Mahabharata – 157

by

Sankar Mukherjee

and

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                       Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Santanu meets Devavrata

The earthly name of Santanu's son, the Vasu born of Ganga, was Devavrata.He resembled Santanu in character & behaviour & in learning.He had great   knowledge of worldly & spiritual skill. His valour & energy were extraordinary. He became a mighty chariot-warrior.

One day, while pursuing a deer along the banks of the Ganges king Santanu observed that the river had become shallow. On observing the strange phenomenon Santanu wondered why the river was not flowing like as before. The king saw to his utter surprise that a handsome youth of great prowess, well-built, checked the flow of the river Ganga by his sharp celestial weapon. This youth was no other than Santanu's son Devavrata. But as Santanu had seen his son only once for a few moments after his birth,  he failed to recognise him. The youth, however, seeing Santanu, identified him as his father.But he did not disclose his identity to his father. He clouded the king's sight by his celestial powers of creating illusion and disappeared from the very sight of the king.

King Santanu, surprised much at what he saw thought that the youth might be his own son.Then he called Ganga & said ‘show how me my child if he lives with you’.

Ganga thus invoked, assumed a beautiful female form, and held the boy in her right arm & appeared before Santanu. As Ganga was decked with celestial ornaments & fine white clothes Santanu did not recognise her, although he had known her before. And Ganga said—‘Oh king! That eighth son whom you have begot on me some time before, is here.This child of yours is conversant with all the weapons, Oh king! Take him now. I have reared him with care. The boy is of superior intelligence. He has learned the entire Vedas with their branches from Vasishtha. He is skilled in all the weapons.He is a mighty bowman. And all the weapons that are known to the great Parashuram are known to this boy.And both the gods & the asuras adore him.He knows by heart whatever branches of learning are known to Sukracharya. And so he is the master of all those Sastras that are known to Vrihaspati. Oh king! take this your own heroic child given to me by you. He is conversant with the interpretation of all the treatises on the duties of a king’.

 Saying this Ganga disappeared fom the place. And the great fortunate king Santanu returned to his capital with his mighty son. Having reached his splendid city, Santanu called  all his family members. For the welfare of his kingdom he made his son Devavrata the crown prince.

Devavrata was exceedingly happy with the behaviour of his father & the other members of the royal family.All the subjects of the kingdom were also plunged in bliss in the presence of Devavrata the crown prince.The king lived happily with that son of his.

Thus the story reads like a fairy tale apparently ending in bliss.

Four years went by.