# Descent of the Ganges

When Lord Vamanadeva begged Bali Maharaja for three steps of land, \[19[^1]] the Lord’s first two steps covered all three planetary systems. In the process, His left foot pierced the covering of the universe. A few drops of water from the Causal Ocean (the corner of the spiritual universe where Maha Vishnu lies down) thus entered the universe and became known as the sacred Ganges. The Ganges takes a particular course through Dhruvaloka, the planets of the Sapta Rishis, the moon, atop mount Sumeru, and then divides into four branches. \[20[^2]]

[^1]: This episode will be discussed in [Canto Eight](https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/8)

[^2]: There are different accounts of the descent of the Ganges, and Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura explains and reconciles them in [SB 8.21.4](https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/8/21/4/)


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