E7: The Unbelievable Sacrifice: How a Prince's Vow Changed the Course of an Empire

Discover the shocking truth behind Bhishma's birth and the divine promise that shook the heavens

In the celestial realms, eight powerful deities known as the Vasus lived in harmony. These divine beings, named Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Aha, Anila, Anala, Pratyusha, and Prabhasa, were revered for their control over various natural elements. However, their peaceful existence was about to be disrupted by an act of celestial mischief.

One day, Prabhasa, the youngest of the Vasus, was approached by his wife. She had set her heart on possessing the divine cow Nandini, which belonged to the sage Vasishtha. This cow had the power to grant any wish, and Prabhasa's wife desperately wanted it for herself. Succumbing to her desires, Prabhasa convinced his seven brothers to help him steal the cow.

The Vasus successfully took Nandini from Vasishtha's ashram, but their victory was short-lived. The sage, realizing his beloved cow was missing, used his spiritual powers to discern the culprits. Enraged by this theft, Vasishtha cursed the Vasus to be born on Earth as mortal humans.

Horrified by the prospect of losing their divinity, the Vasus pleaded with Vasishtha for mercy. The sage, though stern, was not without compassion. He modified his curse, declaring that seven of the Vasus would be freed from mortal life shortly after birth. However, Prabhasa, as the instigator of the theft, would have to live a long life on Earth, separated from his divine brethren.

The Vasus, accepting their fate, approached the river goddess Ganga. They beseeched her to be their mortal mother and to release them from their earthly bodies as soon as they were born. Ganga, moved by their plight, agreed to their request.

Meanwhile, on the banks of the river Ganga, King Shantanu of Hastinapura often wandered, lost in thought. One day, he encountered a woman of otherworldly beauty emerging from the waters. This was Ganga in human form, and Shantanu was instantly captivated.

Overcome with love, Shantanu asked for Ganga's hand in marriage. The goddess agreed, but with one condition: he must never question her actions, no matter how perplexing or distressing they might seem. Blinded by his feelings, Shantanu readily accepted.

Their marriage was blissful at first, but soon took a dark turn. When Ganga gave birth to their first child, she calmly walked to the river and submerged the infant beneath the waters. Shantanu, bound by his promise, watched in silent agony. This heart-wrenching scene repeated seven times, with each newborn child drowned by Ganga while Shantanu remained helplessly silent.

These seven children were, in fact, the seven Vasus, briefly taking human form before being released back to their celestial realm by Ganga. When the eighth child was born, Shantanu could contain himself no longer. Breaking his vow, he stopped Ganga from drowning the infant.

Ganga, her duty to the seven Vasus fulfilled, revealed the truth to Shantanu. She explained the curse of the Vasus and her promise to them. This eighth child, she said, was Prabhasa, destined to live a long life on Earth. With her secret revealed and Shantanu's vow broken, Ganga announced that she must leave. However, she promised to raise their son and return him when he was ready.

For years, Ganga nurtured and educated the child, whom she named Devavrata, in the celestial realms. She taught him the art of warfare, statecraft, and the wisdom of the Vedas. Under her guidance, and with the blessings of great sages and deities, Devavrata grew into a young man of exceptional skill, wisdom, and virtue.

True to her word, when Devavrata reached adolescence, Ganga returned him to Shantanu. The king was overjoyed to see his son, now a paragon of princely virtues. Shantanu named Devavrata the crown prince, and the kingdom rejoiced at the prospect of such a worthy successor.

Years passed, and Shantanu fell in love again, this time with a young woman named Satyavati. However, Satyavati's father demanded that any son born to her and Shantanu should be the heir to the throne, not Devavrata. Torn between love and duty, Shantanu returned to the palace in despair.

Learning of his father's dilemma, Devavrata made a decision that would forever change his life. He went to Satyavati's father and renounced his claim to the throne. When the fisherman voiced concern about Devavrata's future sons contesting the claim, Devavrata took an even more extreme vow. He swore a lifelong oath of celibacy, ensuring he would never have children who could challenge Satyavati's lineage.

This terrible vow earned him the name 'Bhishma,' meaning 'the terrible,' for the awe-inspiring nature of his oath. The heavens themselves were moved by Bhishma's sacrifice. The gods showered flowers upon him, and he was granted the boon of choosing the time of his own death.

With Bhishma's vow, Shantanu was free to marry Satyavati. They had two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, but both died without leaving heirs, throwing the kingdom into crisis. Throughout these tumultuous times, Bhishma remained a steadfast pillar of the Kuru dynasty, serving as mentor, protector, and guide to successive generations.

And so, the Vasu born as Devavrata, now known as Bhishma, began his long and fateful life on Earth. His birth, marked by divine intervention and celestial curses, set the stage for the epic events that would unfold in the generations to come, shaping the destiny of the Kuru dynasty and playing a crucial role in the great war that forms the centerpiece of the Mahabharata.