O Rama, listen as I recount this wondrous tale of divine events. When the great Lord Shiva, the best among the gods, was engaged in deep austerities, the assembled deities approached him with concern. They said, “O Lord, the worlds cannot bear the intensity of your energy. Endowed as you are with the austerity of Brahma, restrain your immense power together with the goddess Uma. For the welfare of all three worlds, contain your energy within itself and protect creation; do not render the worlds uninhabitable.” Hearing these earnest words of the gods, Shiva, the Lord of all worlds, replied, “So be it.” He then assured them, “I shall restrain my energy with energy itself, together with the goddess. Let the gods and the earth attain peace.” Yet, he asked, “This supreme energy of mine, which has been stirred—who will bear it? Let the best among you tell me this.” The gods answered the Bull-bannered One, “O Lord, the earth herself will bear the energy you have generated today.” Thus addressed, the mighty Shiva released his great energy, which filled the earth, along with its mountains and forests. The gods then turned to Agni, the fire god, and said, “O Agni of great energy, fierce and swift, enter this energy, accompanied by the wind.” When Agni entered, the earth produced the shining White Mountain and the divine Saravana, both radiant like fire and the sun. There, from Agni, was born the greatly radiant Kartikeya. At that moment, the gods and hosts of sages worshipped Uma and Shiva with deep devotion, their hearts overflowing with joy. Yet, the daughter of the mountain, Uma, her eyes reddened in anger, addressed the gods. She spoke with fury: “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, may your wives be childless.” Having thus cursed the gods, she turned to the earth and pronounced, “O earth, you shall not have a single form; you shall become one with many wives. And you, whose mind is clouded, will not find joy in a son, for you do not desire my child and have angered me.” Seeing the gods afflicted by these curses, Shiva, the Lord of gods, departed for the region guarded by Varuṇa. There, on the northern slope of a peak born of Himavat, he undertook austerities together with the goddess Uma. O Rama, this tale was related to you by the daughter of the mountain herself. Now, listen as I tell you, along with Lakshmana, of the origin of the sacred Ganga. While Shiva was absorbed in penance, the gods, led by Indra and Agni, approached the Grandfather, Brahma, seeking a commander for their celestial armies. They bowed to the blessed Grandfather and said, “O Lord, the commander you once appointed now performs severe austerities with his wife. For the welfare of the worlds, please arrange what must be done, for you are our supreme refuge.” Hearing their plea, Brahma comforted the immortals and spoke gently: “What the daughter of the mountain has declared is fitting for beings with their own wives; her words are pure and true. But now, 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, Uma, will honor that son, and he will be greatly esteemed by her.” Hearing Brahma’s words, the gods, their purpose fulfilled, bowed and worshipped him. Then, journeying to the supreme, jewel-adorned Kailasa, they appointed Agni for the task of obtaining a son. They said, “O Agni, accomplish this task for the gods: release your energy into Ganga, the daughter of the mountain.” Agni agreed and approached Ganga, saying, “O goddess, bear the embryo; this is dear to the gods.” Hearing this, Ganga assumed a divine form; her greatness was such that Agni’s energy dispersed in all directions. Fire then anointed the goddess on all sides, and all the streams of the Ganga became full. But Ganga, overwhelmed by the blazing energy, addressed the assembly of gods: “O gods, I cannot bear this burning energy that has arisen from you.” Burned and distressed, Ganga was then told by Agni, the receiver of all offerings, “Let this embryo be placed here, on the slopes of the Himalayas.” Obeying Agni, Ganga released the exceedingly radiant embryo. From her streams emerged a mighty and radiant being, shining with the brilliance of molten gold. Gold, radiant as the sun, fell to earth, as did silver, copper, and black iron, all arising from the sharpness of that energy. Her impurity became tin and lead, and, having reached the earth, various metals increased. Where the embryo was deposited, infused with radiance, the entire forest, encircled by mountains, became golden. Thus, O Rama, the divine events unfolded, and the world was blessed by the birth of Kartikeya, the commander of the gods’ army, and the sacred metals that adorned the earth.