Lord Brahma Curses King Mahabhisha

Mahabhisha was a king of the Ikshvaku dynasty who attained heaven through his penance. One day, Mahabhisha, the gods, and Goddess Ganga were present in Brahmaloka, the abode of Lord Brahma. Just then, a gust of wind displaced Ganga's clothes, exposing her body. While the other courtiers lowered their eyes, Mahabhisha gazed shamelessly at Ganga. Furious, Brahma cursed him to be born on Earth, the land of death. Since Ganga reciprocated Mahabhisha's lustful gaze, Brahma cursed her as well, decreeing that she would become Mahabhisha's wife on Earth before breaking his heart.

Pratipa, the king of Hastinapura, was meditating on the bank of the Ganga when Goddess Ganga came, sat on his right thigh, and asked him to become her husband. Since a man's right thigh is reserved for his daughter or daughter-in-law, he promised Ganga that his son would marry her. Pratipa and his wife, Sunanda, eventually had a son named Shantanu, who was the reincarnation of Mahabhisha.

King Shantanu was very fond of hunting. On one hunting trip, he encountered a stunning young woman on the Ganga riverbank. She had a slender waist, eyes resembling lotus petals, and long black hair. Shantanu was captivated by her beauty and desired to marry her.

"Who are you, O appealing one?" he asked. Before she answered, he introduced himself: "I am King Shantanu. Please marry me. I will give you all the pleasures in the world."