As the sacred waters of the Ganga descended from the heavens, the sky itself was transformed. It was streaked like lightning, pale and luminous, with surging waters spreading in thousands of streams across the earth. Flocks of swans, white as autumn clouds, soared through the sky, while the mighty river below moved in many ways—sometimes swift and straight, sometimes winding and broad. At certain places, the river surged upward, while in others it flowed gently and slowly. Again and again, the water would crash against itself, rising toward the sky only to fall back to earth, just as it had once fallen from the matted locks of Śaṅkara. The water that thus descended from the head of Bhava shone with a pure, radiant brilliance, cleansed of all impurity. There, on earth, hosts of sages and Gandharvas gathered. Touched by the water that had fallen from the body of the great lord, they declared it sacred. Among those present were beings who, cursed to fall from the sky to earth, now found release: having performed ablutions in the holy water, they were freed from impurity, their sins washed away, and auspiciousness restored to them. Rising into the sky once more, they regained their own celestial worlds, while the people of earth rejoiced, filled with delight at the radiant river. All who bathed in the waters of the Ganga were purified. Bhagiratha, the royal sage whose devotion had brought about this wondrous event, mounted his divine chariot and set forth. The great king led the way, and the Ganga herself followed behind him. All the gods, sages, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Kinnaras, mighty serpents, and the celestial Apsarases followed in his wake, drawn by the glory of the event. Even the water-dwelling creatures, pleased beyond measure, followed the Ganga. Wherever King Bhagiratha went, there too flowed the luminous river, the destroyer of all sins. Thus, the best of rivers proceeded until she reached the sacrificial ground of Jahnu, the wondrous performer of rites. But as the Ganga surged forward, she flooded Jahnu’s sacred ground. Angered by her impetuousness, the great-souled Jahnu performed an extraordinary feat—he drank up all the water of the Ganga! The gods, Gandharvas, and sages were astonished at this act. They honored Jahnu and entreated him to accept Ganga as his daughter. Pleased by their prayers, the radiant sage released her from his ears, and so the Ganga became known as the daughter of Jahnu, also called Jāhnavī. Freed once more, the Ganga followed Bhagiratha’s chariot, flowing onward until she reached the ocean. There, to fulfill her divine purpose, she entered the netherworld. Bhagiratha, steadfast and careful, led her to the place where his ancestors, the sons of Sagara, had been reduced to ashes and lay devoid of consciousness. With the excellent water of the Ganga, he washed their ashes, and by her purifying touch, their sins were washed away. Thus purified, they ascended to heaven, their liberation complete. The king, following the sacred course of the Ganga, reached the ocean and descended into the very depths of the earth, where the ashes of his ancestors lay. As the ashes were immersed in the holy waters, Brahma, lord of all worlds, appeared and spoke to Bhagiratha: “O tiger among men, by your devotion, the sixty thousand sons of the great Sagara have been delivered and have ascended to heaven like the gods. As long as the ocean’s water endures in this world, your ancestors will remain in heaven. “And this Ganga will be your eldest daughter, renowned in the world by your name, Bhagiratha. She will be called Bhagirathi, and also Tripathaga, for she traverses the three realms—heaven, earth, and the netherworld. You have become the ancestor of all the forefathers here, O king. Perform the water-rite and fulfill your vow. “Your illustrious forebears, O king, could not accomplish this task. Even Aṃśumān, whose brilliance was unmatched, and your father Dilipa, virtuous and radiant, both yearned to bring the Ganga but could not fulfill their vows. But you, O best of men, have surpassed them all. Through your devotion, the descent of the Ganga has been accomplished, and you have attained the highest fame and righteousness. “Now, O noble one, immerse yourself in the sacred water and purify yourself. Perform the water-rite for your ancestors, and may you be blessed. I shall now return to my own realm.” Having spoken thus, Brahma, the grandsire of all, departed as he had come, returning to the heavens. Bhagiratha then performed the excellent water-rite for the Sagaras, following all the proper rites and customs. Purified by the sacred water and the completion of his vow, the king returned to his city. There, he ruled his prosperous kingdom, and the people rejoiced at his return. Freed from sorrow and distress, they lived content and blessed, their hearts filled with happiness at the king’s great accomplishment.