M13 - Mahabharata - King Shantanu Led a Pious Life

 M13. Mahabharata - King Shantanu Led a Pious Life  

When King Shantanu broke his promise, his wife Ganga left him with their 8th child. The king was sad and returned back to his kingdom and was immersed in administrative work. 

He developed equanimity and treated the citizens as his own progeny, making no differentiation. He was always friendly with them. He was like Sun God in strength, Wind god in speed and punished Adharmic people similar to Yama raja. He never killed animals for fun. 

He believed in fulfilling Devaruna (by performing yaga, yagnas and duties towards God), Rishiruna (by reading scripture), and Pitruruna (by performing prescribed rituals to ancestors).

Under his rule, people never lied, and they always adhered to a dharmic way of life. King Shantanu was kind-hearted (as his name suggests) and was an able administrator. He led a disciplined life and ruled the kingdom for 36 years. 

Once, while hunting near Ganga River, he noticed that the mighty river was running like a small stream instead of its usual vast expanse. Upon keen observation, he found the river had been obstructed by a dam made of innumerable arrows.

He saw a charming boy with the divinity of Devendra practicing archery. The king was astonished that a young boy had built an artificial dam across the river using arrows. Seeing the King, the boy disappeared. 

King Shantanu called Ganga and enquired about the boy. Ganga appeared before him with the boy and said, “I am returning your son, Devavrata. He is now capable of assisting you in running the kingdom.  

Further, Ganga said Devavrata had learnt Vedas and other scriptures from none other than Sage Vasishta; also has learnt astras (weapons with divine mantras) and sastras (bows, arrows, mace etc) vidyas from Sage Parasurama.

She informed him that their son is as powerful as Lord Indra in warriorship; equivalent to Brihspathi and Shukracharya in knowledge. also has mastered administrative skills, Neeti Shastra (Law), and Raja dharma. 

Shantanu was very happy and returned back to Hastinapura along with Devavrata. He made Devavrata his heir apparent (Crown Prince) of the Kuru Dynasty. Subjects celebrated the event in a grand manner. 

Devavrata looked after the day to day administration and was effectively managing the kingdom. Shantanu spent four years happily along with his son.

Source : Mahabharatha-Adiparva