When the great sage had finished his tale, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, eager and attentive, addressed him with reverence. “O venerable Brāhmaṇa,” they said, “you have narrated a supreme and righteous story. Now, please tell us in detail about the birth of the eldest daughter of the king of mountains. You alone know the full story of her divine and human origins. By what cause does Gaṅgā, purifier of the worlds, flow in three paths? How did she, the renowned and best of rivers, come to be known as the threefold-flowing one? In the three worlds, O knower of dharma, by what deeds and with whose association did she act?” Thus requested, Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, began his narration before the assembled sages. “Long ago, O Rāma, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha—Mahādeva, the blue-throated Lord—had recently wed the goddess. Filled with love, the blessed Lord united with her, and in their divine union, a hundred celestial years passed. Yet, O Rāma, no child was born from their union, and all the gods, led by the Grandsire, became deeply concerned. “They wondered, ‘If a being is born from this union, who could possibly withstand its power?’ Troubled, all the gods approached Mahādeva, bowed down, and addressed him: ‘O God of gods, great Lord who delights in the welfare of the worlds, by our prostration we beg your favor. The worlds cannot bear the energy of your union, O best of gods. Endowed as you are with Brahma’s austerity, please practice restraint together with the goddess. For the good of the three worlds, restrain your energy within itself. Protect all these worlds—do not render them uninhabitable.’ “Hearing their plea, the great Lord of all worlds replied, ‘So be it.’ He then said, ‘I shall restrain my energy with energy itself, together with the goddess, so that the gods and the earth may find peace. But this supreme energy of mine, which has been stirred—who will bear it? Let the best of the gods tell me this.’ “The gods replied, ‘O Bull-bannered One, the energy you have generated today will be borne by the earth herself.’ Thus addressed, Mahādeva released his great energy, which filled the earth, its mountains, and forests. “Then the gods spoke to Agni: ‘O Agni, of great energy, fierce and swift as the wind, enter this energy.’ Agni complied, and from this union, the White Mountain and the divine Saravana arose, shining like fire and the sun. There was born the greatly radiant Kārttikeya, sprung from the union of Agni and the divine energy. At that time, all the gods and hosts of sages worshipped Uma and Shiva with great devotion, their minds exceedingly pleased. “Yet, O Rāma, the daughter of the mountain—Uma—was angered. Her eyes reddened with rage, she addressed the gods: ‘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.’ Having cursed the gods, she then 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, the lord of the gods, Shiva, then departed for the region guarded by Varuṇa. There, on the northern slope of a mountain peak born of Himavat, together with the goddess, Shiva undertook austerities. “O Rāma, this is the account as related by the daughter of the mountain herself. Now, listen as I tell you of the origin of Gaṅgā. “While Shiva was engaged in austerities, the gods, led by Indra and Agni, approached the Grandfather, Brahmā, desiring a commander for their army. Bowing before him, they said, ‘O god, the commander you once appointed is now engaged in severe austerities with his wife. For the welfare of the worlds, arrange what must be done, for you are our supreme refuge.’ “Hearing their words, the Grandfather comforted the immortals and spoke gently: ‘What the daughter of the mountain has declared is fitting; her words are pure and true. 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, and he will be greatly esteemed by Uma, without doubt.’ “Hearing these words, O descendant of Raghu, all the gods, their purpose fulfilled, bowed down and worshipped the Grandfather. Then they went to the supreme, jewel-adorned Kailāsa and appointed Agni to accomplish their task. ‘O god,’ they said, ‘release your energy into Gaṅgā, the daughter of the mountain, for the sake of the gods.