Bhagiratha, radiant and mighty-armed, stood before the Grandsire of all worlds with his palms joined in reverence. With deep humility, he addressed Brahma, saying, “If you are pleased with me, O Blessed One, if my austerities have borne fruit, may all the sons of Sagara receive water through my efforts. May those great souls, whose ashes are touched by the waters of the Ganga, attain the highest heaven along with their ancestors. O Lord, I ask this not for myself, but for the sake of my lineage, so that the race of Ikshvaku may not perish. Let this supreme boon be granted to me.” Hearing these heartfelt words, the Grandsire of all worlds turned to Bhagiratha and spoke with auspicious, gentle words: “Great indeed is your wish, O Bhagiratha, mighty hero and enhancer of the Ikshvaku line. So be it—welfare be upon you. But know this: Ganga, the eldest daughter of the Himalaya, must be sustained as she descends. Let Hara, Shiva himself, be appointed to bear her. The earth cannot endure the force of Ganga’s descent; I see no one but the trident-bearing Shiva who can withstand her.” Having thus instructed Bhagiratha and addressed Ganga herself, Brahma, the creator of worlds, departed to heaven, accompanied by all the gods and the hosts of Maruts. When the Lord of gods had returned to his celestial abode, Bhagiratha, filled with resolve, pressed his thumb upon the earth and began to worship Shiva with unwavering devotion, continuing his penance for an entire year. At the end of that year, the revered Lord of all beings—Umāpati, Paśupati, the great Shiva—appeared before the king and spoke: “I am pleased with you, best of men. I will grant your desire. I shall bear the daughter of the mountain-king upon my head.” Honored by all the worlds, Ganga, the eldest daughter of Himavat, assumed an immense and tumultuous form, her speed and force beyond bearing. From the sky, O Rama, Ganga descended, aiming for the head of Shiva. That divine goddess, difficult to restrain, considered her course as she rushed downward. Sensing her pride, Shiva, the blessed Lord Hara, became angry and resolved to contain her. As Ganga fell upon the holy head of Rudra, she became entangled in the cavernous mass of his matted locks, which resembled the Himalayas themselves. Struggling within this tangled hair, Ganga could find no way to reach the earth, and so she wandered there for many years. Then, as Bhagiratha continued his supreme austerities, Shiva, pleased with his devotion, finally released the Ganga. He let her flow forth toward the Bindusaras lake, and as she was set free, seven streams emerged. Three of these—Hladini, Pāvani, and Nalinī—flowed eastward, auspicious waters from Shiva himself. The other three—Suchakshu, Sita, and Sindhu, the great river—flowed westward. The seventh stream followed behind Bhagiratha’s chariot as he mounted his divine vehicle. Mighty Ganga surged ahead, and Bhagiratha followed her, guiding her descent from Shiva’s head in the sky down to the earth. The water thundered as it flowed, accompanied by crowds of fish, turtles, and dolphins. As Ganga fell and spread across the land, the earth shone with newfound brilliance. Hosts of divine sages, Gandharvas, Yakshas, and Siddhas gathered to witness this wondrous event. They watched in awe as Ganga descended from the heavens, their flying palaces shaped like cities, horses, and noble elephants filling the sky. Gods moved about in boats, marveling at the supreme descent of the Ganga. The sky, filled with clouds and the shining ornaments of the gods, gleamed like a hundred suns. Dolphins, serpents, and restless fish mingled in the surging waters. The sky itself seemed split by lightning as the pale, rushing streams spread in thousands of directions. Flocks of swans scattered across the sky like autumn clouds, while the river at times raced swiftly, at times twisted crookedly, and at times broadened majestically. In some places, Ganga surged upward; in others, she moved gently and slow, water striking against water, rising again and again before falling back to earth from Shiva’s head. The waters that fell from Shankara’s locks shone pure and brilliant. Sages and Gandharvas dwelling on earth touched the sacred water, declaring it holy. Those who had been cast down from the sky to earth by a curse bathed in the river, and their impurities were washed away. Freed from sin by Ganga’s touch, they were restored to auspiciousness and rose again to the heavens, regaining their rightful worlds. The people of earth rejoiced, delighted by the radiant, purifying waters of Ganga, which now flowed freely, blessing all creation.