Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2551

c8.2551

PRATĪPA. A King of Candravaṃśa (Lunar dynasty). He was the father of King Śantanu. There is a story behind the birth of the son Śantanu to Pratīpa. One day this Rājarṣi was worshipping the Sun-god in the waters of the river Gaṅgā, when a beautiful maiden rose from the waters and sat on the right thigh of the royal ascetic. The King was embarrassed and he told her thus:—“Oh sweet girl, who are you? Do you realise what an unrighteous deed you have done? Why did you thus climb on my thigh without seeking my permission? The right thigh is for the daughter and the wife of the son. Since you have thus sat on my right thigh, you shall be the wife of my son when one is born to me.”