As King Shantanu wandered along the banks of the sacred river, he beheld a woman of surpassing beauty, her form radiant and her presence enchanting. Awestruck, he addressed her, “Are you a yakshi, a serpent maiden, or a human woman of lovely waist? Whoever you may be, O one equal to the gods, become my queen, O sinless one. You have captured my mind, and all the wealth I possess is yours. I beg you, O divine-born beauty, be my wife.” Hearing these earnest words, the mysterious lady approached Shantanu with a gentle, charming, and smiling demeanor, her heart intent on his welfare. As she drew near, she remembered her secret agreement with the Vasus and, blameless in her purpose, came to him. Desiring a child, she recalled also the words spoken by Pratipa, Shantanu’s father, and thought, “Now is the time,” for the curse of the Vasus pressed upon her. With this in her heart, she spoke to the king, her words delighting him. “O king,” she said softly, “I will become your queen, obedient to your will. But you must promise: neither you nor anyone else should ever seek to know or question my actions. Whatever I do—be it auspicious or inauspicious—you must not prevent me or speak harshly to me. If, while living with you, I am forbidden or addressed with unkind words, then without doubt, I shall leave you. This is my condition; accept me as you desire. Your father has pleaded with me—now, lord, be my husband.” When she had spoken thus, Shantanu, best of the Bharatas, was filled with incomparable joy at having won such a wondrous woman. He pledged, “So be it,” and, as lord of men, placed her upon his chariot and departed with her. She approached him like the very goddess of fortune herself; and Shantanu, master of his desires, enjoyed her company as he wished. Remembering her condition, he never questioned her; he was pleased by her conduct, character, beauty, and noble qualities. Through her attentiveness and private affection, the king was deeply satisfied, cherishing her above all. This was no ordinary woman, but the goddess Ganga herself, the threefold-flowing, radiant and beautiful, who had assumed a human form. She became the wife of Shantanu, lion among kings, equal in splendor to the lord of the gods, joined to him by fortune and desire. With union, affection, and enchanting smiles, she delighted the king as only a master could be pleased. So absorbed was Shantanu in her companionship that he did not notice the passage of years, seasons, or months. Having obtained such a wondrous wife, he enjoyed pleasures both human and divine. In due season, the goddess conceived and bore him eight sons, each as radiant as the immortals. But, O descendant of Bharata, as each son was born, she took the newborn, seized him by the throat, and cast him into the river, sending him to the abode of Yama. Each time, she would say, “I please you,” and submerge the child in the Ganga’s stream. Yet this act did not please King Shantanu. Still, out of fear of losing her, he said nothing, though his mind was troubled and he pondered the origin of such behavior. Remembering her father’s words, Ganga did not seek her husband’s permission for this grievous act; thus, over seven years, she took the lives of seven sons, both those born and those yet unborn. Shantanu, committed to righteousness, never questioned her, but when she moved to kill the eighth son, his resolve broke. As the eighth son was born and she seemed to smile, the king, tormented by grief and longing to save his child, spoke out at last. Seeing her about to seize the newborn, Shantanu, the joy of the Kurus, cried out in sorrow, “Do not kill him! Whose are you? Why do you destroy your sons? Killing one’s own child is a great and terrible sin, and you have incurred severe blame.” Ganga replied gently, “Desiring a son, I do not kill your child, O best of those with sons. My obligation to you is fulfilled, just as this old garment of mine is worn out. I am Ganga, daughter of Jahnu, attended by great sages. For the sake of fulfilling a divine purpose, I have dwelt with you. These eight Vasus, great and mighty gods, have, due to Vasistha’s curse, taken birth as humans. No one but you could be their father on earth, and no woman like me could be their mother in this world. Therefore, for the sake of bearing them, I took human form. Having given birth to the eight Vasus, you have gained imperishable worlds. This was the agreement I made with the Vasus: ‘Each one born, I will release from human birth.’ Thus, by the curse of the great soul Apava, they are freed. Farewell to you; I will go. Protect this son, who is devoted to great vows. This son of yours, born from their energy, O joy of the lineage, will accomplish extraordinary deeds—of this there is no doubt.” Now, let me recount the virtues of King Shantanu, for he was a man of self-control, generosity, patience, wisdom, modesty, steadfastness, and supreme brilliance. These qualities always shone in the great-souled Shantanu, foremost among men. Endowed with such virtues and skilled in righteousness and wealth, he was the protector of the Bharata lineage and of all people. He possessed a neck like a conch, broad shoulders, the strength of a maddened elephant, and was adorned with all the marks of royalty and prosperity. Thus unfolded the wondrous and poignant union of Shantanu and the goddess Ganga, shaping the destiny of the Bharata race.