Chapter 5: Mahābhiṣa and Gaṅgā; the Vasus’ curse, Gaṅgā’s pact with Pratīpa and marriage to Śantanu, and the birth, preservation and return of Gāṅgeya.
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_1] (Jaya)
There was a king of the Ikshvaku line, a lord of the earth, renowned as Mahabhisha, true to his word and valiant in truth’s cause. (BORI: 1-091-1)
[PV-KDV:01_011_2] (Jaya)
With a thousand horse sacrifices and a hundred Vājapeya sacrifices, that mighty king pleased Indra, lord of the gods, and thereby attained heaven. (BORI: 1-091-2)
[PV-KDV:01_011_3] (Jaya)
Then, on one occasion, the gods were attending upon Brahma. Royal seers were present there, as was King Mahabhisha. (BORI: 1-091-3)
[PV-KDV:01_011_4] (Jaya)
Then Ganga, foremost of rivers, approached the Grandsire. The wind lifted her moon-bright garment. (BORI: 1-091-4)
[PV-KDV:01_011_5] (Jaya)
Then the hosts of gods suddenly lowered their faces, but the royal sage Mahabhisha, unabashed, gazed at the river. (BORI: 1-091-5)
[PV-KDV:01_011_6] (Jaya)
The blessed Brahmā cursed Mahābhiṣa and said to him, “Once you have been born among mortals, you will regain these worlds.” (BORI: 1-091-6)
[PV-KDV:01_011_7] (Jaya)
That Ganga who has stolen your heart, you fool, will indeed do things displeasing to you in the human world. (KUMB: 1-102-7; NILA: 01.096.007)
[PV-KDV:01_011_8] (Jaya)
When anger arises in you, she will be released from the curse. (KUMB: 1-102-8; NILA: 01.096.008)
[PV-KDV:01_011_9] (Jaya)
After considering all the kings rich in ascetic merit, that king chose the illustrious Pratipa as his father. (BORI: 1-091-7)
[PV-KDV:01_011_10] (Jaya)
Seeing King Mahabhisha lose his composure, the foremost of rivers turned away with her thoughts fixed on him alone. (BORI: 1-091-8)
[PV-KDV:01_011_11] (Jaya)
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_33] (Jaya)
Then King Pratipa, devoted to the welfare of all beings, went to the bank of the Ganges and sat there for many years, reciting prayers. (BORI: 1-092-1)
[PV-KDV:01_011_34] (Jaya)
Before him, Ganga, endowed with beauty and virtue, as though Śrī had taken bodily form, emerged from those waters in a supremely alluring form… (BORI: 1-092-2)
[PV-KDV:01_011_35] (Jaya)
As the royal sage was reciting, the noble-minded woman of divine beauty and lovely face seated herself on his right thigh, which resembled a sal tree. (BORI: 1-092-3)
[PV-KDV:01_011_36] (Jaya)
But King Pratipa said to the high-minded woman, “What may I do for you, fair lady? What favor do you desire?” (BORI: 1-092-4)
[PV-KDV:01_011_37] (Jaya)
The woman said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_38] (Jaya)
“I desire you, O king, best of the Kurus; accept me. For good men condemn the rejection of women who are filled with desire.” (BORI: 1-092-5)
[PV-KDV:01_011_39] (Jaya)
Pratīpa said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_40] (Jaya)
I would not approach another man’s wife out of desire, fair lady, nor a woman of a different caste, noble lady. Know that this is my righteous vow. (BORI: 1-092-6)
[PV-KDV:01_011_41] (Jaya)
The woman said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_42] (Jaya)
I am neither inferior nor forbidden to you, and I can never be reproached. Love me as I love you, O king—a maiden and an excellent woman. (BORI: 1-092-7)
[PV-KDV:01_011_43] (Jaya)
Pratīpa said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_44] (Jaya)
I have overlooked this act of yours—your urging me toward pleasure. If I were to act otherwise, a breach of dharma would destroy me. (BORI: 1-092-8)
[PV-KDV:01_011_45] (Jaya)
You came to my right thigh and embraced me, lovely woman. Know, timid one, that this is the seat for children and daughters-in-law. (BORI: 1-092-9)
[PV-KDV:01_011_46] (Jaya)
The left side is the place for a lover, and you have avoided it. Therefore, lovely woman, I will not make love to you. (BORI: 1-092-10)
[PV-KDV:01_011_47] (Jaya)
Become my daughter-in-law, lovely one; I choose you for my son. For, fair-thighed woman, you came and took your place on the daughter-in-law’s side. (BORI: 1-092-11)
[PV-KDV:01_011_48] (Jaya)
The woman said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_49] (Jaya)
So be it, knower of dharma. May I be united with your son. Out of devotion to you alone, I shall join the renowned Bharata dynasty. (BORI: 1-092-12)
[PV-KDV:01_011_50] (Jaya)
Your son must not know my parentage, O lord, and he must never question anything I do. (BORI: 1-092-14)
[PV-KDV:01_011_52] (Jaya)
Living with your son on these terms, I shall increase his happiness, and through virtuous and beloved sons, your son will attain heaven. (BORI: 1-092-15)
[PV-KDV:01_011_53] (Jaya)
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_54] (Jaya)
Having said, “So be it,” she vanished then and there, O king. As he awaited the birth of a son, the king kept her words in mind. (BORI: 1-092-16)
[PV-KDV:01_011_55] (Jaya)
Meanwhile, Pratipa, bull among Kshatriyas, practiced austerities with his wife for the sake of obtaining a son, O descendant of Kuru. (BORI: 1-092-17)
[PV-KDV:01_011_56] (Jaya)
That Mahabhisha was born as a son to the aged couple. Since offspring was born to him when he had grown tranquil, the son was Shantanu. (BORI: 1-092-18)
[PV-KDV:01_011_57] (Jaya)
Remembering the imperishable worlds he had won through his own deeds, Shantanu performed only virtuous deeds, O best of the Kurus. (BORI: 1-092-19)
[PV-KDV:01_011_58] (Jaya)
Then Pratipa instructed his son Shantanu, who had reached manhood: “Long ago, Shantanu, a woman approached me for your welfare... (BORI: 1-092-20)
[PV-KDV:01_011_59] (Jaya)
My son, if that beautiful, divinely lovely woman should approach you in private, desiring you out of longing for a son, you must not question her: “Who are you, fair lady, and whose daughter are you?” (BORI: 1-092-21)
[PV-KDV:01_011_60] (Jaya)
Whatever she may do, you must not question her about it, sinless one. “At my command, you should accept her when she seeks you,” he told him. (BORI: 1-092-22)
[PV-KDV:01_011_61] (Jaya)
Having thus instructed his son Shantanu, King Pratipa installed him in his own kingdom and then retired to the forest. (BORI: 1-092-23)
[PV-KDV:01_011_62] (Jaya)
That wise king Shantanu, renowned throughout the earth as an archer, became devoted to hunting and constantly roamed the forests. (BORI: 1-092-24)
[PV-KDV:01_011_63] (Jaya)
That best of kings, killing deer and buffalo, wandered alone along the Ganges, which was frequented by Siddhas and Charanas. (BORI: 1-092-25)
[PV-KDV:01_011_64] (Jaya)
One day, O great king, he saw a supremely beautiful woman. (BORI: 1-092-26A)
[PV-KDV:01_011_65] (Jaya)
Seeing her, the king was thrilled, the hair on his body standing on end, and was amazed by her beauty. (BORI: 1-092-28A)
[PV-KDV:01_011_68] (Jaya)
Then the king addressed her, reassuring her in a gentle voice: “Whether you are a goddess, a demoness, a Gandharva woman, or an Apsara…” (BORI: 1-092-30)
[PV-KDV:01_011_71] (Jaya)
Or whether you are a Yakshi, a serpent woman, or a human, slender-waisted lady—whoever you may be, radiant as one born of the gods, become my wife, beautiful one. (BORI: 1-092-31)
[PV-KDV:01_011_72] (Jaya)
Hearing these gentle and charming words of the king, she smiled, remembered her agreement with the Vasus, and the blameless woman approached him. (BORI: 1-092-32)
[PV-KDV:01_011_73] (Jaya)
Delighting the king’s heart with her words, she said to him, “O protector of the earth, I shall become your obedient queen.” (BORI: 1-092-33)
[PV-KDV:01_011_74] (Jaya)
But whatever I may do, O king, whether good or bad, you must neither prevent me from doing it nor speak harshly to me about it. (BORI: 1-092-34)
[PV-KDV:01_011_75] (Jaya)
For only on these terms will I live with you, O king. If you restrain me or speak harshly to me, I shall leave you without a doubt. (BORI: 1-092-35)
[PV-KDV:01_011_76] (Jaya)
“This is my condition, O king: take me as you desire. Your father has won me over; become my husband, my lord.” (KUMB: 1-104-8)
[PV-KDV:01_011_77] (Jaya)
When the king said to her, “So be it,” she was filled with incomparable joy, O best of the Bharatas, at having won that foremost of kings. (BORI: 1-092-36)
[PV-KDV:01_011_78] (Jaya)
That king enjoyed both heavenly and human pleasures. Having obtained the finest of women, the illustrious Shantanu rejoiced. (KUMB: 1-105-2)
[PV-KDV:01_011_85] (Jaya)
Enjoying himself with her as he pleased, the king fathered eight sons by her, all radiant as the immortals. (BORI: 1-092-43)
[PV-KDV:01_011_86] (Jaya)
Each son as soon as he was born, she cast into the water, O Bharata; saying, “I do this to please you,” she submerged him in the current of the Ganges. (BORI: 1-092-44)
[PV-KDV:01_011_87] (Jaya)
This did not please King Shantanu, but the ruler said nothing to her then, for fear that she would leave him. (BORI: 1-092-45)
[PV-KDV:01_011_88] (Jaya)
Then, when the eighth son was born, the grief-stricken king, wishing to save his child, said to her as she seemed to smile… (BORI: 1-092-46)
[PV-KDV:01_011_89] (Jaya)
Do not kill him! Who are you, and to whom do you belong? Why do you kill your sons? Murderer of your own children, do not incur this terrible sin! Stop, you wicked woman! (BORI: 1-092-47)
[PV-KDV:01_011_90] (Jaya)
The woman said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_91] (Jaya)
O you who long for a son, I will not kill your son, best of fathers. But my stay here is now at an end, in accordance with the agreement that was made. (BORI: 1-092-48)
[PV-KDV:01_011_92] (Jaya)
I am Ganga, daughter of Jahnu, attended by hosts of great seers. I have lived with you in order to accomplish the gods’ purpose. (BORI: 1-092-49)
[PV-KDV:01_011_93] (Jaya)
The eight gods known as the Vasus, greatly blessed and immensely powerful, have become human because of the curse laid upon them by Vasiṣṭha. (BORI: 1-092-50)
[PV-KDV:01_011_94] (Jaya)
There is no one on earth but you who can father them, nor is there any human woman like me to bear them. (BORI: 1-092-51)
[PV-KDV:01_011_95] (Jaya)
Therefore you assumed human form in order to become their mother. By giving birth to the eight Vasus, you have won imperishable worlds. (BORI: 1-092-52)
[PV-KDV:01_011_96] (Jaya)
But this was the agreement I had made with the gods, the Vasus: “I shall release each one, as soon as he is born, from human birth.” (BORI: 1-092-53)
[PV-KDV:01_011_97] (Jaya)
Thus they have been freed from the curse of the great-souled Apava. May all be well with you. I shall go; protect this son, a keeper of great vows. (BORI: 1-092-54)
[PV-KDV:01_011_98] (Jaya)
My appointed sojourn among the Vasus is now complete. Know that this son was born of me and given by Ganga. (BORI: 1-092-55)
[PV-KDV:01_011_99] (Jaya)
Śantanu said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_129] (Jaya)
Who is this one among the Vasus named Āpava, and what wrong did he commit, through whose curse you have all assumed human form? (BORI: 1-093-1)
[PV-KDV:01_011_130] (Jaya)
And what did this prince, Gangadatta, do that will cause him to dwell among human beings? (BORI: 1-093-2)
[PV-KDV:01_011_131] (Jaya)
And how did those Vasus, lords of all the worlds, come to be born among humans? Tell me that, Jahnavi. (BORI: 1-093-3)
[PV-KDV:01_011_132] (Jaya)
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_133] (Jaya)
Thus addressed, the goddess Gaṅgā, daughter of Jahnu, then spoke these words to her husband, King Śantanu, foremost of men: (BORI: 1-093-4)
[PV-KDV:01_011_134] (Jaya)
O best of the Bharatas, the son whom Varuna obtained long ago was the sage named Vasishtha, also known as Apava. (BORI: 1-093-5)
[PV-KDV:01_011_135] (Jaya)
His sacred hermitage stood on the slope of Meru, king of mountains, inhabited by herds of deer and flocks of birds and covered with flowers of every season. (BORI: 1-093-6)
[PV-KDV:01_011_136] (Jaya)
The son of Varuṇa, foremost among the virtuous, practiced austerities in that forest, O best of the Bharatas, where the roots, fruits, and water were sweet. (BORI: 1-093-7)
[PV-KDV:01_011_137] (Jaya)
Daksha’s daughter, the exceedingly proud goddess named Surabhi, bore Kashyapa a cow, O bull of Bharata’s line— (BORI: 1-093-8)
[PV-KDV:01_011_138] (Jaya)
…for the benefit of the world—an excellent cow that yielded every desired thing. The righteous Varuni obtained her as his sacrificial cow. (BORI: 1-093-9)
[PV-KDV:01_011_139] (Jaya)
Living in that ascetic grove frequented by sages, the cow then roamed its delightful, holy grounds without fear. (BORI: 1-093-10)
[PV-KDV:01_011_140] (Jaya)
Then one day, O bull of Bharata’s line, all the Vasus, Prithu and the others, came to that forest, which was frequented by gods and divine seers. (BORI: 1-093-11)
[PV-KDV:01_011_141] (Jaya)
Accompanied by their wives, they roamed throughout that forest and delighted in its lovely mountains and woods. (BORI: 1-093-12)
[PV-KDV:01_011_142] (Jaya)
There, O you of Indra-like valor, the slender-waisted wife of one of the Vasus, while roaming through that forest, saw the sage Vasiṣṭha’s excellent cow, which granted every desire. (BORI: 1-093-13)
[PV-KDV:01_011_143] (Jaya)
Filled with wonder at the cow’s wealth of fine qualities, she showed her to Dyu, O bull-eyed one. (BORI: 1-093-14)
[PV-KDV:01_011_144] (Jaya)
beautiful, with a fine udder, yielding abundant milk, with a lovely tail and face, endowed with every virtue and unsurpassed character... (BORI: 1-093-15)
[PV-KDV:01_011_145] (Jaya)
Long ago, O king, delight of Puru’s line, the Vasu’s wife showed him the cow endowed with such qualities. (BORI: 1-093-16)
[PV-KDV:01_011_146] (Jaya)
Then, as soon as Dyaus saw that cow, O king, mighty as the lord of elephants, he spoke to the goddess, describing the cow’s beauty and virtues: (BORI: 1-093-17)
[PV-KDV:01_011_147] (Jaya)
This excellent cow, O dark-eyed goddess, belongs to the sage whose splendid forest this is, O lovely-waisted one. (BORI: 1-093-18)
[PV-KDV:01_011_148] (Jaya)
O slender-waisted lady, any mortal who drinks this cow’s sweet milk will live for ten thousand years, retaining his youth. (BORI: 1-093-19)
[PV-KDV:01_011_149] (Jaya)
Hearing this, O best of kings, the lovely goddess of slender waist addressed her radiant husband: (BORI: 1-093-20)
[PV-KDV:01_011_150] (Jaya)
In the human world I have a friend, a king’s daughter, named Jinavati, who is endowed with beauty and youth. (BORI: 1-093-21)
[PV-KDV:01_011_151] (Jaya)
the daughter of the wise royal sage Uśīnara, true to his word, renowned in the human world for her beauty. (BORI: 1-093-22)
[PV-KDV:01_011_152] (Jaya)
For her sake, O greatly fortunate one, quickly bring me the cow with her calf that I desire, O best of the immortals, increaser of merit. (BORI: 1-093-23)
[PV-KDV:01_011_153] (Jaya)
So that, after drinking her milk, that friend of mine may alone among mortals be free from old age and disease, O bestower of honor. (BORI: 1-093-24)
[PV-KDV:01_011_154] (Jaya)
O illustrious, blameless one, you should do this for me, for there is nothing you could do that would please me more than this. (BORI: 1-093-25)
[PV-KDV:01_011_155] (Jaya)
Hearing the goddess’s words and wishing to please her, Dyaus, together with his brothers Prithu and the others, then stole that cow. (BORI: 1-093-26)
[PV-KDV:01_011_156] (Jaya)
Thus urged by the lotus-eyed woman, Dyu, O king, failed to take the sage’s severe ascetic power into account. He stole the cow, never anticipating his downfall. (BORI: 1-093-27)
[PV-KDV:01_011_157] (Jaya)
Then Vāruṇi returned to the hermitage with fruit, but in that excellent forest he did not see the cow with her calf. (BORI: 1-093-28)
[PV-KDV:01_011_158] (Jaya)
Then the ascetic searched for her in that forest, but though he searched, the noble-minded sage could not find the cow. (BORI: 1-093-29)
[PV-KDV:01_011_159] (Jaya)
Realizing through his divine sight that the Vasus had carried her away, he was immediately overcome by anger and then cursed them. (BORI: 1-093-30)
[PV-KDV:01_011_160] (Jaya)
“Since you Vasus have stolen my milk-giving cow with the fine tail, you shall all be born among human beings—of this there is no doubt.” (BORI: 1-093-31)
[PV-KDV:01_011_161] (Jaya)
Thus the blessed Āpava, that foremost of sages, having fallen under the sway of anger, cursed those Vasus, O bull of the Bharatas. (BORI: 1-093-32)
[PV-KDV:01_011_162] (Jaya)
Having cursed them, the illustrious sage fixed his mind once more on his austerities. Thus, O king, that ascetic rich in austerity—the Brahmarṣi of immense power—cursed the eight Vasus, filled with wrath against the gods. (BORI: 1-093-33)
[PV-KDV:01_011_163] (Jaya)
Then, having reached the hermitage, those great-souled ones, aware that they had been cursed, approached that sage once more. (BORI: 1-093-34)
[PV-KDV:01_011_164] (Jaya)
O bull among kings, though the Vasus sought to appease the sage, they obtained no forgiveness from that foremost of sages, Āpava, O tiger among men, who was versed in every dharma. (BORI: 1-093-35)
[PV-KDV:01_011_165] (Jaya)
And that righteous man said, “You seven, Dhara and the others, will indeed be released from the curse after one year.” (BORI: 1-093-36)
[PV-KDV:01_011_166] (Jaya)
But this Dyaus, on whose account I cursed you, will dwell in the human world for a long time because of his own deed. (BORI: 1-093-37)
[PV-KDV:01_011_167] (Jaya)
I do not wish to make false what I said to you in anger. And this noble-minded one will have no offspring among human beings. (BORI: 1-093-38)
[PV-KDV:01_011_168] (Jaya)
Devoted to what is dear and beneficial to his father, he will abstain from relations with women. Having said this to all the Vasus, the venerable sage departed.(BORI: 1-093-39B)
[PV-KDV:01_011_170] (Jaya)
Then all the Vasus came to me together and asked me for a boon, O king, which I granted: “O Ganga, as each of us is born, cast us yourself into the water.” (BORI: 1-093-40)
[PV-KDV:01_011_171] (Jaya)
Thus, best of kings, I duly did what they, having all been cursed, asked of me, so as to release them from the human world. (BORI: 1-093-41)
[PV-KDV:01_011_172] (Jaya)
O best of kings, this one alone—Dyaus—will, because of that sage’s curse, remain in the human world for a long time, O King, O Bharata. (BORI: 1-093-42)
[PV-KDV:01_011_173] (Jaya)
Having told him this, the goddess vanished there and then, taking the boy with her and going wherever she wished. (BORI: 1-093-43)
[PV-KDV:01_011_174] (Jaya)
Then Śantanu, afflicted with grief, returned to his own city. (BORI: 1-093-45A)
[PV-KDV:01_011_176] (Jaya)
For thirty-six years—sixteen, eight, four, and another eight—he found no pleasure among women and lived as a frequenter of the forest. (BORI: 1-094-18)
[PV-KDV:01_011_199] (Jaya)
Once, after shooting a deer, King Shantanu followed the river Ganga and saw that the Bhagirathi had little water. (BORI: 1-094-21)
[PV-KDV:01_011_202] (Jaya)
Seeing it, Shantanu, bull among men, wondered, “Why does this foremost of rivers not flow today as it did before?” (BORI: 1-094-22)
[PV-KDV:01_011_203] (Jaya)
Then, as he searched for the cause, that great-hearted man saw a tall, handsome, fine-looking youth… (BORI: 1-094-23)
[PV-KDV:01_011_204] (Jaya)
wielding a divine weapon like the god Purandara, and standing there after blocking the entire Ganges with sharp arrows. (BORI: 1-094-24)
[PV-KDV:01_011_205] (Jaya)
Seeing the river Ganges nearby covered with arrows, the king was astonished at the superhuman feat. (BORI: 1-094-25)
[PV-KDV:01_011_206] (Jaya)
Though Shantanu had seen that son long before, when he was newborn, the wise king could not remember him well enough to recognize him as his own son. (BORI: 1-094-26)
[PV-KDV:01_011_207] (Jaya)
But when he saw his father, he bewildered him with his magic; then, having bewildered him, he quickly vanished on the spot. (BORI: 1-094-27)
[PV-KDV:01_011_208] (Jaya)
Seeing that marvel there, King Shantanu suspected that it was his son and said to Ganga, “Show him to me.” (BORI: 1-094-28)
[PV-KDV:01_011_209] (Jaya)
Gaṅgā said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_212] (Jaya)
O king, this is that eighth son whom you once fathered by me. O tiger among men, take him home. (BORI: 1-094-31)
[PV-KDV:01_011_213] (Jaya)
This one, O tiger among men, is unsurpassed in his knowledge of every weapon. Accept this son whom I have raised, great king. (KUMB: 1-107-34; KUMB: 1-107-35; NILA: 01.100.033; NILA: 01.100.034)
[PV-KDV:01_011_214] (Jaya)
Having said this, the illustrious woman vanished on the spot. (KUMB: 1-107-41क्ष्)
[PV-KDV:01_011_220] (Jaya)
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_011_221] (Jaya)
Thus permitted by her, Shantanu took his son, radiant as the sun, and returned to his own city. (BORI: 1-094-37)
[PV-KDV:01_011_222] (Jaya)
Returning to his own city, which resembled Indra’s city, the Paurava felt that all his desires had been fulfilled. He then consecrated his son as crown prince of the Pauravas. (BORI: 1-094-38)
[PV-KDV:01_011_223] (Jaya)
The illustrious son of Shantanu delighted the Pauravas, his father, and the entire kingdom by his conduct, O bull of the Bharatas. (BORI: 1-094-39)
[PV-KDV:01_011_224] (Jaya)
Thus the king of boundless valor spent four years enjoying life with his son. (BORI: 1-094-40)
[PV-KDV:01_011_225] (Jaya)