The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 96

Section LXLVI. *( Sambhava Parva continued. )* Vaisampayana said, "There was a king known by the name of Mahabhisha born in the race of Ikshaku. He was the lord of all the earth, and was truthful in speech and of true prowess. By a thousand horse-sacrifices and an hundred Rajashuyas he had gratified the chief of the celestials and ultimately attained to heaven. "One day the celestials had assembled "together and were worshipping Brahma. Many royal sages and king Mahabhisha also were present on the spot. And Ganga, the Queen of rivers, also came there to pay her adorations to the Grand-father. And her garments, white as the beams of the moon, became loosened by the action of the wind. And as her person was exposed, the celestials bent down their heads. But the royal sage Mahabhisha rudely stared at the Queen of the rivers. And Mahabhisha was for this cursed by Brahma. And Brahma said, 'Wretch, as thou hast forgotten thyself at sight of Ganga, thou shalt be re-born on Earth. But, nevertheless, thou shat again attain to these regions. And she too shall be born in the world of men and shall do thee injuries. But when thy wrath shall be provoked thou shalt thou be freed from my curse.'" Vaisampayana continued, "And king Mahabhisha then, recollecting all the monarchs and ascetics on Earth, wished to be born as son to Pratipa of great prowess. And the Queen of rivers too seeing king Mahabhisha lose his firmness, went away thinking of him wishfully. And on her way she saw those dwellers of heaven, the Vasus, also pursuing the same path. And the Queen of rivers beholding them in that predicament asked them, 'Why look ye so dejected? Ye dwellers of heaven, is everything right with ye?' Those celestials—the Vasus—answered her, saying, 'O Queen of rivers, we have been cursed for a venial fault by the illustrious Vashishta in anger. The foremost of excellent Rishis, Vashishta, had been engaged in his twilight adorations. Seated as he was such that he could not be seen by us, we crossed him in ignorance. Therefore in wrath hath he cursed us, saying,—Be born among men.—It is beyond our power to frustrate what hath been said by that utterer of Brahma. Therefore, O river, thyself becoming a human female make us, Vasus, thy children! O amiable one, we are unwilling to enter the womb of any human female.' Thus addressed, the Queen of rivers told them 'Be it so,' and asked them, 'On Earth, who is that foremost of men whom ye will make your father?' "The Vasus replied, 'On Earth, unto Pratipa shall be born a son Shantanu who shall be a king of world-wide fame.' Ganga then said, 'Ye celestials, that is exactly my wish which ye sinless ones have expressed! I shall, indeed, do good to that Shantanu. That is also your desire as just expressed! The Vasus then said, 'It behoveth thee to throw thy children, as they are born, into the water, so that, O thou of three courses, (celestial, terrestrial, and subterranean,) we may be rescued soon without having to live on Earth for any length of time.' Ganga then answered, 'I shall do what ye desire. But inorder that his intercourse with me may not be entirely fruitless, provide ye that one son at least may live!' The Vasus then replied, 'We shall each contribute an eighth part of our respective energies. With the sum thereof thou shalt have one son according to thy and his wishes. But this son shall not begat any children on Earth. Therefore that son of thine, endued with great energy, shall be childless.' "The Vasus making this arrangement with Ganga, without waiting went away to the place they liked." Thus ends the ninety-sixth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.