Week 14 Reading: Shantanu and Ganga

King Shantanu ruled over the kingdom of Hastinapur. This was before the birth of the Pandavas or the Kurukshetra War. While on the banks of the river Ganga, the king fell in love with the river Goddess and asked to her marry him. The Goddess agreed on the condition that he would never question her decision. They lived happily for a while without issue before their first child was born. Goddess Ganga drowned the child to King Shantanu's shock. She continued to do so  until just before the eighth child met the same fate, King Shantanu stopped her. He asked her for the reason for such a preposterous thing. She told him about the eight Vasus who were the celestial beings cursed with mortality. She relieved seven of them of the curse until now. She immediately vanishes with their eighth child. 

King Shantanu with Goddess Ganga

Ravi Varma made paintings like this throughout the 19th Century that are considered pieces of art. 

Source

 Mahabharata Episode 1 - Shantanu the Unfortunate | Epified