As the gods witnessed a powerful being about to be born, they were filled with concern, wondering who could possibly endure such immense energy. In their anxiety, they gathered together, approached the great Lord Shiva, and bowed down before him. With reverence, they pleaded, "O God of gods, great Lord, you who delight in the welfare of the world, please show us your favor in response to our prostration." They spoke earnestly, "O best of gods, the worlds cannot bear your energy. Endowed with Brahma’s austerity, please practice penance 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." Upon hearing their words, the great Lord Shiva responded, "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." Yet he asked, "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 to Shiva, known for his bull-banner, "The energy you have stirred today, the earth will bear it." Accepting their answer, Shiva released his great energy, filling the earth, its mountains, and forests with his power. The gods then turned to Agni, the fire god, and said, "Enter, you of great energy, fierce and accompanied by wind." Agni, with his intense force, entered, and from this union arose the White Mountain and the divine Saravana, both shining like fire and the sun. From Agni’s energy, the radiant Kartikeya was born. At that moment, the gods and the hosts of sages worshipped Uma and Shiva with great devotion, their minds exceedingly pleased. Then, O Rama, 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 then cursed the earth as well: "O earth, you shall not have a single form; you shall become one with many wives." And she declared, "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, Shiva, the lord of the gods, set out toward the region guarded by Varuṇa. There, on the northern slope of a mountain born of Himavat, together with the goddess, Shiva undertook austerities. O Rama, this account was narrated to you by the daughter of the mountain. Now, listen as I tell you, along with Lakshmana, the origin of the sacred river Ganga. While Shiva was performing his austerities, the gods, led by Indra and Agni, approached the Grandfather, Brahma, desiring a commander for their army. They bowed down to him and said, "O god, the commander you once appointed is now engaged in severe austerities together with his wife. Whatever must be done for the welfare of the worlds, please arrange it, for you are our supreme refuge." Brahma comforted the immortals with gentle words and spoke, "What was spoken by the daughter of the mountain is not fitting for creatures with their own wives; her words are pure and true. This celestial Ganga, 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 this, all the gods, their purpose fulfilled, bowed down and worshipped Brahma. Then, they went to the jewel-adorned Kailasa and appointed Agni for the task of obtaining a son. They said, "O god, accomplish this task for the gods: release your energy into Ganga, the daughter of the mountain." Agni promised the gods, approached Ganga, and said, "O goddess, bear the embryo; this is dear to the gods." Hearing these words, Ganga assumed a divine form, and Agni’s energy dispersed in all directions, filling her streams. Fire anointed the goddess on all sides, and the streams of Ganga became full. But Ganga, overwhelmed, spoke to the assembly of gods: "O god, I am unable to bear the blazing energy that has arisen from you." Burned by that fire and greatly disturbed, Ganga was addressed by Agni, the receiver of all offerings: "Let this embryo be placed here, on the slopes of the Himalayas." Obeying Agni’s words, Ganga released the exceedingly radiant embryo from her streams. From her, emerged a mighty and radiant being, shining with the brilliance of molten gold. Gold, radiant like the sun, reached the earth, as did incomparable silver, copper, and black iron, all arising from the sharpness of that energy. Thus, Kartikeya, the commander of the gods’ army, was born, and the divine metals emerged, marking the fulfillment of the gods’ desires and the beginning of Ganga’s sacred story.