Mahābhiṣa

Mahābhiṣa was a great king of the Ikṣvāku line. Through the puṇya (merit) of countless yajñas (fire rituals), he earned a place in the divine assembly of Brahmā in svarga (heaven). He looked at Gaṅgā with desire in Brahmā’s sabhā (assembly), and Brahmā put a śāpa (a curse) on him to be born among humans. He chose Pratīpa of the Kuru line as his next father and was born as Śāntanu. The Mahābhārata Ādi Parva tells his story as the earlier life behind Śāntanu’s meeting with Gaṅgā.

The divine assembly and the fault

Mahābhiṣa was a king of the Ikṣvāku line with great merit. By performing many thousands of yajñas, he had gathered enough puṇya to rise to the divine world and stand in Brahmā’s presence. He was in that assembly when Gaṅgā, the divine river devī, also came, in her divine form. A wind rose and her garments were moved aside. All the devas in the assembly lowered their eyes in respect. Mahābhiṣa did not. He looked at Gaṅgā with desire.

Brahmā saw this and was displeased. Even in the divine court, good conduct and control of the senses were required. He put a śāpa on Mahābhiṣa to be born again among humans.

The choice of rebirth

Gaṅgā was also affected by what had happened. When Brahmā cursed Mahābhiṣa to be reborn among humans, Gaṅgā too would take birth among humans.

Mahābhiṣa was asked to choose his next father. He chose Pratīpa, the virtuous king of the Kuru line. His birth as Śāntanu, son of Pratīpa, was the human birth of Mahābhiṣa. The attraction Śāntanu would feel for Gaṅgā at the river carried on what had begun in Brahmā’s assembly.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Chapters 96–97