In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of the “Puru-Vamsa”, and we’ve seen who all were born after King Puru. We’ve also seen that King Puru was the successor of King Yayaati and from this onwards, we’ve witnessed the lineage till King Shantanu. But before that, we’ve also witnessed that King Shantanu was the son of King Pradeepa. Many of us might already know that King Shantanu married Ganga Devi and with this, he obtained a son by name Bhishmachaarya, who is also referred to as “Gaangeya”. Also, King Shantanu had another wife by name Satyavati. Readers should remember that thai Satyavati was the one who gave birth to Sage Veda-Vyaasa and after that, she got back her virginity. Eventually she married King Shantanu and had children with him later. In the previous episode thus, we had also witnessed why Ganga Devi incarnates in the “Manushya Lokha”. We’ve witnessed how she and King Maha-Bisha got cursed by Bhagawan Brahma for some wrongdoing of theirs in the “Satya Lokha”. It is with this curse, did Ganga Devi take birth in this world and eventually gets married to King Shantanu.
Meanwhile, many of us might have heard of the “Ashta-Vasus”. They are eight in number and are somewhere equivalent to the celestial beings. One amongst the eight Vasus was “Dhyo”. Once upon a time, this Dhyo and his wife were roaming around in the forest, wherein they spot a beautiful cow by name “Nandini”. This cow was owned by Sage Vasishtaachaarya. Upon seeing this Nandini cow, Dhyo’s wife was very interested in having it with her for sometime. Upon hearing this extravagant desire of his wife, Dhyo tried convincing her not to go near it, as Sage Vasishtaachaarya is extremely powerful with his penance, and he might curse them very badly. However, she stuck to her stand that she somehow wanted that Nandini cow. Unable to convince his wife beyond a point, Dhyo goes to his seven other Vasu companions and convinces them to help him in getting this Nandini cow from Sage Vasishtaachaarya. As the eight Vasus try to pull off the Nandini cow, Sage Vasishtaachaarya realized that someone is trying to steal it! Immediately came the curse from Sage Vasishtaachaarya’s mouth thus – “Oh Ashta-Vasus! Since you’ve committed a capital crime of trying to steal my Nandini cow without my permission, I’m cursing all of you to go and take human births like ordinary people in this world. However, as you take births in this world, you would be killed immediately by none other than your own father!”
Now we’ve witnessed why Ganga Devi had taken birth as a normal woman and we would remember that along with Bhishmaachaarya, eight children were born, whom Ganga Devi wanted to kill! These eight children who were put to death by King Shantanu and Ganga Devi were none other than the “Ashta-Vasus”. We’re now left with who was King Shantanu. This King Maha-Bisha who had committed the mistake of looking at Ganga Devi in the wrong way was re-born as King Shantanu as part of the Chandra-Vamsa, along with Kuru and Pradeepa. Thus, to summarize the entire accord for the convenience of readers – Ganga Devi and King Maha-Bisha were born in this world because of Bhagawan Brahma’s curse. King Maha-Bisha was none other than King Shantanu. The “Ashta-Vasus” that were cursed by Sage Vasishtaachaarya were born as eight children to King Shantanu and Ganga Devi. The eighth child was none other than Bhishmaachaarya.
As this is conspired in the Deva Lokha and Satya Lokha thus, Ganga Devi comes out of the Satya Lokha with the curse, and with sadness written all over her face! Upon seeing Ganga Devi like this, the “Ashta-Vasus” ask her, “Oh Mother! Why are you so sad? Till today we’ve never seen you this sad! What happened?” Upon this, Ganga Devi narrates whatever happened in the Satya Lokha and how Bhagawan Brahma cursed her and King Maha-Bisha. As the “Ashta Vasus” hear this, the “Ashta-Vasus” request Mother Ganga thus, “Oh Mother! If that’s the case, let us do one thing – As you might know that we’ve been cursed by Sage Vasishtaachaarya that we would be born as children in the “Manushya Lokha”. We know that you’re going to incarnate in this world along with King Maha-Bisha. Hence, let us be born to you as your sons, and as per the curse that we have, you and King Shantanu kill us immediately after we take birth, so that we would be able to attain the Deva Lokha very quickly!”
Hearing this from Ganga Devi, she also accepted this plan, and thus, it was decided that the “Ashta-Vasus” would be born one after the other to King Shantanu and Ganga Devi in the “Manushya Lokha”. However, the deal doesn’t end here – There was this “Dhyo” who was the masterplanner in the Nandini cow episode, isn’t it? Dhyo’s wife wanted the cow badly and because of her, Dhyo was forced to involve all the other seven “Vasus” isn’t it? According to the deal, the seven others who were only the executors of this theft were to be killed immediately, and this Dhyo who was the masterplanner would live for a long time in the “Manushya Lokha”! This Dhyo was none other than Bhishmaachaarya!
Thus, according to this plan, King Pradeepa gave birth to King Shantanu, and let us understand until this point for today! We shall wait till the next episode to witness the continuation of this accord further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 