Ganga's Backstory

Ganga placed the boy in her lap and turned towards Shantanu. "You have broken your promise, so I must leave you. However, I will reveal my identity to you before I leave. I am Ganga, the daughter of Sage Jahnu. I was born from Lord Shiva's matted hair. On this earth, I chose you as my husband and the father of my children. I will now tell you why I killed my own children.

"A Vasu named Prabhasa once stole Sage Vashishtha's divine cow, Nandini, and the other seven Vasus did not try to stop him. The angry sage cursed all eight of them to be born as humans on Earth. The Vasus begged me to become their mother and end their lives immediately upon birth so they would not suffer. I agreed and freed seven of them from mortal life. I will not kill my eighth child, the incarnation of Prabhasa, as he seems destined to live in this world. Name him 'Devavrata.' Because he is my son, he will also be known as 'Gangeya.' He will stay with me until he masters all skills, and then I will return him to you."

Before Shantanu could say anything, Ganga and their son vanished. A dejected Shantanu returned to the palace. Without his wife, Ganga, he was no longer interested in anything. He no longer had the will to live. The years passed, and Shantanu slowly grew accustomed to solitude. One day, while pursuing a reindeer, he reached the Ganga riverbank. He saw a handsome, well-dressed boy building a dam with arrows in the soil. Shantanu wished to ask him something, but the boy disappeared. 

Shantanu wished he could meet the boy again. Suddenly, a woman emerged from the river with the same boy. Shantanu was shocked to see them. The woman was his wife, Ganga. In a sweet tone, Ganga said, "O King, this is your son, whom I promised to return to you. He will stay with you from now on. This boy will be unmatched in the world. He has been educated by Vashishtha, Parashurama, and Brihaspati. Take care of him; he will become famous." After saying this, Ganga disappeared. Shantanu took the boy's hand and brought him to the palace. King Shantanu crowned his son, Devavrata, as prince and was immensely satisfied that he had a worthy successor.