Adi Parva : Meaning in Mahabharatham
King Santanu of the Kuru Family was reigning his kingdom very well. One day when he was roaming about the banks of the River Ganga he chanced to meet a maid of exquisite beauty. Then and there he sued her for marriage. Unconditionally he was offering his everything at her feet. But the blooming virgin imposed her terms on him it ever he was to wed her.
The man should not enquire the woman about her parentage. He was not to question her behavior, be it good or bad. On no account should he be angry with her. He was to cause her no displeasure. If any of those conditions was violated she would abruptly snatch herself away from her husband. The love smitten Santanu submitted to all those impossible impositions. They married and lived happily.
Love between the husband and wife was constant. The woman was modest and graceful befitting a queen. The passage of time was forgotten. Eventually a strange abnormality developed in the queen. She gave birth to few babies. But every new born one was solemnly carried by her and thrown into the flowing Ganga. The lady had already killed seven babies and when she was going to throw the eighth one, her husband stopped her as why she is murdering her babies in this devilish fashion.
She spoke that she was Ganga cursed by Brahma to be his wife on earth for some time. She said all the eight Vasus pleaded her to become their mother on earth and to redeem them from earthly life as quickly as possible. She said she has gained emancipation for seven of them and the eighth one will live long and do many deeds and suddenly the goddess disappeared with the child which is to become the future Bheeshma. Santanu was very much impressed and he ruled his kingdom with justice, rigor and love.