Whatever deeds I may perform, whether auspicious or not, and whenever you, O best of kings, do not follow my word—these were the thoughts that weighed upon the mind of the goddess Ganga. She remembered well the birth of the Vasus and kept their request close to her heart. When King Shantanu agreed to her conditions, saying, “So be it,” that radiant goddess accepted him as her husband. The fortunate and luminous Ganga entered the king’s palace, bringing joy to his heart. She, noble and perceptive, delighted him with her gentle presence, and together they shone like Indra with Śacī. In the splendid palace, their happiness was like that of Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa, divine and harmonious. In time, Ganga, with eyes as beautiful as a fawn's, gave birth to a son of the Vasus. Then, in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth years, sons were born to them as well. But the king was troubled in his heart. “What shall I do today? How will my lineage remain secure on earth?” he wondered. “If I restrain her, she will certainly leave me behind and go. Yet if I do not restrain her today, she will surely cast this one into the water. Even when a child is born, she acts in a way I cannot understand—she may protect it, or she may not. For the sake of preserving my lineage, I must make every possible effort.” He remembered how the sage’s cow Nandini was taken by Strijit and, full of distress, pleaded with Ganga, “I am your servant, slender-waisted one. I beseech you, O pure-smiling lady. O beautiful one with thighs like elephant trunks, my seven sons have been harmed by you. Ask for something else today; I will grant even what is difficult to obtain. Those learned in the Vedas say that a man without a son has no path to heaven.” Yet, though he spoke thus, when Ganga took the child and was eager to depart, the king cried out in anguish, “O most sinful one, what shall I do today? Do you not fear the hells? Go or stay as you wish, but let my son remain here.” As the king spoke these words, Ganga took the infant son in her arms. Desiring a son, the king said, “I will raise this child of yours, having gone to the forest.” Then Ganga revealed her true identity: “Know me as Ganga, come here for the sake of the gods’ work. Having granted them a boon, O best of kings, I was born as your wife. Your seven sons, O Vasava, have been released from the curse of the sage. Take this son, given by Ganga, for yourself, O Shantanu. This son of Ganga, O greatly fortunate one, will become exceedingly powerful. O king, after raising him until he reaches youth, I will give him to you.” Having spoken thus, Ganga disappeared, taking the boy with her. The king was left to endure the sorrow born of separation from his beloved wife and the wonder concerning his son’s fate. Time passed in this way, and one day the king went out to hunt. He arrived at the bank of the Ganga, where he saw a boy releasing many arrows with astonishing skill. Seeing this, the king was filled with amazement and could not comprehend what he beheld. Even as he witnessed such superhuman swiftness with the bow, his heart was full of wonder. Amazed, the king asked, “O sinless one, whose son are you?