Janamejaya(1)

Prachinwan (Contemporary to Suryavanshi king Mulaka)

Sanyati
Ahamyati
Sarvabhauma(1)
Jayatsena (Contemporary to Lord Rama)
Arachina
Arihana(1)
Mahabhauma
Ayutanayin
Akrodhana(1)
Devaththi(1)
Arihana(2)
Riksha(1)
Matinara(1)
Pravira
Mana
Shantanu
Mahabharata character
Shantanu
Shantanu, a king of Hastinapura in the Mahabharata, saw a beautiful woman on the
banks of the river Ganga
Information
Family Pratipa (father)
Spouse(s) Ganga and Satyavati
Children Bhishma, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya
In the epic Mahabharata, Shantanu was a Kuru king of Hastinapura. He was a
descendant of the Bharata race, of the lunar dynasty and great-grandfather of the
Pandavas and Kauravas. He was the youngest son of King Pratipa of Hastinapura and
had been born in the latter's old age. The eldest son Devapi had leprosy and gave
up his inheritance to become a hermit. The middle son Bahlika (or Vahlika)
abandoned his paternal kingdom and started living with his maternal uncle in Balkh
and inherited the kingdom from him. Shantanu became the king of Hastinapura by
default.

Etymology Shantanu or Santanu is derived from Sanskrit meaning "Wholesome". He is

best known for being the father of Bhishma, one of the mightiest warriors of all
time.

Contents
1 Brahma's Curse & Birth Of Shantanu
2 Shantanu & Ganga
3 Shantanu Reunites With His Son
4 Shantanu & Satyavati
5 References
Brahma's Curse & Birth Of Shantanu
In his previous birth, there was a powerful king of the Ikshvaku dynasty named
Mahabhisha. Mahabhisha possessed many virtuous qualities, and after performing a
thousand Ashwamedha Yagnas and a hundred Rajasuya Yagnas (to qualify as emperor),
he had attained heaven after his death. Once he got an opportunity to visit the
court of Brahma where all the Devas and Ganga were also present. While the
celestials were worshipping Brahma, a wind blew and displaced Ganga's clothes
revealing her body. Everybody present there bashfully bent their heads except
Mahabhisha who kept on gazing at her body. Upon seeing this act, Brahma lost his
temper and cursed him to be born as mortals and that Ganga will cause much
emotional pain to him. Mahabhisha then requested Brahma to be born as the son of
Kuru king Pratipa and his wish was granted by Brahma.

The Kuru king Pratipa was once meditating, in atonement for the crimes he had
committed in seizing the throne of Hastinapur. At that time Ganga took the form of
a beautiful woman, approached the king and sat on his right thigh. When he asked
her what she wanted, Ganga requested him to become her husband. Pratipa however
refused since he had taken a vow not to lust for anybody, and also that she had sat
on his right thigh and according to traditions a man's right thigh was for his
daughter or daughter-in-law while the left thigh was for his wife. He then proposed
that she marry his son, to which she agreed.

A child was born to Pratipa and his wife Sunanda in their old age. He was named
Shantanu because when he was born his father had controlled his passions by ascetic
penances. Pratipa then installed Shantanu as king of Hastinapura and retired into
the woods to perform penances. Bahlika who was elder than Shantanu also gave
permission to him for becoming the king of Hastinapura.

Shantanu & Ganga

Shantanu Meets Goddess Ganga by Warwick Goble, 1913

Shantanu stops Ganga from drowning their eighth child, who later was known as
Bhishma.
Shantanu saw a beautiful woman on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) and asked
her to marry him. She agreed but with one condition: that Shantanu would not ask
any questions about her actions. They married and she later gave birth to a son.
But she drowned the child. Shantanu could not ask her the reason, because of his
promise, lest she would leave him. One by one, seven sons were born to them and
were drowned by Ganga. When Ganga was about to drown the eighth son, Shantanu,
devastated, could not restrain himself and confronted her. Finally, Ganga explained
to King Shantanu about Brahma's curse given to Mahabhisha and her. Then she told
him that their eight children were Eight Vasus who were cursed by Vasishtha to be
born on earth as mortal humans however when they pacified him, he limited his curse
and told them that they would be freed from this curse within a year of their birth
as humans. So she released the seven of them from this life by drowning them all.
However the Vasu Dyaus was cursed to live a long life and to never have a wife or
have children. But the sage also gave a boon to him that he would be virtuous,
conversant with all the holy scriptures and will be an obedient son to his father.
that she will take him to the heavens to train him properly for the King's throne
and status. With these words she disappeared along with the child while Shantanu
was struck with grief thinking about spending the rest of his life without her.

Shantanu Reunites With His Son

Painting depicting presentation by Ganga of her son Devavrata (the future Bhishma)
to his father, Shantanu
Shantanu, filled with grief from the loss of his wife and son, began to practise
Brahmacharya and ruled his kingdom extremely well. By merely adopting virtuous
behaviour, Shantanu was easily able to conquer the entire world without lifting
weapons. All the kings declared Shantanu as Emperor and his reign was a peaceful
one. Shantanu gave up hunting and gained popularity from his subjects.

One day, while walking along the banks of the Ganga, Shantanu saw that the river
had become shallow. While searching for the cause of this phenomenon, he came
across a handsome young boy who had checked the river's flow with his celestial
weapon. The young boy was his son however he didn't recognize this because of only
having seen him for a few moments after his birth. The boy recognized that he was
his father however didn't reveal it to him instead disappearing in his very sight
using his powers of illusion. Shantanu upon seeing this wondered whether the boy
was actually his son and called upon Ganga to show the boy to him. Ganga thus
appeared. She then revealed to him that the boy was actually his son Devavrata and
that he was taught the knowledge of the holy scriptures by the sage Vasishtha and
the art of warfare by Parshurama. After revealing the truth about Devavrata she
told Shantanu to take him back with to Hastinapura. Upon reaching the capital S