5. Mahabharata - Rebirth of Mahabisha as Shantanu
King Pradipa, son of Dilipa of the Kuru lineage, had earned great merits. While the King was in tapas, Ganga, to test, quietly went near him and sat on his right lap. The king was astonished but remained calm.
Unaware who this lady is, the King politely asked her who she was, the purpose of her visit. Ganga introduced herself and made a request to have a relationship with him. She also asserted he would be fit, for her stature, to be her spouse.
The king calmly said he observes Eka Patni Vrat and wishes not to break this rule for life. He suspected her act of sitting on his right lap, which is usually preserved for a son or a daughter or may be for a daughter-in-law (sitting on the left lap is preserved for spouse)
The King said to Ganga, “Your action and speech do not match and hence can not accept you as my spouse. You can be my future daughter-in-law, though the aged king, till then, was childless.
Ganga was happy and readily accepted his proposal. She said,” Your yet-to-born son is a revered Sage and has earned sufficient merits. He would attain heaven and his progeny would be well-known as warriors and followers of dharma”. Ganga requested secrecy of their meeting and immediately left the place.
Later, King Pradipa had a son, Shantanu, who was soft-spoken, well-behaved, and grew up to become a great warrior.
When Shantanu grew up and attained a marriageable age, King Pradipa said, “ A lady would meet you secretly and propose. You should neither question her whereabouts nor ask her name but accept her as spouse. This is my order”.
Shantanu, who had earned great merits in the past, was able to remember his previous birth as King Mahabisha and the curse of Lord Brahma. Hence, he maintained equanimity.
King Pradipa, when time arrived, handed over the kingdom to Shantanu and retired to the forest.
Source: Mahabharatha - Adiparvam
King Shantanu, son of King Pradipa, in this birth is Chandravamshi, while during his previous birth as King Mahabisha of Ikswaku lineage was a Suryavamshi.
Ikswaku is the son of Vaivaswata Manu and the grandson of Vivasvan (Sun-god).
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