During this time, the river Narmada overran its banks, and its roaring waters began to carry away the trees and villages situated on its banks. Hearing the wild cries of the flood-stricken people, and seeing that his teacher was absorbed in Samadhi, Sankara waited for a while, and then, uttering a powerful mantra, gathered all the flood waters into his water vessel. He thus, saved the lives of all the people who were living on its emabnkments.

When Sage Govindapada heard about his disciple’s actions, he was glad that Sankara had attained perfection in Yoga so soon. One day he summoned Sankara and after having imparted his knowledge about the Vedas, asked him to move to Varanasi, to clarify the essential spiritual truths revealed by the Vedas. Thus with his blessings of his teacher Govindapada, Sankara left for Varanasi to follow the instructions of his teacher, to become an Acharya himself.