Mahabharata - Ganga Reveals Sage Vasishta's Curse on Ashta Vasus

 9. Mahabharata - Ganga Reveals Sage Vasishta's Curse on Ashta Vasus

Once King Shantanu went on a hunting and reached the banks of Ganga River. A beautiful lady appeared before him, and the king was naturally attracted to her and made a proposal (afterall It's a play of destiny - desires of previous birth as King Mahabisha).

Ganga never revealed her identity but accepted his proposal. She put forth her condition that she shouldn't be, at any cost, question her actions, lest she would leave him forever. 

When the first child was born, Ganga, as desired by Vasus, took the baby to the river and gave it a water burial. 

Shantanu was astonished but couldn't question her for the fear that she might leave him forever. As destined, he took the pain of losing his child. This process of giving birth to a child and drowning it carried on until the eighth child.

When Ganga was taking the baby to the river side, Shantanu became furious and stopped her, undeterred by the consequences. He questioned her who she was, why she was behaving oddly, and what her motive was.

Ganga calmly revealed her identity and said those babies were Asta Vasus (demigods gods), and their water burials were as per their wish.

She told him that he is fortunate to father them and also the merits he had earned during his previous birth.

She revealed the curse of Sage Vasishta on Ashta Vasus and her request to retain at least one of them for the progeny of King Shantanu. 

Curse of Vasishta on Ashta Vasus 

When Shantanu asked Ganga to detail him on the curse, Ganga said, “ Sage Vasista, born to Varuna (in this kalpa), was involved in tapas near Meru Parvatha He had a divine cow, Nandini, to fulfill the needs of yagnas.  

Once, Ashta Vasus (8 in no.) were moving around his ashrama and saw the divine cow. Among them, the youngest Vasu Jouhu's wife desired to know about it. Jouhu said the milk of this cow gives a person strength, longevity and good health. 

Jouhu's wife had a friend and she intended to give this cow to her. She pleaded with Jouhu to get it for her friend. 

Since the Sage was not in ashrama Jouhu captured the cow with the help of other Vasus and took them to their place. Unfortunately they never had an after thought of its consequences. 

Sage Vasishta returned back to his ashrama only to know that Nandini cow was missing. He searched for it everywhere and finally using his yogic power could trace it.   

The Sage was angry that it had been taken away for personal purpose and not for the welfare of the people.

The Sage cursed the Vasus of Garba Naraka (suffering in a womb) and will be born as humans on earth. When Vasus realized their fault they sought forgiveness.  

The Sage said the curse cannot be reversed but your stay on earth can be shortened to a year. The last Vasu Jouhu will live long, remain as a bachelor and will not have progeny. He will have immense strength and earn a good name for the family.

Ganga said to Shantanu that she would take care of his son and hand over to him after the studies. She left with her son Devavrata.

Source: Mahabharatha - Adiparva