King Shantanu and goddess Ganga had a son called Devavrata. When Devavrata was just a baby, Ganga had left Shantanu and taken him with her. One day while hunting in the forest, Shantanu was surprised to see that the flow of Ganga had been stopped by a dam built with arrows. He saw a handsome boy carrying a bow and arrow. Suddenly, Ganga came out of the river. She said, "King Shantanu, this is our son, Devavrata. He has been taught the Vedas, the shastras and weaponry. You may now take him with you."

Shantanu took Devavrata back with him and made him the yuvaraja (crown prince) of Hastinapur. After a few days, the prince of Shalva attacked Hastinapur but Devavrata bravely fought and defeated him. Shantanu was very proud of his son.