It was in this way that those foremost of Rivers, all of whom were auspicious and highly sacred, were accosted by Shiva's wife. Then the celestial River Ganga, who adored the daughter of the king of mountains in return, was selected for answering the question,
एवं सर्वाः सरिच्छेष्ठाः पृष्टाः पुण्यतमाः शिवाः। ततो देवनदी गङ्गा नियुक्ता प्रतिपूज्य च॥