Shantanu's Righteous Rule and Retirement to the Forest
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.
King Shantanu’s reign was a golden age. He was intelligent, devoted to dharma, and famous in all the worlds for his righteousness and truth. He possessed self-control, generosity, forgiveness, and the strength of a mad elephant. For him, dharma was always superior to kama (desire) and artha (prosperity). Seeing his supreme virtue, all other kings instated him as the king of kings.
With Shantanu as their protector, every ruler on earth was freed from sorrow, fear, and anxiety, awakening each morning from sweet dreams. Under his rule, all the varnas (social orders) followed their prescribed duties. Brahmanas were served by Kshatriyas (warriors), Kshatriyas by Vaishyas (merchants), and Shudras (laborers), devoted to Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, served the Vaishyas.
From his beautiful capital of Hastinapura, Shantanu ruled the entire earth up to the ocean's boundaries. He was as pleasant as Soma (the moon), as energetic as the sun, and as patient as the earth. In his kingdom, no animal, boar, or bird suffered a pointless death. Sacrifices were performed to worship gods, rishis (sages), and ancestors, but no being was deprived of life except in accordance with dharma. Words were embedded in truth, and minds were embedded in generosity.
After pleasuring with women for thirty-six years, King Shantanu retired to the forest. He left behind his son, the vasu (a celestial being) born as Ganga’s son, now named Devavrata. The son was his father’s equal in beauty, conduct, behaviour, and learning. He was skilled in the usage of all weapons and was mighty in strength, power, valour, and as a charioteer compared to all other kings.