King Mahabhisha, a royal sage, had once attained heaven by pleasing the lord of the gods through the performance of a thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices. In heaven, at a time when the gods gathered to worship Brahma, Mahabhisha was present among them, along with other royal sages. On that occasion, the river goddess Ganga, foremost among rivers, approached the Grandsire Brahma. The wind stirred her garment, and she shone with a radiance like that of the moon. All the gods respectfully turned their faces away, but Mahabhisha, unable to restrain himself, gazed upon her without hesitation. Brahma, displeased by Mahabhisha’s conduct, pronounced a curse: “You shall be born among mortals again, and only after that will you attain the worlds.” Brahma explained that because Mahabhisha’s mind had been captivated by Ganga, she would bring him sorrow in the world of men. Further, Brahma decreed that when anger arose in Mahabhisha, the power of the curse would release him. Ganga, seeing King Mahabhisha radiant as fire yet fallen from courage, chose Pratipa, his father, as the object of her desire. Meditating upon him in her heart, Ganga approached Pratipa, but afflicted by sorrow and her form shattered, she encountered the king. As Ganga continued along her path, she saw the Vasus—the gods who dwell in heaven—appearing in a ruined state. She questioned them, asking why they were thus and whether all was well with the gods. The Vasus replied, “O great river, we have been cursed. Because of a small offense, the great-souled sage Vasistha, angered by our foolish concealment of the best of sages, cursed us all.” They recounted that long ago, they had approached Vasistha while he was seated at twilight. In wrath, Vasistha cursed them: “You shall be born in the womb of mortals.” Since what has been spoken by a knower of Brahman cannot be undone, the Vasus requested Ganga, “Become a woman among mortals and bear us, the Vasus, as sons on earth. We must not enter the wombs of human women.” Ganga replied, “So be it,” and spoke further: “King Pratipa’s son, Shantanu, renowned among humans, will be born; he will be our agent. I agree with your plan and will do what pleases him, if this is your wish. When the sons are born, you should cast them into the waters so that our release in the three worlds will not be delayed.” The Vasus explained, “We, lacking discernment, wished to seize Surabhi and were cursed by the Brahmarshi; therefore, quickly free us from that curse.” Ganga agreed, “So shall I do. Let a son be begotten for him, so that his union with me for the sake of a son is not in vain.” The Vasus promised, “We will each give a fourth part of our energy; with that energy, your son will be born as he desires. There will not be a further lineage among mortals from him; thus, your son will be powerful but without offspring.” Meanwhile, King Pratipa, always devoted to the welfare of all beings, sat for many years on the bank of the Ganga, engaged in recitation. To him, Ganga—endowed with beauty and virtues, and taking the form of a woman—emerged from the waters with the most alluring appearance. As Pratipa was studying, the divine and thoughtful maiden, her face radiant, sat upon his right thigh, resembling a sala tree. Pratipa, foremost among those skilled in speech and a knower of righteousness, addressed her: “What may I do for you, blessed one, that is dear to you and desired?” Ganga replied, “I desire you, O king; accept me as I seek you. The abandonment of women who are in love is condemned by the virtuous.” Pratipa responded, “O fair one, I do not approach another’s wife out of desire, nor one of a different class, blessed lady; this is my righteous vow. He who, abandoning his own wife, seeks another woman, is not freed from hell until the dissolution of the worlds.” Ganga insisted, “I am not to be enjoyed, nor approached, nor ever spoken to thus. O king, accept me as one who seeks you, a divine maiden, the best of women.” Pratipa explained, “This, that you urge me to do what is dear, has been rejected by you yourself. Otherwise, if I acted differently, it would destroy righteousness. O beautiful-limbed one, you have sat upon my right thigh; know, timid lady, that this seat is for daughters-in-law and descendants. My left thigh is meant for the enjoyment of women, but you have avoided it; therefore, O beautiful-limbed one, I will not approach you with desire. Become my daughter-in-law, O lovely-hipped one; I choose you for the sake of a son. By coming to me, O slender-waisted lady, you have taken the side of the daughter-in-law.” Ganga agreed, “So be it, O knower of righteousness; let me be united with your son. Through devotion to you, I will honor the illustrious Bharata lineage. You are the refuge for all the kings on earth; your virtues cannot be described by me, not even in a hundred years. The renowned excellence and supreme virtue of your lineage is well known; O knower of righteousness, I will act here according to the agreement, O lord. Let your son never doubt any of this at any time; thus, dwelling here, I will foster affection for your son.” Having spoken thus and agreed, Ganga vanished there itself, becoming invisible to the king even as he watched.