Here are some key points that really stood out to me form today's reading:
- Sanatanu was a king who ruled over a kingdom. The capital of said kingdom was Hastinapura.
- While out hunting, he met a maiden at a river and became instantly enamored with her. She agreed to marry him, but only if he never questioned what she did, and if he did this then she would never leave his side. I might try this out in my own personal life....
- His wife bears seven children and immediately drowns each one shortly after birth, much to his surprise and despair, but he keeps his word.
- Once the eighth baby is born however, he is compelled to finally object and question why she is doing this to every child she bears
- She reveals that she is the Goddess Ganga, from the river where they first met
- She took human form to bear King Santanu's children, for he was the only one worthy.
- She explained that the children were vasus, who were cursed to be born on earth only to shortly return to heaven after their birth. This was with exception of the eighth babe, who she spared. His fate was to continue existence as a brilliant man, but with a lifetime vow of celibacy.
- Once grown Devavratha was renamed Bhishma, which means "one of firm vow"
- His father the king was in love with a fisherman's daughter, but didn't marry her because her father demanded that her heirs would be his successors.
- Once Bhishma found out he held back because he meet the father's demands, he personally went to fetch the bride for his father, promising he would stay a bachelor until his dying day and promising her sons would succeed the king.
- King Pandu's wife Kunti, had the ability to bear the children of any god is she so wanted to. At the bequest of King Pandu she had three sons with three different deities, for he was cursed to die at the first attempt at intimacy with his wives. One son, who was conceived before she married King Pandu, was named Kama. He was the son of the Sun God, and he had the most radiant personality.
Shantu meets a beautiful woman on the river Ganga
Image Source: Wikipedia
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