Pratipa, the wise and noble king, once gave his son Shantanu a unique and solemn instruction. He told him that, in the future, a beautiful and celestial woman—adorned with divine ornaments and desiring a son—would come to him. When she appeared, Shantanu was not to question her about her identity or lineage. Whatever actions she chose to do, he was not to ask her about them; instead, he was to accept her as she was, united with him in trust and faith. Having thus instructed his son, Pratipa performed the sacred rites and installed Shantanu as king of his realm. Then, relinquishing worldly duties, Pratipa retired to the forest, leaving the kingdom in Shantanu’s capable hands. Shantanu, radiant in wisdom and glory like the lord of the gods himself, soon became renowned throughout the land as a ruler who always spoke the truth. He was broad-shouldered and mighty-armed, possessing the strength of a maddened elephant and all the auspicious marks of a true king. Endowed with the qualities of a wise minister, well-versed in the special duties of the kshatriyas, Shantanu alone brought the entire earth under his control, having conquered all other kings. He ensured that the Vedas were properly studied and that all royal duties were observed. Shantanu performed many grand sacrifices and rituals, giving abundant gifts to all. Learned brahmins, skilled in the Vedas, were satisfied by his generosity, receiving jewels, cows, villages, horses, and wealth of every kind. In age, beauty, manliness, strength, wealth, majesty, and valor, Shantanu excelled above all others. Living in truth and expert in all matters of dharma, Shantanu was made king of kings by the other rulers. Under his reign, the people were free from sorrow, fear, and affliction. They enjoyed peaceful sleep and awakening, and prosperity flourished throughout the land. Through discipline, all social orders revered the brahmins as supreme; the kshatriyas looked to the brahmins, and the vaishyas to the kshatriyas. The shudras served the brahmins and kshatriyas with devotion, and even among cattle, boars, deer, and birds, this natural order prevailed. While Shantanu ruled, needless killing did not occur—not even among the unhappy, the helpless, or those living in animal forms. The king became like a father to all beings, delighting in his capital, Hastinapura. In brilliance, he was like the sun; in strength, he equaled the wind; in wrath, he resembled Death itself; and in patience, he was like the earth. Wise and true in valor, Shantanu was a benefactor of his people, and he delighted in the beautiful forests and mountain streams. Fond of hunting, he often roamed the forests, skillfully striking down deer and buffaloes. One day, as Shantanu wandered alone along the sacred Ganga—frequented by perfected beings and celestial wanderers—he beheld an extraordinary woman. She stood on the riverbank, radiant and flawless, her teeth beautiful, her body adorned with divine ornaments. She wore fine, delicate garments, her complexion glowing like the heart of a lotus. Her hair was loose, and she touched her tresses with her hands. In beauty, youth, charm, and proportion, she was unmatched. Her gestures, expressions, playful glances, the movement of her eyes, the fullness of her hips, the slenderness of her waist, the swell of her breasts, and her graceful chest—all these captivated the king. The abundance of her hair, the grace of her feet, her subtle signs, her smile, melodious speech, and sweet conversation surpassed even the beauty of the three worlds. Her voice, her speech, her beauty, her grace, and her charm outshone even Sarasvati, Parvati, Lakshmi, and all other celestial women. She approached with a tranquil form, dispelling all misfortune. At the sight of her, Shantanu was awestruck; his hair stood on end, and he could not take his eyes off her, as if drinking in her beauty. She too, upon seeing the radiant king, felt affection and warmth arise within her. Playful and enchanting, she gazed at him with darting, loving glances, like a celestial nymph or a kinnari. Shantanu, filled with joy at her sight, saw that she surpassed all royal women in beauty. Overcome, he addressed her in gentle and pleasing words: “Are you a goddess, a danavi, a gandharvi, or perhaps an apsara? Or are you a yakshi, a serpent maiden, or a human woman of lovely waist? Whoever you are, O one equal to the gods, become my queen, O sinless one. You have captured my mind, and whatever wealth I possess is yours. I beg you, O one born of the gods, O beautiful one, be my wife.” Hearing the king’s words, the woman approached him with a gentle, charming, and smiling demeanor, intent on his welfare. She remembered the agreement she had with the Vasus and, being blameless, approached the best of kings who wandered the riverbank. Desiring offspring, and recalling the words of Pratipa, she thought, “Now is the time,” prompted by the curse of the Vasus. Delighting the king’s mind, she spoke: “O king, I shall become your queen, obedient to your will. But neither you nor anyone else should ever seek to know my actions. Whatever I may do, whether auspicious or inauspicious, you must not prevent me nor speak any unpleasant word to me. If, while living with you, I am forbidden or addressed harshly, then without doubt, I shall leave you. This is my condition, O king; accept me as you desire. Your father has pleaded with me; now, lord, be my husband.” Thus, under the gentle light of the Ganga’s banks, with the blessings of destiny and the memory of his father’s words, Shantanu’s life was forever changed by the arrival of this celestial woman.