Mahabharata – 153

by

Sankar Mukherjee

&

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                       Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Ganga explains herself 

Santanu wonderded how cruel was his wife. She killed seven of her sons one after another. Was it not the direst of sins? His wife replied -- I am Ganga, the daughter of the great sage Jahnu. I am ever worshipped by the great sages, I have lived with you so long for achieving the objective of the gods.

The eight most honourable Vasus who are the gods of great energy, were born as humans due to Vasishtha's curse. On earth, besides you, there was no one who deserved the honour of being their father. There is no woman also on earth except one like me,a celestial in human form, to become their mother. I assumed a human form to bring them forth. You also, became their father.You  attained the region of eternal bliss before this birth. In accordance  to the agreement between me & the Vasus I have freed them from the curse of the rishi Vasishtha by immersing them into my waters as soon as they were born.Oh king!Keep this eighth child of rigid vows. And let this child be called Gangadatta as he is my son.