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In ancient times there lived a king named Mahavisha. During his long life he performed great sacrifices and, as a …

Mahavisha thought for a moment, remembering all the monarchs on earth. Among them all he considered a king named Pratipa …

Gaṅgā, having seen Mahavisha’s unashamed attraction for her, left the assembly thinking of him. As she went away she came …

Gaṅgā heard how the eight Vasus had tried to take from Vasiṣṭa his heavenly cow, Nandini. Their leader, Dyau, had …

The Vasus soon learned of the curse and went before the ṛṣi, remorsefully returning the cow and begging his forgiveness; …

The Vasus asked Gaṅgā to go to earth as a woman and become their mother as they did not wish …

Gaṅgā was delighted. Śantanu would be an incarnation of Mahavisha. She smiled. “I will surely become your mother. Go where …

In due course, the Vasus fell from heaven and Gaṅgā left for earth. Soon after, Śantanu, while wandering along the …

Gaṅgā was also attracted to the handsome monarch, and she returned his gaze, her dark eyes meeting his and sending …

Gaṅgā glanced down demurely. “O King, I will become your wife and obey your commands, but I will make one …

The king hardly gave any thought to her request. “Be it so,” he replied at once. He brought her back …

Absorbed in Gaṅgā’s celestial beauty, Śantanu did not notice the passage of time. After a year together, which seemed to …

Each year for seven years a boy was born, and each time Gaṅgā took the child to the river and …

Gaṅgā stopped by the river bank and turned toward Śantanu. “As you desire a child, I will not kill this …

Gaṅgā then revealed her identity to the mystified king. She told him about Vasiṣṭha’s cursing of the Vasus. “I have …

Understanding the situation, and realizing that everything had been ordained by destiny, Śantanu tried to change Gaṅgā’s mind, but she …

Śantanu returned in sorrow to his capital, Hastināpura. He continued ruling the people, becoming famous for his virtue. He was …

One day, some years after Gaṅgā had left, the king was hunting near the Ganges. As he pursued a deer …

As soon as he spoke, the goddess rose from the waters holding the boy by his hand. She approached the …

Gaṅgā then vanished, leaving the boy with Śantanu. The king took him back to the city, where he would later …