Apasmāra

Four years after Ganga left her child Devavrata with King Shantanu, ruler of Hasthinapur, when Shantanu while travelling near the banks of Yamuna , he perceived a sweet fragrance. When he went in pursuit of this scent, he found that the fragrance was emanating from a young woman of exquisite beauty.  Santanu went to her and asked her who she was. She said that her name was Satyavati,  the daughter of the Chief of the  fisherme. Upon seeing her, Shantanu fell in love with her and desired to her. He immediately asked her to be his wife. Satyavati would not return an immediate answer, but asked the king to address this question to her father. When the chief of fishermen, Dhusharaj  returned shortly, the king requested his permission to pay his addresses to Satyavati. The fisherman thought for a while and said, "O King! I am very much honored that you have expressed a wish to marry my daughter. Indeed, it is impossible to think of a more worthy groom for her. Howe...

One day, as Shantanu was wandering along the bank of the Ganges, he came across a region frequently visited by Siddhas and Charanas . There he saw a lovely maiden of blazing beauty and decked with celestial ornaments, and attired in garments of fine texture that resembled in splendour the filaments of the lotus. With steadfast gaze he seemed to be drinking her charms, but repeated draughts failed to quench his thirst. Enchanted by her looks, he approached her and asked her who she was and asked her to marry him. She agreed but with one condition that Santanu would not ask any questions about her actions. Shantanu accepted her condition and married her, without knowing her identity. She conducted herself with dignity and the couple had a happy living. After sometime, a child was born to them. Immediately after giving birth to the child, Ganga carried the child to the Ganga and drowned it in the river. Though shocked by this cruel act, Shantanu had to restrain himself from qu...

Ganga on her way to earth, she saw the dwellers in heaven, the Ashta Vasus , also pursuing the same path. Ganga beholding them in the predicament, asked them, "Why you look so dejected? Is everything right with you?" Those celestials, the Eight Vasus, answered her, saying, "O queen of rivers, we have been cursed, for a venial fault, by the sage Vasishta in anger. The foremost of excellent Rishis , Vasishta, the son of Varuna, the God of Rains, was a great sage who had attained an exalted status through intensive penance. He was also known as Apava. He had his abode in Mount Meru, where he was doing penance."  Continued saying "Vasishta has a divine cow Nandini (which was the daughter of Surabhi , by he sage Kashyapa . Here, Surabhi is probably Kamadhenu. Nandini, like her mother, was capable of yielding great riches to its possessor.) which was a Cow of Abundance, capable of granting any wish sought from it. Vasishta obtained this cow for performing ...