The Story of the birth of Uma and Ganga (Sarga 35)

Chapter Thirty-Five

After crossing the river Sonabhadra, Viśvāmitra and the other sages spent the remaining part of the night resting on its bank. When night passed and morning came, Viśvāmitra spoke to Śrī Rāma and said, “Rāma, the night is over, it is morning now. May you be blessed—get up, get up, and prepare to move.”

Hearing his words, Śrī Rāma completed his morning duties at dawn and got ready to leave. He said, “Brāhmaṇa, this Sonabhadra, filled with pure water and beautiful riverbanks, seems very wide. Which path should we take to cross it?”

At Rāma’s question, Viśvāmitra replied, “The same path by which the great sages cross Sonabhadra—I have already decided on that path.” Hearing this, the sages set out, admiring the beauty of the various forests along the way.

After traveling a long distance, by midday they reached the bank of the holy river Gaṅgā, revered by sages. Seeing the sacred Bhāgīrathī, served by swans and cranes, all the sages, along with Śrī Rāma, were filled with joy.

Everyone pitched their camp on the riverbank. They bathed according to the proper rites and offered water to the gods and ancestors. After this, they performed the fire-ritual and ate the sweet food that felt like nectar.

Then all the benevolent sages, pleased in heart, gathered around the great Viśvāmitra and sat on the bank of the Gaṅgā. When they were all seated steadily, and Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa also sat in the proper place, Rāma happily asked Viśvāmitra:

“Bhagavan, I wish to hear how this Gaṅgā, who flows in three paths, journeyed through the three worlds and finally reached the ocean, the lord of rivers.”

Inspired by Rāma’s question, the great sage Viśvāmitra began narrating the story of Gaṅgā’s birth and growth.

“Rāma, there is a mountain named Himavān, the king of all mountains and an immense treasure-house of minerals. Himavān has two daughters whose beautiful form has no equal on this earth. Mena, the enchanting daughter of Mount Meru, is the beloved wife of Himavān. It is she who gave birth to these two daughters.

Raghunandana, the first daughter born from Mena’s womb is this Gaṅgā. She is the eldest daughter of Himavān. The second daughter, also born of Mena, is famous by the name Umā.

Some time later, all the gods asked for the elder daughter Gaṅgā for the accomplishment of divine purposes. She later descended from heaven as the river Tripathagā. Himavān, wishing for the welfare of the three worlds, righteously gave his holy daughter Gaṅgā—who moves freely wherever she wills—to the gods.

The gods, desiring the good of the three worlds, took Gaṅgā with them, feeling inwardly fulfilled.

Raghunandana, the second daughter, Umā, began practicing severe penances, following excellent and strict vows. She accumulated the wealth of tapas. Seeing his daughter engaged in intense austerity, Himavān gave this universally-revered, supremely powerful Umā in marriage to Lord Rudra.

Thus, Rāma, the supreme river Gaṅgā and the divine Umā—both are daughters of Himavān. The entire world bows its head at their feet.”