There was a king named Mahabhisa, born in the race of Ikshvaku. He was a powerful and truthful ruler who ruled over all the earth. By performing a thousand horse sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya, he pleased the chief of the gods and eventually reached heaven.
One day, the gods gathered to worship Brahma, and many royal sages, including King Mahabhisa, were present. Ganga, the queen of rivers, also came to offer her respect to Brahma. As she stood there, a breeze caused her white garments to slip, exposing her. While the gods respectfully looked away, Mahabhisa stared at her. For this, Brahma cursed him, saying, ‘Because you lost control at the sight of Ganga, you will be reborn on earth. However, you will eventually return to heaven. Ganga will also be born on earth and will cause you harm, but when you become angry, you will be freed from my curse.’
King Mahabhisa, remembering all the kings and sages on earth, wished to be reborn as the son of the mighty Pratipa. Meanwhile, Ganga, thinking of Mahabhisa, encountered the Vasus, celestial beings who looked troubled. Ganga asked them why they were upset, and they explained they had accidentally offended the great sage Vasishtha while he was meditating. In his anger, Vasishtha cursed them to be born as humans. The Vasus then requested Ganga to be their mother on earth, as they did not want to be born from a human woman.
Ganga agreed and asked who would be their father. The Vasus replied that a son named Santanu would be born to Pratipa, who would become a famous king. Ganga was pleased with this and promised to help Santanu. The Vasus then requested Ganga to drown them after their birth, so they wouldn’t have to live on earth for long. Ganga agreed, but requested they allow one son to live. The Vasus agreed and said they would each contribute a part of their energy to create this one son, but he would remain childless. With this agreement, the Vasus left for their desired destination.
There was a kind and compassionate king named Pratipa. He and his wife were engaged in penances to have a child. When they were old, they finally had a son, who was none other than Mahabhisa. They named him Santanu because he was born after his father had controlled his passions through penances. Santanu, knowing that good deeds lead to eternal bliss, became devoted to virtue. When Santanu grew up, Pratipa told him about the celestial maiden who had come to him. He advised Santanu that if he met this beautiful woman, and she asked for children, he should marry her without questioning her actions or background. After giving this advice, Pratipa installed Santanu on the throne and retired to the forest.
Santanu, who was intelligent and as splendid as Indra, spent much of his time hunting in the woods. One day, while wandering along the banks of the Ganges, he came upon a place frequented by divine beings. There, he saw a beautiful maiden dressed in fine garments and adorned with celestial ornaments. Her beauty captivated the king, and gazed at her with admiration. The maiden also felt attracted to the king and couldn’t stop looking at him. The king then spoke to her softly and said, ‘O slender-waisted one, whether you are a goddess, a daughter of the Danavas, a Gandharva, an Apsara, a Yaksha, a Naga, or of human origin, I ask you to be my wife!’
The maiden, hearing the gentle and sweet words of the smiling king, remembered her promise to the Vasus and replied, ‘O king, I will become your wife and obey your commands. But you must promise not to interfere with anything I do, whether or not it pleases you. You must also never speak to me harshly. As long as you treat me kindly, I will stay with you. But if you interfere or speak to me unkindly, I will leave you immediately.’ The king agreed, saying, ‘So be it.’
The maiden was pleased to have such a great king as her husband, and the king in turn was delighted to have her as his wife. King Santanu, true to his word, did not question her actions. He was thrilled with her beauty, kindness, and the care she took of him. The goddess Ganga, in human form, lived happily with King Santanu, enjoying their time together. The king was so captivated by her charm and love that he lost track of time, with months and years passing by unnoticed.
They had eight children, each as beautiful as the gods themselves. However, one by one, as soon as they were born, Ganga would throw them into the river, saying, ‘This is for your good.’ The children sank into the water and never resurfaced. This troubled the king but kept silent, fearing his wife might leave him if he questioned her. But when the eighth child was born, and Ganga was about to throw it into the river as she had done with the others, the king, saddened and desperate to save the child, finally spoke up. He said, ‘Do not kill this child! Who are you, and why do you do this? Why are you killing your own children? You are committing a great sin!’ Ganga replied, ‘O king, you have already become the father of children. I will not harm this one. But as per our agreement, my time with you is now over. I am Ganga, the daughter of Jahnu. I have lived with you to fulfil a purpose given to me by the gods. The eight Vasus, powerful beings, were cursed by the sage Vasishtha to be born as humans. They needed a father worthy of them, and you were the only one who deserved that honour. I took on a human form to give birth to them. Now that they are free from their curse, I must leave you. Raise this child with care. His name will be Gangadutt, as he was given to you by Ganga. Santanu, heartbroken by her departure, asked, ‘What did the Vasus do to deserve this curse? And what did our child, Gangadutt, do to live among men?’
Ganga explained, ‘The Vasus once visited the sacred forest of a great sage named Vasishtha, who had a special cow named Nandini. This cow could grant any wish and was dear to the sage. One of the Vasus, Dyu, was persuaded by his wife to steal the cow for her friend. Forgetting the sage’s power, he stole the cow with the help of his brothers. When the sage returned and saw the cow was gone, he used his powers to see what had happened and cursed the Vasus to be born as humans. However, he lessened the curse, saying that they would be freed from their human forms soon after birth, except for Dyu, who would live on earth for a longer time but without the joys of family life. To fulfil their wish, I agreed to become their mother and free them from their curse by returning them to the river after they were born. Only Dyu, who will live longer on earth, remains with you as your son, Gangadutt.
After saying this, Ganga disappeared, taking the child with her to the place of her choosing. The child was named Gangadutt, or Devavrata, and he grew up to be even more accomplished than his father. After Ganga’s departure, King Santanu returned to his kingdom with a heavy heart. The story of King Santanu and his son is part of the great epic, the Mahabharata.”
Lessons from the life of Mahabhisa, Santanu and Ganga
The story of King Mahabhisa (who was later reborn as King Santanu) and Ganga offers several profound life lessons:
1. Self-control is essential: King Mahabhisa’s inability to control his desire when he gazed at Ganga led to his curse and rebirth on earth. This teaches us that losing control over our desires, even momentarily, can have significant consequences. It’s essential to practice self-discipline and mindfulness to avoid actions that may lead to regret or punishment.
2. Karma has consequences: The Vasus’ actions, though accidental, led to their curse and rebirth as humans. This shows that our actions have consequences, and we must be mindful of our deeds.
3. Patience and understanding are vital in relationships: King Santanu’s patience and understanding in his relationship with Ganga allowed him to maintain harmony, even when faced with difficult situations.
4. Letting go can be liberating: Ganga’s departure from King Santanu, though painful, allowed her to fulfil her purpose and return to her divine form. This teaches us that sometimes letting go is necessary for growth and liberation.
5. The power of promise and commitment: King Santanu’s adherence to his promise to Ganga, despite his inner turmoil, demonstrates the importance of keeping one’s word and respecting commitments.
6. The mystery of fate and destiny: The story highlights the interconnectedness of fate and destiny, showing how the lives of individuals are linked and influenced by cosmic forces beyond their control.
7. Forgiveness and compassion are essential: The sage Vasishtha’s curse and subsequent leniency towards the Vasus demonstrate the value of forgiveness and compassion in breaking cycles of negativity.
8. Parental love and sacrifice: Ganga accepted the task of mothering the Vasus to help them overcome their curse, even though it involved the painful act of drowning her own children. This highlights the importance of fulfilling one’s duties, even when they are difficult or seem harsh. Sometimes, actions that appear cruel may have a higher purpose or be necessary for the greater good.
9. The importance of humility and respect: King Santanu’s humility and respect towards Ganga, despite his royal status, demonstrates the value of humility and respect in relationships and interactions with others.
10. The interconnectedness of human and divine realms: The story blurs the lines between the human and divine worlds, reminding us that our actions have consequences beyond our immediate reality.
11. The Importance of Keeping Promises: King Santanu made a promise to Ganga not to question her actions or speak harshly to her, which he kept until he could no longer bear the pain of losing his children. This shows the significance of honouring commitments and the impact it can have on relationships. Breaking a promise, even for a noble reason, can lead to loss and sorrow.
12. Understanding the Bigger Picture: Ganga’s explanation to Santanu about the Vasus’ curse and the necessity of their brief human lives reveals that there is often a larger, divine plan at work. It teaches us to trust that there may be reasons beyond our understanding for the challenges we face, and sometimes, suffering is part of a greater cosmic order.
13. Detachment and Letting Go: Santanu’s journey from happiness to heartbreak illustrates the transient nature of life’s pleasures and relationships. It teaches the value of practicing detachment and the need to let go when circumstances demand it. Clinging too tightly to worldly attachments can lead to pain and suffering.
14. The Role of Fate and Destiny: The story illustrates how certain events are predestined, such as the birth of Santanu and his involvement with Ganga. It emphasizes the concept of accepting one’s fate, but also acting within it with virtue and righteousness.
Overall, the story from the Mahabharata emphasizes the importance of discipline, duty, keeping promises, understanding life’s complexities, practicing detachment, and recognizing the sacrifices inherent in parenthood.