Within the depths of the earth dwell beings of immense power and might. To protect yourself from them, you must arm yourself with sword and bow. With these words, the great-souled King Sagara instructed his descendant: “Show respect to those who deserve it, but if you encounter any who obstruct your path, do not hesitate to slay them. Return only when you have secured my sacrificial horse and ensured the completion of my sacrifice.” Thus addressed by Sagara, the radiant prince, filled with resolve, swiftly took up his bow and sword. With light and purposeful steps, he entered the subterranean passage that had been excavated by his noble ancestors, the mighty sons of Sagara, urged on by the king’s command. As he journeyed through those hidden realms, he was honored by gods, demons, yakshas, spirits, birds, and serpents alike. There, the mighty prince beheld the colossal elephant that supports one of the directions of the world. Circling it reverently, he inquired after its well-being and then questioned both his ancestors and the one who had stolen the horse. Hearing his earnest questions, the wise and great-minded elephant of the direction replied, “Āsamañja, your task is fulfilled. You will soon return with the horse.” Encouraged by these words, the prince proceeded to question each of the elephants of the directions in turn, following the proper order. All the guardians of the directions, skilled in speech and wise in counsel, honored him and assured him, “You will return with the horse.” Taking their words to heart, the swift-footed prince made his way to the place where his ancestors, the sons of Sagara, had been reduced to heaps of ashes. There, overcome by sorrow, the son of Āsamañja cried out in great distress, his heart deeply afflicted by the loss of his kin. Not far from that place, the tiger among men, heavy with grief, saw the sacrificial horse wandering. Desiring to perform the water-rite for the souls of those royal sons, the mighty prince searched for water, but he could find no reservoir anywhere. Casting his keen gaze about, he then beheld Suparṇa, the king of birds—none other than Vainateya, maternal uncle to his ancestors. Swift as the wind, Suparṇa approached. Vainateya spoke words of comfort: “Do not grieve, tiger among men. This death is accepted by the world. Your mighty ancestors were consumed by the immeasurable power of Kapila; you should not offer them ordinary water. The eldest daughter of Himavat, Gaṅgā, is the one in whose waters you must perform the rites for your ancestors. When the holy Gaṅgā, purifier of worlds, washes over their ashes, all sixty thousand sons will attain the heavenly realm.” “Go now, fortunate one. Gather the horse and complete the ancestral sacrifice, O best of men.” Hearing Suparṇa’s words, the radiant and exceedingly powerful prince quickly took up the horse and returned to the great ascetic king. Approaching the consecrated King Sagara, he recounted all that had transpired, including the words of Suparṇa. Hearing these dreadful tidings from Aṃśumān, the king completed the sacrifice with all the prescribed rites and procedures. The illustrious king, having performed the desired sacrifice, returned to his own city, yet he found no way to bring the Gaṅgā down to earth and thus remained unresolved in his quest. Without achieving his heart’s desire, the great king ruled for thirty thousand years before, in due time, ascending to heaven. When Sagara passed away as ordained by time, the people chose Aṃśumān, supremely righteous, to be their king. This noble Aṃśumān was exceedingly great, and his renowned son was the illustrious Dilīpa. Entrusting the kingdom to Dilīpa, Aṃśumān withdrew to the beautiful heights of the Himalaya and undertook severe austerities. For thirty-two thousand years, the king of great fame dwelled in the forest of ascetics, and, enriched by his penance, he too attained heaven. Yet Dilīpa, endowed with great energy, was overcome with grief upon learning of his ancestors’ destruction and could not find a way to deliver them. He pondered continually: “How might I bring down the Gaṅgā? How can I perform the water-rites for my ancestors? How might I deliver them?” Absorbed in such thoughts, and ever devoted to righteousness, a son was born to him—Bhagīratha, supremely virtuous. Dilīpa, of great splendor, performed many sacrifices and ruled the kingdom for thirty thousand years. But, unable to achieve deliverance for his ancestors, the king was overtaken by disease and, in accordance with the law of time, met his end. By his accumulated merit, Dilīpa ascended to the world of Indra, having anointed his son Bhagīratha as king. Bhagīratha, the royal sage, was a righteous king, but he had no offspring and yearned for both progeny and the deliverance of his ancestors. Entrusting the kingdom to his ministers, he devoted himself to bringing down the Gaṅgā. At Gokarna, he undertook long and arduous austerities. With arms raised in the fivefold penance, subsisting on food taken only once a month, and having mastered his senses, Bhagīratha stood in terrible penance for a thousand years. When the great-souled king’s austerities were complete, the blessed Lord Brahmā, master and ruler of beings, was greatly pleased. “King Bhagīratha,” Brahmā said, “I am pleased with you, lord of men. By your well-performed austerity, ask for the boon you desire, O steadfast one.