As Rāma, the descendant of Kakutstha, sat among the sages, he asked Viśvāmitra, the illustrious sage rich in austerity, about the origins of Gaṅgā, the purifier of worlds. He wondered why Gaṅgā, the renowned and best of rivers, flows in three paths and how she came to be known as the threefold-flowing one. He also sought to know, in the three worlds, by what deeds and whose association she acted. Viśvāmitra began to narrate the story in full. Long ago, he said, the great ascetic Śitikaṇṭha, known as Mahādeva, the blue-throated god, had just wed the goddess. Beholding her, the blessed Lord united with her, and as they sported together, a hundred divine years passed. Yet, no son was born to her, despite their union. This concerned all the gods, led by the Grandsire, Brahmā. They feared the consequences of a child born from such powerful beings, wondering who could withstand such a being. So, the gods approached Mahādeva, bowed down, and pleaded with him: “O God of gods, great Lord, who delights in the welfare of the world, please show us your favor. The worlds cannot bear your energy; practice penance together with the goddess for the good of the three worlds. Restrain your energy within energy, and protect all these worlds—you must not render them uninhabitable.” Hearing their plea, Mahādeva, 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. 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, “The energy of yours that has been stirred today, the earth will bear it.” Thus addressed, Mahādeva released his great energy, and the earth, with its mountains and forests, was filled by it. Then, the gods turned to Agni, the fire god, and instructed him, “Enter, you of great energy, fierce and accompanied by wind.” Agni, filled with divine power, entered the earth, and from this union 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. At that time, the gods and the hosts of sages worshipped Uma and Shiva with great devotion, their minds exceedingly pleased. Then, the daughter of the mountain, Uma, spoke to the gods. With anger, her eyes reddened, she cursed them all: “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 all the gods afflicted, the lord of the gods set out toward the region guarded by Varuṇa. There, on the northern slope of a mountain peak born of Himavat, Shiva undertook austerities together with the goddess. 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 you of the origin of Gaṅgā.” While Shiva was performing austerities, the gods, along with Indra and Agni at their head, approached the Grandfather, Brahmā, desiring a commander for their army. They bowed down to him and spoke: “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, for you are our supreme refuge.” Brahmā comforted the immortals with gentle words and explained, “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 Umā, without doubt.” Hearing these words, all the gods, their purpose fulfilled, bowed down and worshipped Brahmā. They then went to the supreme, jewel-adorned Kailāsa and appointed Agni for the task of obtaining a son. They said, “O god, accomplish this task for the gods: release your energy into Gaṅgā, the daughter of the mountain.” Agni promised the gods, approached Gaṅgā, and said, “O goddess, bear the embryo; this is dear to the gods.” Hearing his words, Gaṅgā assumed a divine form, and seeing her greatness, Agni’s energy dispersed in all directions. Fire anointed the goddess on all sides, and all the streams of the Gaṅgā became full. Thus, the story of Gaṅgā’s threefold flow and her role in bearing the commander of the gods’ army, Kartikeya, was revealed to Rāma by Viśvāmitra, recounting the deeds, associations, and divine interventions that shaped the river’s sacred course.