← Back to the Banyan, at this story ← The eight Vasus, Vasishtha's cow, and Bhishma's birth · Vidura is Dharma/Yama, cursed by Mandavya →

STORIES · THE MAHĀBHĀRATA · Ādi

Shantanu was King Mahabhisha, cursed for staring at Ganga

Classical

The marriage that produced Bhishma began with a stare in Brahma's court.

In a previous life Shantanu was the Ikshvaku king Mahabhisha, a heaven-winner by a thousand horse sacrifices. In Brahma's court a wind exposes the goddess Ganga; everyone looks down except Mahabhisha. Brahma curses both to be born as mortals, Ganga to return only after breaking his heart, and Mahabhisha asks to be born to Kuru king Pratipa.

Who: Shantanu, Mahabhisha, Ganga, Brahma

Bound to

The eight Vasus, Vasishtha's cow, and Bhishma's birth causes

Devavrata's terrible vow: how he became Bhīṣma origin

Where this comes from

• vulgate (Ganguli) · Ganguli translation of the Mahabharata (read via Ibiblio SriPedia mirror) Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section XCVI
• commentary · Wikipedia: Shantanu (cites Roy/Ganguli, van Buitenen)

See it on the tree · All stories

← The eight Vasus, Vasishtha's cow, and Bhishma's birth · Vidura is Dharma/Yama, cursed by Mandavya →