fame of Ganga has spread all over the welkin, and Heaven, and Earth, and all the points, cardinal and subsidiary, of the compass.  Mortal creatures, by using the waters of that foremost of streams, always become crowned with high success.  That person who himself beholding Ganga, points her out to others, finds that Ganga rescues him from rebirth and confers Emancipation on him.  Ganga held Guha, the generalissimo of the celestial forces, in her womb.  She bears the most precious of all metals, viz., gold, also in that womb of hers.  They who bathe in her waters every day in the morning, succeed in obtaining the aggregate of three, viz., Righteousness, Wealth and Pleasure.  Those waters are, again, equal in point of sanctity to the butter that is poured with Mantras on the sacrificial fire.  Capable of cleansing one from every sin, she has descended from the celestial region, and her current is held in high esteem by every one.  Ganga is the daughter of Himavat, the spouse of Hara, and the ornament of both Heaven and Earth.  She is the bestower of everything auspicious, and is competent to confer the six well-known attributes beginning with lordship or puissance.  Verily O king, Ganga is the one object of great sanctity in the three worlds and confers merit upon all.  Truly, O monarch, Ganga is Righteousness in liquefied form.  She is energy also running in a liquid form over the Earth.  She is endued with the splendour or puissance that belongs to the butter that is poured with Mantras on the sacrificial fire.  She is always adorned with large waves as also with Brahmanas who may at all times be seen performing their ablutions in her waters.  Falling from Heaven, she was held by Siva on his head.  The very mother of the heavens, she has sprung from the highest mountain for running over the plains and conferring the most precious benefits on all creatures of the Earth.  She is the highest cause of all things; she is perfectly stainless.  She is as subtile as Brahma.  She affords the best bed for the dying.  She leads creatures very quickly to heaven.  She bears away a large volume of water.  She bestows great fame on all.  She is the protectress of the universe.[245] She is identical with every form.  She is very much coveted by persons crowned with success.  Verily, Ganga is the path to Heaven of those that have bathed in her current.[246] The Brahmanas hold Ganga as equalling the Earth in forgiveness, and in the protection and upholding of those that live by her; further, as equalling Fire and Surya in energy and splendour; and, lastly, as always equalling Guha himself in the matter of showing favours unto the regenerate class.[247] Those men who, in this life, even mentally seek with their whole souls that sacred stream which is praised by the Rishis, which has issued out of the feet of Vishnu, which is very ancient, and which is exceedingly sacred, succeed in repairing to the regions of Brahman.  Fully convinced that children and other possessions, as also regions possessed