After fulfilling the desired sacrifice, the illustrious King Sagara returned to his city. Yet, despite his efforts, he found no resolution regarding the descent of the sacred Ganga, whose waters alone could deliver his ancestors. Unable to achieve this goal, Sagara ruled wisely for thirty thousand years, and then, as ordained by time, departed for heaven. With Sagara's passing, the people chose his supremely righteous grandson, Aṃśumān, as their king. Aṃśumān was a ruler of great virtue, and his renowned son was the illustrious Dilīpa. Eventually, Aṃśumān entrusted the kingdom to Dilīpa and, yearning to bring the Ganga down for his ancestors, undertook severe austerities upon the beautiful Himalaya peak. There, in the forest of ascetics, Aṃśumān dwelt for thirty-two thousand years, performing penance, until he too attained heaven, enriched by his merit. Dilīpa, endowed with remarkable energy, learned of his ancestors’ tragic fate and was overcome by grief, unable to discover a way to deliver them. He pondered deeply: how might the Ganga’s descent be accomplished? How could the funeral rites with water be performed for his forebears? How could he deliver his lineage from suffering? While constantly absorbed in these thoughts, and being self-controlled and devoted to righteousness, Dilīpa was blessed with a supremely virtuous son named Bhagīratha. Dilīpa, radiant in splendor, performed many sacrifices and ruled his kingdom for thirty thousand years. Yet, he too could not resolve the deliverance of his ancestors. Eventually, overtaken by disease and according to the law of time, Dilīpa passed away, his soul ascending to Indra’s world by his accumulated merit, after anointing Bhagīratha as king. Bhagīratha, the royal sage, was a righteous king. Though without offspring, he yearned for progeny and subjects. Entrusting his kingdom to his ministers, Bhagīratha became intent on bringing down the Ganga and undertook long, arduous austerities at Gokarna. With arms raised, practicing the fivefold austerity, subsisting on food only once a month, and mastering his senses, he stood in terrible penance for a thousand years. When Bhagīratha’s mighty austerities had passed, the blessed Lord Brahmā, master and ruler of all beings, was greatly pleased. He appeared before Bhagīratha and said, “O King Bhagīratha, I am pleased with you. By your well-performed austerity, choose a boon, O steadfast one.” Standing with joined palms, the radiant Bhagīratha addressed the Grandsire of all worlds: “If the Blessed One is 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 Ganga’s waters, attain the highest heaven, along with their ancestors. I ask this for the sake of my lineage, so that our race does not perish; let this supreme boon be granted to me in the line of Ikshvaku, O Lord.” The Grandsire replied with auspicious and sweet words: “Great indeed is your desire, O Bhagiratha. So let it be—welfare be upon you, enhancer of the Ikshvaku line. This eldest daughter of the Himalaya, Ganga, must be sustained, O king; let Hara—Shiva—be appointed to bear her. The earth cannot endure the descent of Ganga; I see no one but the trident-bearer fit to sustain her.” Having spoken thus to the king and addressed Ganga, Brahmā, creator of the worlds, departed to heaven with all the gods and hosts of Maruts. When the Lord of the gods had departed, Bhagiratha pressed his thumb upon the earth and worshipped for a year. When the year was complete, the revered Lord of all beings, Umāpati, Paśupati—Shiva himself—spoke to the king: “I am pleased with you, best of men; I will do what pleases you. I shall bear the daughter of the mountain-king upon my head.” Then the eldest daughter of Himavat, honored by all the worlds, assumed a most immense form and an unbearable speed. From the sky, Ganga descended and landed upon Shiva, upon the head of Shiva. The goddess Ganga, most difficult to restrain, considered her course. She entered the netherworld, seizing the stream and Shiva; recognizing her arrogance, the blessed Lord Hara became angry. The three-eyed one resolved to conceal her. Thus, Ganga fell upon the holy head of Rudra. In the cavern of Shiva’s matted locks, resembling the Himalaya, she strove but could not manage to reach the earth. She found no exit from the mass of matted hair; there the goddess wandered for many years. At length, one performing supreme austerity saw her and was greatly pleased by her presence. Then Hara released the Ganga toward the Bindusaras lake; as she was released, seven streams emerged. Thus, through the unwavering devotion and perseverance of Bhagiratha, the descent of the sacred Ganga was set in motion, fulfilling the prayers of generations and granting deliverance to the sons of Sagara.