M103 - King Pratipa Vow to Ganga

Ganga, the queen of rivers, after getting in-terms with Ashta Vasus to be reborn as her children came to earth and awaited for the arrival of King Pratipa's son on the banks of  River Ganges

There was a king by the name Pratipa, he was the son of king Bhimasena and princess Sukumari of the Kaikeyas. He was kind to all creatures and spent many years in ascetic penances at the source of the river Ganga. The accomplished and lovely Ganga, assuming the form of a beautiful female, and rising from the waters, made up to the monarch. The celestial maiden, endued with ravishing beauty, approached the royal sage engaged in ascetic austerities, and sat upon his right thigh. When the king asked her what she wanted, Ganga said that she wanted him to marry her. Pratipa told her that the right thigh was the seat for the daughters and daughters in law while the left thigh was the seat for the wife. Since she had sat on his right lap, she couldn’t become his wife, he clarified. To refuse a woman coming of her own accord is never applauded by the wise. Therefore Pratipa told her that, he cannot enjoy her as an object of desire. Rather be his daughter-in-law which he will accept  for his son.

To which Ganga said, "O virtuous one, let it be as you say. Let me be united with your son. From my respect for you, I shall be a wife of the celebrated Bharata race. You are the refuge of all the monarchs on earth! I am incapable of numbering the virtues of this race even within a hundred years. The greatness and goodness of many celebrated monarchs of this race are limitless. O lord of all, let it be understood now that when I become your daughter-in-law, your son shall not be able to judge the propriety of my acts. Living thus with your son, I shall do good to him and increase his happiness. And he shall finally attain to heaven in consequence of the sons I shall bear him, and of his virtues and good conduct."

Having said so, the celestial Ganga disappeared then and there. And the king, too, waited for the birth of his son in order to fulfill his promise.
 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

M220 - Pandu's Life in the Forest

Image
Pandu began his ascetic way of life along with his two wives, Kunti and Madri. He travelled from place to place in the mountains. By virtue of his strict adherence to austerity, he became the favorite of various groups of ascetics like the Siddhas and Charanyas living in the woods. Many Rishis (sages) also adored Pandu, some treating him as their son, some as their brother and some as their friend.  Some even treated him as a Brahmarishi, a title that could be earned only by a Brahmin. One day, Pandu lamented to the sages about his fate of having to go with no children because of the curse delivered on him by sage Kindama. He said, “Men  born in this world have four obligations or debts that they owe, one to the gods, one to the rishis, one to their ancestors and one to other men.  The gods have to be pleased by performing sacrifices; the debt owed to sages can be repaid  by doing meditation and practicing asceticism, the debt owed to the ancestors can be repaid by begetting so
Read more

M127 - Story of Dronacharya

Image
Sage Bharadwaja was living at the source of the river Ganga, observing rigid vows. Once when he went to the river to perform his ablutions, he met Ghritachi, a celestial woman known as an Apsara. Seeing the beautiful woman emerging from the river after taking her bath, the sage was consumed with a burning desire. On seeing her clothes coming off her body, his vital fluid came out. The sage held it in a vessel called Drona. Eventually, Drona, the child, sprang out of the fluid preserved by the sage.  The child thus born studied the Vedas and other scriptures.  Bharadwaja taught his knowledge of arms to his illustrious disciple Agnivesa, who was born from fire. Agnivesa, in turn, taught the Science of Weapons to Drona. King Prishata, a great friend of Bharadwaja had a son by name  Drupada.  Drupada, came to the hermitage of Bharadwaja to study under the sage. He was studying in the company of Drona. They became good friends. Their friendship became so intimate that at one st
Read more

M101 - Curse on Ganga and Mahabhisha by Brahma

Image
There was a king known by the name of Mahabhishak born in the race of Ikshvaku . He became the great king among all the kings on the earth, and was truthful (in speech) and of true prowess. By a thousand horse-sacrifices 'Asvametha' and 'Vajapeya' a hundred Rajasuyas he had gratified the chief of the celestials(devas) and ultimately attained to heaven. One day the celestials had assembled together and were worshiping Brahma the creator in his Court .  Ganga , the queen of rivers, also came there to pay her adoration to the Grandsire Lord Brahma . During this time, there was a sudden gust of wind which momentarily displaced her garments as white as the beams of the moon. As her skin became exposed, the celestials bowed down their heads to avoid looking at her in respect to the presence of Brahma. But Mahabhishak was immensely attracted to Ganga and started staring at her continuously. To which Ganga also reciprocated with her amorous glances. Brahma got dis
Read more