Devavrata

Ganga finishes her tale of the curse and its terms. Without another word, she vanishes from the riverbank, taking the young Devavrata with her. Shantanu is left alone with his sorrow, and a son who is now only a memory.

While hunting, King Shantanu sees the mighty river Ganga's flow checked by arrows and discovers a divine youth performing the feat. The goddess Ganga appears, reveals the youth is their eighth son, Devavrata, and lists his supreme education before giving him to his father.

King Shantanu rules the earth in a time of perfect dharma, where no being suffers pointless death and all varnas serve their proper roles. After thirty-six years of pleasuring with women, he retires to the forest, leaving behind a son who is his equal in every virtue and skill.

Devavrata notices his father's deep sorrow and learns the true cause: Shantanu's desire for Satyavati, blocked by the fisherman's condition. To secure his father's happiness, Devavrata rides to the fisherman and makes two vows — renouncing the throne and lifelong celibacy — that remove every obstacle forever.