O bull among the Bharatas, King Shantanu ruled his kingdom with such virtue and wisdom that his people rejoiced under his reign. Delighting in the company of his beloved son, the lord of the earth was content and pleased with his life. For four years, Shantanu governed with restrained power and self-control. Then, one day, he journeyed into the forest near the banks of the Yamuna River. As he wandered there, a wondrous, indescribable fragrance, sweet and excellent, drifted on the breeze, captivating his senses. Drawn by the scent, the king searched all around, eager to discover its source. It was then that Shantanu beheld a maiden of the Dashas, divine in form and beauty, her eyes dark and enchanting. Approaching her, the king gently inquired, “Who are you? Whose daughter are you, and what is your purpose here, O timid one?” The maiden replied with humility and grace, “I am the daughter of a Dasha. For the sake of righteousness and to earn my livelihood, I ferry people across the river, following the command of my father, the great-souled king of the Dashas.” The maiden, radiant with beauty, sweetness, and a divine fragrance, stirred a deep desire in Shantanu’s heart. Yearning to make her his wife, the king went to her father and asked for her hand in marriage. For the sake of his daughter, Shantanu spoke with the king of the Dashas, who replied, “My daughter, who shines with the brilliance of a celestial, is to be given in marriage as soon as she is sought. But, O lord of men, hear the desire that dwells in my heart. If you, O sinless one, truly seek my daughter as your lawful wife, then make a vow to me in truth. Only by a solemn promise will I grant her to you, for no suitor equal to you will ever come again.” Shantanu answered, “Having heard your request, O Dasha, I will consider it. If it is proper, I will agree, but I cannot accept otherwise.” The ferryman declared his condition: “The son born of this maiden must be made king after you, O lord of the earth—no other, O king.” Though Shantanu’s heart burned with longing, he could not grant this boon. Bound by love for his son, he refused the condition, and thus, sorrowful and distracted, he returned to Hastinapura, his mind still filled with thoughts of the Dasha maiden. In the days that followed, Shantanu grew quiet and withdrawn, his heart heavy with grief. One day, as he sat lost in thought, his son Devavrata approached him and spoke kindly, “Father, all the kings honor you, and your kingdom is secure. Why, then, do you grieve so deeply? You do not speak to me, your color is faded, and you have grown thin, like a deer in distress. Please, tell me what troubles you, so that I may act to ease your sorrow.” Shantanu, unable at first to reply, at last spoke to his devoted son. “Indeed, my child, I am lost in thought. Listen as I tell you why: you alone are my child in this great lineage, O Bharata. Always steadfast in valor and devoted to arms, you are more precious to me than a hundred sons. Yet I grieve over the impermanence of the world. If, O son of Ganga, misfortune should befall you, our lineage would be lost. I cannot take another wife in vain, for I wish only for the unbroken continuation of our line. The wise uphold that to have only one son is like being childless. The eye and the son are alike—sometimes present, sometimes not; when the eye is lost, the body perishes; when the son is lost, the lineage is destroyed. The agnihotra, the threefold Veda, and sacrifices with gifts—all these do not equal even a sixteenth part of having a child. Thus it is among men and all creatures. I have no doubt about the value of offspring. By means of children, one is freed from the debt to the ancestors—this is the eternal triad: offspring, action, and knowledge. You are brave and steadfast, O Bharata; for you, there is no death except in battle. Therefore, I am troubled with doubt as to how peace will come to our line. This, my son, is the cause of my sorrow.” Hearing the full reason for his father’s grief, Devavrata, wise and thoughtful, pondered deeply. Filled with concern for his father’s longing for offspring, he summoned the royal charioteer and asked, “You are my father’s charioteer and friend, skilled in your art. Tell me truly, if you know, in whose heart the king’s affection lies.” The charioteer replied, “O best of the Kurus, the king’s heart is fixed upon the daughter of the ferryman. He sought her in marriage, but her father demanded that the son born of her should become king after you. Your father could not accept this, and so the maiden was not given to him.” Understanding his father’s will and carefully considering his duty, Devavrata resolved to act. With determination, he set out toward the Yamuna, accompanied by righteous Kshatriyas of old who upheld dharma, to seek the maiden for his father himself.