While the great god was absorbed in deep austerities, the gods—led by Indra and Agni—approached the Grandfather of all, Brahmā, seeking a new commander for their celestial armies. With reverence, they bowed before the blessed Grandfather and spoke: “O Lord, the commander you once appointed is now engaged in severe penance with his wife. For the welfare of all worlds, please arrange what must be done, for you are the supreme refuge and knower of order.” Hearing their plea, Brahmā comforted the immortals with gentle words. He explained, “What the daughter of the mountain has spoken is pure and true, and not fitting for those already united with their own spouses. But do not worry. This celestial Gaṅgā, in whom Agni will beget a son, shall bear the commander of the gods’ army—the destroyer of enemies. The eldest daughter of the king of mountains will honor this son, and he will be greatly esteemed by Umā, without doubt.” Satisfied by these words, the gods, their hearts at ease and their purpose fulfilled, bowed and worshipped the Grandfather. Then, traveling to the supreme, jewel-adorned mountain of Kailāsa, the gods appointed Agni to accomplish the task of procuring a son for their army. They addressed Agni, “O god, fulfill this task for the gods: release your divine energy into Gaṅgā, the daughter of the mountain.” Agni accepted and approached Gaṅgā, saying, “O goddess, bear this embryo; it is dear to the gods.” Hearing this, Gaṅgā assumed a divine form, and seeing her greatness, Agni’s energy dispersed in all directions. Fire then anointed the goddess on all sides, and all the streams of Gaṅgā became brimming and full. Overwhelmed by the blazing energy, Gaṅgā spoke to the assembly of gods: “O gods, I cannot bear the fiery energy that has arisen from you.” Burned by the fire and her mind greatly disturbed, Gaṅgā was addressed by Agni, the receiver of all the gods’ offerings: “Let this embryo be placed here, on the slopes of the Himalayas.” Obeying Agni’s words, Gaṅgā released the exceedingly radiant embryo onto the Himalayan slopes. What emerged from her shone with the brilliance of molten gold. Gold, bright as the sun, reached the earth, as did radiant silver, copper, and black iron, all born from the sharpness of that energy. Her impurities became tin and lead, and thus, various metals increased upon the earth. When the embryo, infused with radiance, was deposited, the entire forest, encircled by mountains, became golden. From that time, that place has been known as “jātarūpa”—gold, equal in brilliance to fire. All the grass, trees, creepers, and shrubs there became golden. The gods, along with Indra and the hosts of the wind deities, then assigned the Kṛttikās—the six stars of the Pleiades—to nourish the divine boy who had been born. The Kṛttikās made an agreement to give milk to the newborn, declaring, “He is the son of all of us.” The gods proclaimed, “He shall be called Kārttikeya. He will become renowned throughout the three worlds as our son—there is no doubt.” Hearing these words, the gods bathed the radiant child, who had emerged from the flow of the embryo, with supreme splendor, as though he were blazing fire. Because he had flowed forth from the embryo, he was called Skanda; he was also known as Kārttikeya, mighty-armed and blazing like fire. The excellent milk of the Kṛttikās appeared for him, and having six faces, the divine child took milk from the breasts of all six mothers. In a single day, though still tender in body, the mighty one drank the milk and, by his own strength, conquered the armies of demons. All the immortals, led by Agni, then anointed this radiant being as the commander of the divine armies. Thus, said the sage, the auspicious and blessed birth of Kārttikeya and the story of Gaṅgā have been recounted, O Rāma. Any man on earth devoted to Kārttikeya, blessed with sons and grandsons, will attain the world of Skanda. Having narrated this sweet and wondrous tale to Rāma, the sage Viśvāmitra continued, “O hero, there was once a king of Ayodhyā, a righteous ruler named Sagara, who longed for children but was childless. His elder queen was Keśinī, daughter of the king of Vidarbha, virtuous and true. His second wife was Sumati, sister of Suparṇa and daughter of Ariṣṭanemi. Desiring offspring, the great king Sagara performed austerities with both his wives, journeying to Mount Himavat at the sacred peak of Bhṛguprasravaṇa. After a hundred years of severe penance, the great sage Bhṛgu, foremost among the truthful, was pleased by their devotion and granted Sagara a boon.