Story 1: How it all started.
King Shantanu.

The people of Hastinapur (has-ti-naa-pur) considered themselves lucky. Their kings- from the Lunar dynasty- had been kind and virtuous. All the previous kings were brave and caring, and the current ruler, King Shantanu, was no different. The only thing people of Hastinapur wished for now was a queen worthy enough for King Shantanu. Their hopes were soon fulfilled.

King Shantanu met a beautiful woman on the banks of a river. The woman, named Ganga, was grace and beauty personified. She walked effortlessly, as if gliding on the land. She spoke with warmth of a winter sun, and had a beauty so effervescent that it seemed divine. King Shantanu fell in love with Ganga the moment he saw her, and asked her to marry him.

However, Ganga wasn’t so sure. “O King! I’ve heard of you and your greatness”, she said. “But I’m afraid to marry you. As your wife, you will put restrictions on me. You will not let me live as freely as I love to. I’m honoured by your proposal, King Shantanu, but I value my freedom greatly.”

To this, the king assured Ganga, that he loves her, and will care for her happiness more than anything else. But Ganga wasn’t satisfied. She agreed to marry Shantanu only after he promised her that he will never question her or stop her from doing anything. “Such a graceful, innocent woman she is”, thought Shantanu. “What harm in promising her complete freedom!” Little did he know of Ganga’s plans…

King Shantanu and Ganga were married in a grand ceremony. The king, and people of Hastinapur, were extremely happy to have Ganga as their queen. Soon after their marriage, Ganga gave birth to a son. But then, she quietly took the son to a river, and drowned him in front of a bewildered Shantanu’s eyes. Bound by his promise, the king could do nothing but wonder and grieve for his lost child. The same events repeated six more times!! Shantanu couldn’t believe his eyes – but could neither stop nor question Ganga about her actions! As Ganga was about to drown their eight child, King Shanatanu could see it no more. He had to stop this madness!!

“Stop Ganga!!”, shouted Shantanu. “Why are you killing our innocent children like this? Please stop! Spare my son!”

Ganga smiled in the most heavenly ways. “I am no ordinary woman, O King, and those children were no ordinary children either. They were sages (learned higher beings) , cursed to appear in the human form on this earth. I married you to help those sages escape a human life. This eight child of yours, however, is different. He will live on, and lead an illustrious life unlike any other human on the Earth.” Saying this, Ganga handed over the infant to King Shantanu, and disappeared in the river herself.

Shantanu named this child Dev-vrata – the promise of Gods. Devavrata was an exceptionally bright child- skilled in every art and science, and devoted to his kingdom and his father. The people of Hastinapur had found a worthy successor to their long line of illustrious kings..