उपास्य रात्रिशेषं तु शोणाकूले महर्षिभिः।
निशायां सुप्रभातायां विश्वामित्रोsभ्यभाषत ॥

Viswamitra spent the remainder of the night with other sages. There after in the early morning Viswamitra spoke as follows.

Balakanda
Thirty Fifth Sarga

Then Viswamitra spent the remainder of the night with other sages. There after in the early morning Viswamitra spoke as follows. 'Oh Rama ! The night has passed. It is the early morning twilight hours. Wake up, wake up. May God bless you. Get ready for travel '.

Hearing those words ( of Viswamitra) , Rama having completed his early morning rituals, got ready for travel and spoke as follows.' O Brahman ! This river Sona with auspicious waters is deep. How do we cross this river '. Hearing those words of Rama , Viswamitra told as follows. ' By chance I know the routes taken by venerable sages'. Hearing these words of Viswamitra, all the sages followed that path seeing wide variety of forest groves on the way. Thus they travelled up to the afternoon and reached the banks of most auspicious river Ganges. Seeing the river Ganges full and with a variety of birds and swans, all the sages along with Rama were delighted.

They cleared a part of the bank to make it usable and then having taken bath they performed appropriate rites to please their departed parents. Then they offered the oblations to fire. Taking those offerings as a nectar like food and sitting around sage Viswamitra on the banks of river Jahnavi, all of them were very happy.

Then SriRama asked him.

'Bhagavan ! the river Ganges is known as river flowing in three paths. How did it acquire that name. How does this river reach the ocean which is treated as the husband of all oceans'. Hearing those words of Rama the venerable sage Viswamitra then started elaborating on the birth and the growth of river Ganges.

'O Raghava ! there is a mountain by name Himavan which is like King among mountains. It is full of all metals. That Himavan has two beautiful daughters of unmatched beauty. The daughter of Meru by name Maina is his wife, who is dear to him. Ganga is the eldest daughter and the second daughter is Uma'.

Then all the Gods asked Himavan that Ganga be given to them for the benefit of Devas. Then the righteous minded Himavan gave Ganga which flows without hindrance which is beneficial to all, to Devas for the benefit of all the three worlds. The Devas having obtained Ganga went their way feeling that they have successfully completed their task.

'Oh Raghunandana ! The second daughter of Himavan namely Uma performed severe penance following strict vows. Himavan gave away her daughter who performed such penance to Rudra who is worshipped by all. Oh Raghava ! Thus the two daughters of that best of mountains Himavan namely Ganga, best among all rivers and Uma too became widely worshipped'.

'Oh Rama ! I have elaborated to you how the Ganges as the river flowing in three worlds went in which direction first. That holy river which was born as the daughter of Himavan and then reached the world of Devas is indeed that holy river Ganga'.

Thus ends the thirty fifth Sarga of Balakanda in Valmiki Ramayana
||Om tat sat ||

सैषा सुरनदी रम्या शैलेंद्रस्य सुता तदा ।
सुरलोकं समारूढा विपापा जलवाहिनी ॥

'That holy river which was born as the daughter of Himavan and then reached the world of Devas is indeed that holy river Ganga'.

||om tat sat ||

|| Om tat sat ||