The Story Of Beeshma

The Birth of King Shantanu

Shantanu was born into the illustrious lineage of the Kuru dynasty. He was the son of King Pratipa, who was known for his wisdom and righteousness. As Shantanu grew, he exhibited all the qualities of a noble ruler: valor, kindness, and a deep sense of justice. When Pratipa grew old, he retired to the forest for a life of renunciation, and Shantanu took over the throne, becoming a well-respected king.

As a ruler, Shantanu was known for his fairness, wisdom, and dedication to his kingdom. His life was peaceful and prosperous, but fate had other plans for him, setting into motion a series of events that would change the course of his life and the destiny of his descendants.

The Meeting of Shantanu and Ganga

One day, while strolling along the banks of the river Ganges, Shantanu encountered an extraordinarily beautiful woman. She had a divine aura and a serene grace that captivated him instantly. This woman was none other than Ganga, the river goddess incarnate. Moved by her beauty and charm, Shantanu fell deeply in love and proposed marriage.

Ganga agreed to marry him, but on one condition: he must never question her actions or interfere with her decisions. If he ever did, she would leave him forever. So enchanted was Shantanu by her that he readily accepted the condition, unable to think of anything that might cause him to go against her wishes. They were married and soon began their life together as king and queen.The Birth and Fate of the Eight Vasus

Unknown to Shantanu at the time, Ganga was on a mission to fulfill a divine purpose. She had incarnated on Earth to liberate the eight Vasus, celestial beings who had been cursed to be born as mortals. The story of the Vasus’ curse begins with a sage named Vashishtha, who had a divine cow called Nandini. This cow had magical powers, and the Vasus, desiring its qualities, attempted to steal it. Enraged, Vashishtha cursed all eight Vasus to be born on Earth as mortals.

Realizing their mistake, the Vasus begged the sage to be forgiven. Vashishtha softened his curse, allowing them to be liberated from mortal life quickly, except for the last Vasu, Prabhasa, who would have to suffer the consequences of the curse and remain on Earth longer than the others. The Vasus requested Ganga to be their mother, and she agreed to give birth to them and release them from mortal life swiftly.

When Ganga and Shantanu began having children, Ganga, in fulfillment of her promise to the Vasus, took each newborn child and immediately drowned them in the river, thus liberating their souls. Though Shantanu was horrified each time he witnessed the death of his children, he remembered his promise to Ganga and refrained from questioning her actions. Seven of their sons were born and perished in this way, each soul released from the mortal plane according to the plan.

The Birth of Devavrata (Bhishma)

When their eighth child was born, Shantanu could no longer restrain himself. Driven by grief and frustration, he confronted Ganga, demanding to know why she had been drowning their children. With this question, Shantanu had broken his promise, and Ganga, bound by her word, had to leave him. But before she did, she revealed her true identity and explained the curse of the Vasus.

The eighth son, she explained, was the last Vasu, Prabhasa, who had to live a full life on Earth due to his role in the theft of the divine cow. This child would grow up to be a noble and powerful individual, destined to play a significant role in the future of the Kuru dynasty. Ganga promised that she would take the child with her, nurture and teach him, and return him to Shantanu when the time was right.

This child, Devavrata, grew up under Ganga’s care, learning the arts of warfare, the scriptures, and the principles of dharma. He was trained by some of the greatest sages, including the legendary sage Parashurama, making him one of the most skilled and wise warriors of his time. When Ganga finally returned Devavrata to Shantanu, the king was overjoyed and took immense pride in his son.