Devavrata(Bhishma) son of Shantanu Part 3 — Mahabharat
In his previous birth, there was a powerful king of the Ikshavu dynasty named Mahabhisha. He possessed many virtuous qualities, and after performing a thousand Ashvamedha Yagnas and a hundred Rajasuya yagnas (to qualify as emperor), he had attained heaven after his death. Once he got an opportunity to visit the court of bramha where all the devas and the ganga were also present. While the celestials were worshipping Brahma, a wind blew and displaced Ganga’s clothes revealing her body. Everybody present there bashfully bent their heads except Mahabhisha who kept gazing at her. Upon seeing this act, Brahma lost his temper and cursed him to be born a mortal. Ganga who also relished the mortal act was cursed to be born as human and come back only after breaking Mahabhisha’s heart. Mahabhisha then requested Brahma that he, Mahabhisha, be born as the son of Kuru king pratipa and his wish was granted by Brahma.
The Kuru king Pratipa was once meditating. At that time Ganga took the form of a beautiful woman, approached the king and sat on his right thigh. When he asked her what she wanted, Ganga requested him to become her husband. Pratipa however refused since he had taken a vow not to lust for anybody, and also that she had sat on his right thigh and according to traditions a man’s right thigh was for his daughter or daughter-in-law while the left thigh was for his wife. He then proposed that she marry his son, to which she agreed.
A child was born to Pratipa and his wife Sunanda in their old age. He was named Shantanu because when he was born his father had controlled his passions by ascetic penances. Pratipa then installed Shantanu as king of Hastinapura and retired into the woods to perform penances. Balika who was elder than Shantanu also gave permission to him for becoming the king of Hastinapura.
When King Pratipa meditated and chanted prayers on the banks of the Ganges, the Ganges. Ganga appeared after receiving Lord Brahma’s curse from Svargaloka. Ganga came and sat on Pratipa’s right lap, and his meditation stopped. Ganga regarded Pratipa as the Mahibhisa who was also cursed with her. And he asked Pratipa to marry her. Pratipa said that since Ganga was sitting on her right lap, which was meant for a daughter or daughter-in-law, she would have to wait until Pratipa had a child. So he suggested that Ganga marry his son and become his daughter-in-law. Ganga agreed to wait and said that Pratipa had to tell her son that she was going to marry on a condition that Pratipa’s son should not ask who she is and question her behavior, and Ganga disappeared. At that time, Pratipa and his wife still had no children, but after doing a bit of rigor, their son Shantanu was born to them. He later he would marry Ganga and became the father of Devavrata or Bhishma.
The king sincerely offers for his love his kingdom , his wealth, everything, his life. Ganga replied, “O king, I will be your wife. But under certain conditions that neither you nor anyone else will ever ask who I am, or where I come from. whatever I do, good or bad, You must not be angry with me for any reason . You must not say anything that displeases me . If you act differently, I
will leave you there and then. do you agree? “. The enamored king swore his consent, and she became his wife and lived with him. The king’s heart was captivated by her modesty and grace and her constant love for him. King Santanu and Ganga lived a life of perfect happiness, unaware of the passage of time. She bore many children; each newborn she took to the Ganges and threw into the river, then returned to king with a smiling face.
Santanu become full of horror and pain at such fiendish conduct, however
suffered all of it in silence, aware of the promise be had made. Often he questioned who she become, wherefrom she had come and why she acted like a murderous witch. Still sure through his phrase, and his all mastering love for her, he uttered no phrase of blame or remonstrance. Thus she killed seven children. When the 8th baby become born and he or she become approximately to throw it into the Ganges, Santanu should now no longer undergo it any longer. He cried: “Stop, stop, why are you bent on this horrid and unnatural homicide of your very own harmless babes?” With this outburst the king confined her.
Once the celestial Vasus and their wives were enjoying themselves in the forest when the wife of Dyu spotted an excellent cow and asked her husband to steal it. The cow was Nandini, daughter of the wish-fulfilling cow surabhi, and was owned by the sage Vasishtha. With the help of his brothers, Dyu tried to steal it but Vasishtha caught them and cursed them to be born as mortals and suffer a miserable life. Upon their pleading, Vasishtha showed mercy and told the other seven Vasus that they will be liberated soon after their birth. However, Dyu being the protagonist of the theft was cursed to endure a longer life on the earth. Before the birth of her sons, Ganga was requested to kill the seven children soon after their birth. Hearing this, Shantanu was filled with grief and regrets and Ganga decided to abandon him as her condition was broken. Before disappearing, she promised Shantanu to return his heir.
