There are many fables about my birth. And how I was born is a wonderful thing. I come down from the Himalayas and flow into the plains of Central India, eastward finding my way into the Bay of Bengal through West Bengal.
I am a very useful river in that part of the country. Many big cities are situated on my banks. Their Prosperity is entirely due to me. Also, there are many holy places on my banks. Pilgrims from all over India come to me; they take bath in my holy waters. They thus feel that they have washed off all their sins. The fertility of the plains of Central India is also due to me. These plains are very thickly populated because I am there to give people good crops and prosperity. I flow on and meet my sister Jamuna after which I snake my way through the plains and finally meet the Bay of Bengal. From the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, my life is one of importance and usefulness.
But sometimes, I go mad and play havoc. When there is heavy rain or when the snow melts on the Himalayan peaks, I bring floods and cause a great loss of life and wealth. But then I try to compensate for the losses in the following years. I am satisfied with my life that I am a holy and useful river.