reverence for the story, approached the eminent sage Viśvāmitra. They addressed him respectfully, saying, “O Brāhmaṇa, you have narrated a supreme and righteous account. 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.” They wished to understand why Gaṅgā, purifier of worlds, flowed in three paths and how she became renowned as the threefold-flowing river. They asked Viśvāmitra, the knower of dharma, about her deeds in the three worlds and with whom she had acted. Upon hearing their request, Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, began to narrate the story in the presence of the sages. Long ago, he said, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha—Mahādeva, the blue-throated lord—had newly wed the goddess Uma. Beholding the goddess, the blessed Lord engaged in union with her, and as Mahādeva sported thus, a hundred divine years passed. Yet, no son was born to them. The gods, led by the Grandsire, grew greatly concerned. They wondered, “If a being is born here, who could possibly withstand its power?” So, all the gods approached Mahādeva, bowed down, and pleaded with him: “O God of gods, great Lord, who delights in the welfare of the world, by our prostration, please 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 them uninhabitable.” Hearing their words, the great Lord of all worlds replied, “So be it,” and assured them, “I shall restrain my energy with energy itself, along with the goddess; let the gods and the earth attain peace. This supreme energy of mine, which has been stirred from its place—who will bear it? Let the best of the gods tell me this.” The gods replied, “The energy of yours that has been stirred today, the earth will bear it.” Thus addressed, Mahādeva released his immense energy, filling the earth, its mountains, and forests. The gods then spoke to Agni, “Enter, you of great energy, fierce and accompanied by wind.” Agni entered, and there arose the White Mountain and the divine Saravana, shining like fire and the sun. From this, the greatly radiant Kartikeya was born, sprung from Agni. The gods and hosts of sages worshipped Uma and Shiva with great devotion, their minds exceedingly pleased. But the daughter of the mountain, Uma, spoke to the gods with anger, her eyes reddened. She cursed them, saying, “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 so clouded, will not obtain the joy that comes from a son, for you do not desire my son and have angered me.” Seeing the gods afflicted by these curses, the lord of the gods, Mahādeva, set out toward the region guarded by Varuṇa. Upon reaching it, he undertook austerities on the northern slope of a mountain born of Himavat, together with the goddess Uma. Viśvāmitra then said, “O Rāma, this account has been related to you by the daughter of the mountain. Now listen, along with Lakṣmaṇa, as I tell of the origin of Gaṅgā.” While Mahādeva was engaged in austerities, the gods, led by Indra and Agni, approached the Grandfather, desiring a commander for their army. They bowed to the blessed Grandfather and said, “O god, the commander of the army whom you once appointed is now engaged in severe austerities together with his wife. Whatever must now be done for the welfare of the worlds, arrange it, O knower of order, for you are our supreme refuge.” Grandfather comforted the immortals with gentle words, saying, “What was spoken by the daughter of the mountain is not fitting for creatures with their own wives; her words are pure and true, without doubt. This celestial Gaṅgā, in whom Agni will beget a son, will bear the commander of the gods’ army, the destroyer of enemies. The eldest daughter of the king of mountains will honor that son; he will be greatly esteemed by Uma, without doubt.” Hearing these words, all the gods, their purpose fulfilled, bowed down and worshipped the Grandfather. Then, having gone to the supreme, jewel-adorned Kailāsa, all the gods appointed Agni for the sake of obtaining a son. Thus, the divine Gaṅgā, daughter of Himavat, became the bearer of Kartikeya, the commander of the gods’ army, and her story, flowing through the three worlds, was honored by all.