The disciple asked with wonder-filled eyes, “Bhagawan, who truly is this divine being called Amṛtodbhavā (the one born of immortality)? Please reveal her real nature to me.”

Then Manu began to speak.

“In ancient times, Bhagawān Śaṅkara, serene and absorbed in transcendental stillness, undertook terrible austerities upon Mount Ṛkṣācala for the welfare of all worlds. Along with Bhagawatī Umā, He entered into such profound tapas that He became invisible to all beings. Hidden from gods, sages, and creatures alike, He remained immersed in unimaginable spiritual absorption.”

As the Lord performed His austerities, sweat arose upon His divine body.

Tapatas tasya devasya svedaḥ samabhavat tadā
Taṁ giriṁ plāvayāmāsa sa svedo rudra-sambhavaḥ

“From the body of that great Lord engaged in tapas, there arose sacred perspiration, and that sweat born of Rudra flooded the entire mountain.”

From that divine effulgent sweat emerged a supremely holy and sacred river. The celestial maiden whom Mārkaṇḍeya had beheld amidst the cosmic waters, seated upon the leaf with lotus-like eyes, was none other than that river herself.

Thereafter, assuming the form of a radiant maiden, she worshipped Bhagawān Śaṅkara for thousands of years during Satya Yuga. Pleased by her severe austerities, Lord Śiva finally appeared before her along with Ma Umā and said tenderly:

Brūhi tvaṁ mahābhāge yat te manasi vartate
“O greatly blessed one, speak the desire that resides within your heart.”

Then the divine river bowed and prayed:

“O Lord of the gods, when the great dissolution comes and all moving and unmoving beings perish, may I alone remain undestroyed through Your grace. Let rivers vanish, mountains crumble, oceans disappear, yet let my existence endure. And O Śaṅkara, even if human beings are burdened with terrible sins, with pātakas, upapātakas, and even the gravest transgressions, may they become purified merely by bathing in my waters with faith and devotion.
Just as the heavenly Jāhnavī (Ganga), descending from heaven, is renowned in the northern lands as the destroyer of great sins, may I too become revered throughout the three worlds as the Dakṣiṇa-Gaṅgā (Southern Ganga), the remover of even the darkest sins. May I forever remain among the holiest of sacred rivers, worshipped even by the gods themselves.”

Then she prayed further:

Pṛthivyāṁ sarva-tīrtheṣu snātvā yal labhate phalam
Tat phalaṁ labhate martyo bhaktyā snātvā mayi prabho

“O Maheshwara, may the merit gained by bathing in all the sacred tīrthas of the earth be attained equally by one who bathes in me with devotion.”

Again, she folded her hands and said:

“O Lord, by Your boundless compassion, let even the terrible sins of brahmahatyā and other great transgressions be destroyed merely by immersing oneself in my waters for one month. Let the fruits promised in all the Vedas from sacrifices, pilgrimages, austerities, and charities become easily attainable through sincere bathing in me.”

Then came the prayer dearest to her heart.

Mama tīre narā ye tu arcayanti Maheśvaram
Te gatās tava lokaṁ syur etad eva bhavec chivam

“O Maheshwara, may those who worship You upon my banks attain Your divine realm.”

And again:

Mama kūle Maheśāna Umayā saha daivataiḥ
Vasa nityaṁ Jagannātha eṣa eva varo mama

“O Lord of the universe, dwell forever upon my banks together with Umā and all the devas. This alone is the boon I truly desire.”

Then with even greater compassion, she prayed for all beings without distinction:

“If Your grace truly flows toward me, then grant that I become known throughout the three worlds as the destroyer of the greatest sins. Whether virtuous or sinful, peaceful or restless, disciplined or uncontrolled, whoever leaves their body in my waters, may they attain the celestial realms.”

King Yudhiṣṭhira listened in awe as Mārkaṇḍeya continued:

“When Narmadā thus prayed for many such boons, Bhagawān Śaṅkara became deeply pleased and said, ‘O auspicious one, exactly as you have desired, so shall it be.’

Then Lord Śiva spoke words that sanctified her forever:

“O blessed Narmadā, apart from you there is none in the three worlds more deserving of such boons. Since you have arisen from My own body, you shall indeed possess the power to destroy all sins completely.

At the time of cosmic dissolution, not only human beings dwelling upon your northern bank, but even insects, birds, trees, creepers, and shrubs shall attain blessed destinies after death. Those righteous souls who dwell upon your southern bank shall attain the realm of the ancestors.

I Myself shall eternally reside upon your banks together with Umā. Upon your northern bank shall dwell Brahmā, Indra, Chandra, Varuṇa, the Sādhyas, and Bhagawān Viṣṇu. Upon your southern bank shall dwell the Pitṛs along with Myself and many other deities. This supreme boon I now bestow upon you.’”

Hearing this, the disciple’s heart overflowed with devotion.

“Gurudeva! Ah! So Narmadā truly arose from the very body of Mahādeva Himself. Just as Viṣṇupadī Gaṅgā emerged from the lotus feet of Bhagawān Viṣṇu, so too has Narmadā sprung from the sacred form of Rudra and sanctified the entire world. O Mother Narmadā, I bow to you again and again!”

Then with eager longing he asked, “Gurudeva, what happened after this?”

The Guru replied gently, “Child, thereafter Bhagawān Śaṅkara commanded Narmadā, saying: ‘Now go forth into the mortal world and liberate all beings from sin, sages and seekers, gods and demons, ascetics and householders alike.’

Mārkaṇḍeya concludes by saying:

‘Thus Bhagawān Maheshvara, the all-pervading Lord, granted His blessings and divine commission to Narmadā, accepted the salutations of Manu and myself, and then disappeared from sight. And for this reason, Mother Narmadā became forever celebrated throughout the worlds as the great destroyer of even the gravest sins.’”