He changed his food too. During the first few days, he had food only once a day. Later it was once in a few days. Then it became once in a month. After that, he just used to drink a little water and continue his 'Tapas'. Finally the air was his only food. While performing 'Tapas' thus, a bright flame shoots forth from the body of the devotee. It is called the flame of 'Tapas'. Such a bright flame emerged from Bhagiratha also and it became very severe. Bhagiratha was now as radiant as the Sun God himself. Unable to bear the effects of his 'Tapas', all the gods in Heaven went to Lord Brahma and appealed to him: "O Lord, it has become impossible to bear Bhagiratha's meditation. Please protect us." Brahma consoled them and went to Bhagiratha.

Bhagiratha was overjoyed on seeing Brahma. He prostrated before Him with great devotion and worshipped Him. Brahma was pleased with him and said: "O King, what do you desire? Why are you performing this 'Tapas'? Bhagiratha begged him: "My Lord, my forefathers are in the nether world, Patala, dead and burnt to ashes. They cannot go to Heaven without proper funeral rites. The divine Ganga herself has to come to deliver them from their sad state. So please send the divine river and help me. Secondly, I have no child. My race will come to an end. Kindly bless me that I may have sons." Brahma replied, "You are really blessed, Bhagiratha, for having performed such a severe 'Tapas'. Your wish to bring the divine Ganga to the earth is a very noble one. I shall send Ganga with pleasure. But when she descends from heaven to the earth, the earth cannot bear her terrible force. The whole earth will be destroyed completely. So somebody will have to control her force. It can be done only by iswara, the Lord of all Worlds. None else can do that. Therefore, persuade iswara to arrest the force of Ganga and quieten her. Then I will send Ganga. Your second wish is also granted. Your lineage will certainly continue with worthy children. So be not worried."

On seeing Brahma, Bhagiratha had felt as happy as though he had already performed his task fully. But now he had to face another difficulty. How was he to persuade Lord iswara to control the turbulence of Ganga when she descended to the earth?

Well, men who think of difficult tasks are of three kinds. There are cowards, who do not begin their work at all, afraid that some trouble may arise midway. Those who begin but later give up the task, afraid of the difficulties that arise, belong to the second group. So far as the -task is concerned, both these groups are useless. But there are brave people who belong to a third group. They continue to work in spite of even an army of difficulties, and finally achieve the goal.

Bhagiratha belonged to this third category of brave men. He knew how to bring down Ganga to the earth. He was confident that it could be done. He had only to overcome some difficulties that would arise on the way. Bhagiratha was determined to accomplish his task. Accordingly he began a severe 'Tapas' once again to please Lord iswara. With folded hands, and standing on one leg, he meditated on Lord iswara with the deepest concentration. So a whole year passed.

Pleased with Bhagiratha's devotion Lord iswara came to Bhagiratha and asked him:

"Dear Bhagiratha, what do you want? Why have you been meditating on me thus? "

With folded hands, Bhagiratha appealed to him: "What is it that you do not know? Lord Brahma has granted my prayer to send the divine river Ganga to the earth. But the earth cannot bear the force of gangas descent. Only you can control the turbulence of the descending Ganga. Be pleased to do so." iswara said smilingly, "Yes; I will soften Ganga's descent by my tresses."