Devavrata — Part 01

Rakesh Mahanthi
Sep 7, 2018 · 6 min read

Long ago, there ruled over the kingdom of Hastinapura in the ancient land of Bharata, a king named Shantanu, head of the great Aryan clan of Kurus. People were very happy and prosperous under his rule. They trusted him completely, for they knew him to be wise and just. One day, he called his representatives to tell them his intention of making his son, Devavrata, the next heir to the throne of Hastinapura. Festive mood started all around the kingdom. People were very happy with the selection of Devavrata as their next king.

Devavrata was a tall, handsome looking lad, and his eyes and face seem to glow with a hidden light. He was the son of river goddess Ganga. It was also said that Devavrata himself had been an immortal – Prabhasa – whom an angry Rishi cursed for a sin he had committed. For his sin, Prabhasa had been doomed to spend a life time on Earth as a mortal. It happened this way :

Prabhasa was the youngest of the eight sons of Vasus. Vasus were Gods and had everything they could desire to make them happy. But they were not happy , for their hearts constantly craved for the things that they couldn’t get and they were never satisfied. One day, their greedy eyes fell on the cow of Rishi Vasistha. It was called Kamadenu, meaning, the fulfiller of wishes. They schemed and plotted to kidnap the cow. But seven of them were afraid of the sage and backed out. Prabhasa alone kidnapped the cow and brought it to their brothers, and together they hid her away. Having known this, Sage Vasistha went to heaven, full on grief, and wild. He cursed them to be born as mortals on the earth. His words struck fear and sorrow into the hearts of Vasus. They had no wish to be born as mortals. They fell at his feet and begged forgiveness, and when they did so, Rishi’s heart melted and he relented. “ I cannot take away my curse”, he said. “ But I can soften it and make it easier for you to bear “.

Then he told that for the seven older brothers who had only sinned in thought, desiring the cow and plotting how to get her, their life on Earth would be short, the span of only few hours. But Prabhasa, who had done the deed must suffer the consequences. Prabhasa must spend a full lifetime on Earth as a mortal. Prabhasa wept bitterly to hear this, but Rishi consoled him. He would be a mortal above all other mortals, said Vaisistha, and he would live a life of such wisdom and glory that he would be known over the earth and in heaven, and all the men would honor him !

“ Go now” ,Vasistha continued in a kinder tone, “ Go to the goddess Ganga and she will help you “.



The Vasus did as they were told. They went to Goddess Ganga and fell on her feet, begging her to help. Ganga matha felt pity for them and agreed to help them.



One day, during a pleasant winter evening, King Shantanu went for hunting, tired, he took some rest near the bank of river Ganga. Then, he saw a beautiful lady, so beautiful that Shantanu was struck with love for her. He went up to her and , though he did not know her, nor anything about her, he spoke to her and begged her to go with him and be his wife and queen. She did not seem to think strange at all. She was willing enough to do so as he said, but only if he agreed to certain conditions. She warned him that these conditions would not be easy. But Shantanu was ready to go to any extent to get this beautiful girl for a bride. The girl spoke to her Royal suitor :

“ If I am to marry you”, she said, “you would promise to never question me – neither about who I am, nor where I come from. And you must promise me that you will not cross me whatever I do, good or evil! Can you agree to these conditions, O king Shantanu ? I warn you. You will not find it easy “. “Anything, anything you say, dear one”, babbled Shantanu, covered by the clouds of love and lust. Then the woman smiled and allowed him to lead her to the palace, where they married and lived happily for a whole year. She proved to be a dutiful wife, sweet natured and gracious, and Shantanu thought himself the happiest man in the world. He seemed to be living in a golden dream. He did not know what lay in store for him.

In a time, a baby was born to the royal couple- a little son – and Shantanu’s cup of happiness seemed to brim over him. But that night, a dreadful event happened. He saw his wife walking out with the baby in her arms, at midnight. Surprised, he followed her. He saw her walk out of the palace gates, down the street until she reached the river bank. There in the pale moonlight she stood, to his horror, Shantanu saw her lift the baby and throw him into the dark, swirling waters. Shantanu was aghast. He opened his mouth to cry out and speak, but remembered the conditions that she told. He remained silent, though his heart wept. But back in the palace, Shantanu found himself wondering if it had all happened in an evil dream, for his wife became once more the sweet and gentle lady he knew and loved. Another year went by and the second child was born, and the second met with the same fate as the first. Then yet another year went by, and a third boy was born, and he fared no better. The queen drowned him as she had done for the other two. After him came the fourth, the fifth, the sixth and the seventh. Each year Shantanu’s wife gave birth to a child, and each year she killed the baby with her own hands. Shantanu didn’t know that his sons were vasus, being freed from their curse to return to the joy of heaven.

When the eight child came, he followed her again to the river bank. This time he made up his mind to break his promise. “ Oh lady ! Who are you ? Why are killing your own children ?”, he cried,” How can a mother kill her baby like this, within a few hours of birth ?”. “Oh king Shantanu! I told you that you should not cross me in any situation, whether I do good or evil. You broke your promise.”, she said, “ I have to leave now “. “ Where ? Where would you go now ?” , he cried ,” Don’t forsake me , my lady !. Let us forget what has happened. Let us start a new life together “.

His tears began to fall and when she saw his distress, she pitied him and spoke to him gently. She explained him the story, how she had come down to earth to free the Vasus from their curse. But now her work was completed and she must go back to heaven, where her home was. She must take the child with her for the present, for he was too young to be left without a mother. But one day, when he was older, he would come back to Shantanu, for his place was in his father’s kingdom, where his heritage awaited him.

Shantanu did not know what to think. He stood in astonishment. Goddess Ganga vanished, merging into the waters of the river. Shantanu found himself alone on the riverside. Slowly, sadly, he retraced his steps and returned to the palace.

References :

  1. The Jaya, by Devdutt Patnaik
  2. The Mahabharat, by Shanta Rameshwar Rao.

Edited by : Nivetha Balu

Special thanks to my mother and grandmother, for sharing the story and clearing my doubts. The next part will be released on this Sunday ( 9/9/18)

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