With deep reverence, Aṃśumān circled the mighty being before him, respectfully inquiring after its well-being. Then, turning to his ancestors and the one who had stolen the sacrificial horse, he questioned them as well, seeking answers to the mysteries that had unfolded. In response, the wise and great-minded elephant of the directions assured him, “Āsamañja, your purpose is fulfilled; you will soon return together with the horse.” Heartened, Aṃśumān then approached each of the elephants of the directions in turn, asking his questions in the proper order. All the guardians of the quarters, skilled in speech and wise in counsel, honored him and confirmed, “You will indeed return with the horse.” Taking their words to heart, the swift-footed prince made his way to where his ancestors, the sons of Sagara, lay reduced to mere heaps of ashes. Overcome with sorrow at the sight, the son of Asamañja cried out in great distress, deeply afflicted by the tragic fate that had befallen his kin. Not far from that place, the grief-stricken prince, a tiger among men, caught sight of the sacrificial horse wandering nearby. Wishing to perform the water-rite for his royal ancestors, Aṃśumān sought a reservoir of water, but none could be found. As his keen gaze swept the surroundings, he beheld Suparṇa, the king of birds, swift as the wind and maternal uncle to his ancestors. Vainateya, the mighty Suparṇa, spoke words of comfort: “Do not grieve, O tiger among men. This death is accepted by the world. These mighty ones were reduced to ashes by the immeasurable Kapila; you should not offer them ordinary water. Only in the waters of Gaṅgā, eldest daughter of Himavat, should you perform the sacred rites for your ancestors. When the purifier of worlds, Gaṅgā, washes over these ashes, all sixty thousand sons will attain the heavenly realm. Go now, fortunate one, gather the horse, and complete the ancestral sacrifice.” Moved by Suparṇa’s words, the radiant and powerful Aṃśumān quickly seized the horse and returned to the great ascetic, his grandfather King Sagara. Upon his return, he recounted all that had transpired, including Suparṇa’s counsel. Hearing these dreadful tidings from Aṃśumān, King Sagara completed the sacrifice according to the proper rites. The illustrious king, his desired sacrifice accomplished, returned to his city, but he found no way to bring the Ganga down to earth for the deliverance of his sons. Without resolving this, the great king ruled for thirty thousand years and, in due course, departed for heaven. Now, O listener, the story continues. When Sagara passed away as ordained by time, the people chose Aṃśumān, supremely righteous, as their king. This Aṃśumān, exceedingly great, was blessed with a renowned son, the illustrious Dilīpa. Entrusting the kingdom to Dilīpa, Aṃśumān withdrew to the beautiful Himalayan peaks and performed severe austerities. For thirty-two thousand years, he dwelled among ascetics in the forest, and through his penance, attained heaven. Dilīpa, endowed with great energy, was deeply grieved upon learning of his ancestors’ destruction. He pondered endlessly: “How can the Ganga be brought down? How can I perform the funeral rites with water for them? How might I deliver them from this fate?” His heart was absorbed in these thoughts. While Dilīpa, self-controlled and devoted to righteousness, was thus engaged in contemplation, a son was born to him—Bhagīratha, supremely virtuous. Dilīpa, radiant and splendid, performed many sacrifices and ruled his kingdom for thirty thousand years. Yet, unable to find a solution to his ancestors’ deliverance, he was overtaken by disease and, in time, departed this world, ascending to Indra’s realm after anointing Bhagīratha as king. Bhagīratha, the royal sage, was a righteous ruler, though he had no offspring and longed for both progeny and subjects. Entrusting the kingdom to his ministers, he resolved to bring down the Ganga and undertook severe austerities at Gokarna. With arms raised, practicing the fivefold austerity, subsisting on food once a month, and having mastered his senses, he stood in terrible penance for a thousand years. When the great-souled king’s austerities were complete, Lord Brahmā, the blessed master and ruler of all beings, was greatly pleased. He appeared before Bhagīratha and said, “O King, I am pleased with you. By your well-performed austerity, choose a boon.” Standing with joined palms, the radiant and mighty-armed Bhagīratha addressed the Grandsire of the worlds: “If you are pleased with me, if my austerity has borne fruit, may all the sons of Sagara receive water from me. May their ashes, moistened by the waters of the Ganga, grant them the highest heaven, along with their ancestors. I ask this boon for the sake of my lineage, so that our race does not perish; let this supreme blessing be granted to the line of Ikshvaku.” Then, the Grandsire of all worlds spoke to the king, addressing him with auspicious and gentle words.