Chapter 6: Śantanu seeks Satyavatī; Devavrata secures the marriage by renouncing the throne and progeny, and becomes Bhīṣma.
One day, while hunting in the forest near the river Yamuna, the king caught the scent of an indescribably exquisite fragrance. (BORI: 1-094-41)
[PV-KDV:01_012_1] (Bharata)
Seeking the source of the fragrance, he roamed all around. Then he saw a maiden of divine beauty who belonged to the fishermen. (BORI: 1-094-42)
[PV-KDV:01_012_2] (Bharata)
As soon as he saw the dark-eyed maiden, he asked her, “Whose daughter are you, and who are you? What do you intend to do, timid girl?” (BORI: 1-094-43)
[PV-KDV:01_012_3] (Bharata)
She replied, “I am a fisherman’s daughter, and I ferry this boat as my duty, at the command of my father, the noble king of the fishermen. May good fortune be yours.” (BORI: 1-094-44)
[PV-KDV:01_012_4] (Bharata)
Seeing that fisherman's daughter, divine in appearance and endowed with beauty, sweetness, and fragrance, King Shantanu desired her. (BORI: 1-094-45)
[PV-KDV:01_012_5] (Bharata)
He went to her father and asked for her hand; then, on his own behalf, he made his request to her father. (BORI: 1-094-46)
[PV-KDV:01_012_6] (Bharata)
The king of the fishermen replied to the king, “From the moment she was born, this lovely maiden was destined to be given to a suitor. But I have a certain desire in my heart; hear it, lord of men.” (BORI: 1-094-47)
[PV-KDV:01_012_7] (Bharata)
If you seek this woman from me as your lawful wife, O blameless one, then, since you are true to your word, pledge yourself to me in truth. (BORI: 1-094-48)
[PV-KDV:01_012_8] (Bharata)
On that condition, O king, I would give you this daughter of mine, for I shall never find a suitor equal to you. (BORI: 1-094-49)
[PV-KDV:01_012_9] (Bharata)
Śantanu said:
[PV-KDV:01_012_10] (Bharata)
Once I have heard your request, fisherman, I will decide whether or not to grant it. If it can be granted, I shall grant it—but by no means if it cannot. (BORI: 1-094-50)
[PV-KDV:01_012_11] (Bharata)
The fisherman said:
[PV-KDV:01_012_12] (Bharata)
The son born to her must become king and ruler of the earth; after you, he must be consecrated, and no other prince. (BORI: 1-094-51)
[PV-KDV:01_012_13] (Bharata)
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_012_14] (Bharata)
Though tormented by intense physical desire, Shantanu did not wish to grant that boon to the fisherman, O Bharata. (BORI: 1-094-52)
[PV-KDV:01_012_15] (Bharata)
Then the king returned to Hastinapura, thinking constantly of the fisherman’s daughter, his mind overcome with grief. (BORI: 1-094-53)
[PV-KDV:01_012_16] (Bharata)
Then one day, Devavrata approached his father Shantanu, who was grieving and absorbed in thought, and said to him: (BORI: 1-094-54)
[PV-KDV:01_012_17] (Bharata)
All is well with you on every side, and all the kings are obedient to you. Why, then, do you continually grieve here in distress? And why, O king, do you say nothing, as though lost in thought? (BORI: 1-094-55)
[PV-KDV:01_012_18] (Bharata)
Thus addressed by his son, Shantanu replied, “Without a doubt, I am indeed absorbed in thought, just as you say.” (BORI: 1-094-56)
[PV-KDV:01_012_19] (Bharata)
You are our only child in this great lineage, Bharata. Mortals are impermanent, and so I grieve, my son. (BORI: 1-094-57)
[PV-KDV:01_012_20] (Bharata)
Gāṅgeya, if any misfortune should befall you, our lineage would cease to exist. Without doubt, you alone are a better son than even a hundred sons. (BORI: 1-094-58)
[PV-KDV:01_012_21] (Bharata)
Nor am I willing to marry again here to no purpose. I wish to ensure that the lineage does not perish—may all be well with you. Those who speak on dharma say that having only one son is the same as childlessness. (BORI: 1-094-59)
[PV-KDV:01_012_22] (Bharata)
The Agnihotra, the three Vedas, and sacrifices with their gifts—all these are not worth even a sixteenth part of offspring. (BORI: 1-094-60)
[PV-KDV:01_012_23] (Bharata)
The same applies to offspring among human beings and indeed among all creatures, O greatly wise one; of this I have no doubt. This is the eternal triad of the ancients and the foremost. (BORI: 1-094-61)
[PV-KDV:01_012_24] (Bharata)
And you, descendant of Bharata, are valiant, ever intolerant of affronts, and constantly devoted to arms. Therefore, sinless one, your death can come from nothing but a weapon. (BORI: 1-094-62)
[PV-KDV:01_012_25] (Bharata)
I am therefore beset by doubt: how could that happen once you are at peace? Thus, my son, I have told you the cause of my sorrow in full. (BORI: 1-094-63)
[PV-KDV:01_012_26] (Bharata)
Then, having learned the entire cause in full, the highly intelligent Devavrata departed, pondering it. (BORI: 1-094-64)
[PV-KDV:01_012_27] (Bharata)
He immediately went to his father’s aged minister and trusted counselor. Approaching him, he asked what was causing his father’s grief. (BORI: 1-094-65)
[PV-KDV:01_012_28] (Bharata)
To that chief of the Kurus, who questioned him thoroughly, he related the condition concerning the maiden, O bull of the Bharatas. (BORI: 1-094-66)
[PV-KDV:01_012_29] (Bharata)
Then Devavrata, accompanied by elder Kshatriyas, went to the chief of the fishermen and himself asked for the maiden on his father's behalf. (BORI: 1-094-67)
[PV-KDV:01_012_30] (Bharata)
The Dasha chief received him with due ceremony and honored him. Then, when he was seated in the royal assembly, he said to him, O Bharata: (BORI: 1-094-68)
[PV-KDV:01_012_31] (Bharata)
You alone, best of men, are a sufficient protector for Shantanu—a son foremost among those who have sons. What words, then, can I say to you? (BORI: 1-094-69)
[PV-KDV:01_012_32] (Bharata)
Who indeed would not regret passing up such an admirable and desirable marriage alliance—even Śatakratu himself? (BORI: 1-094-70)
[PV-KDV:01_012_33] (Bharata)
She is also the child of a noble man who is your equal in virtues; from his seed the illustrious Satyavati was born. (BORI: 1-094-71)
[PV-KDV:01_012_34] (Bharata)
That man has often commended your father to me, my child, as worthy among all kings to marry Satyavati, O Bharata. (BORI: 1-094-72)
[PV-KDV:01_012_35] (Bharata)
For I once rejected even Asita, the divine seer; that eminent sage ardently desired Satyavati. (BORI: 1-094-73)
[PV-KDV:01_012_36] (Bharata)
Yet, as the maiden’s father, I must say something, O best of the Bharatas. I see only one serious danger here: rivalry. (BORI: 1-094-74)
[PV-KDV:01_012_37] (Bharata)
For any Gandharva or Asura whose rival you might become would never live happily once you were enraged, O scorcher of foes. (BORI: 1-094-75)
[PV-KDV:01_012_38] (Bharata)
This alone is the fault here, O king, and there is no other. Know this concerning the giving and withholding of gifts, O scorcher of foes. May all be well with you. (BORI: 1-094-76)
[PV-KDV:01_012_39] (Bharata)
Thus addressed, Gāṅgeya gave a fitting reply for his father’s sake, while the kings listened, O Bharata. (BORI: 1-094-77)
[PV-KDV:01_012_40] (Bharata)
Accept this true resolve of mine, O best of truthful men. No one born or yet to be born would dare say such a thing. (BORI: 1-094-78)
[PV-KDV:01_012_41] (Bharata)
I will do just as you say. The son who is born to her will be our king. (BORI: 1-094-79)
[PV-KDV:01_012_42] (Bharata)
Thus addressed, the fisherman then spoke to him again, wishing to accomplish a difficult task for the sake of the kingdom, O bull of the Bharatas. (BORI: 1-094-80)
[PV-KDV:01_012_43] (Bharata)
You alone are a sufficient protector for Shantanu of immeasurable splendor; and, righteous one, I have authority over the maiden and the power to give her away. (BORI: 1-094-81)
[PV-KDV:01_012_44] (Bharata)
But, gentle one, hear from me this statement and what must be done. O conqueror of foes, I shall speak in accordance with the custom regarding maidens. (BORI: 1-094-82)
[PV-KDV:01_012_45] (Bharata)
What you pledged in the royal assembly for Satyavati’s sake, O you devoted to truth and dharma, was entirely worthy of you. (BORI: 1-094-83)
[PV-KDV:01_012_46] (Bharata)
It could not be otherwise, mighty-armed one; there is no doubt about that. But we have grave doubts as to whether you will have offspring. (BORI: 1-094-84)
[PV-KDV:01_012_47] (Bharata)
Understanding his view, the man devoted to truth and righteousness then gave his word, O king, wishing to please his father. (BORI: 1-094-85)
[PV-KDV:01_012_48] (Bharata)
Devavrata said:
[PV-KDV:01_012_49] (Bharata)
King of the fishermen, heed these words of mine, O best of kings. Hear what I declare for my father’s sake in the presence of the assembled rulers. (BORI: 1-094-86)
[PV-KDV:01_012_50] (Bharata)
I have already renounced the kingdom, O king. And for the sake of offspring, I make this further solemn resolve: (BORI: 1-094-87)
[PV-KDV:01_012_51] (Bharata)
From this day forward, fisherman, I shall remain celibate. Though I have no son, my worlds in heaven shall be everlasting. (BORI: 1-094-88)
[PV-KDV:01_012_52] (Bharata)
Vaiśampāyana said:
[PV-KDV:01_012_53] (Bharata)
Hearing these words of his, the righteous fisherman, the hair on his body bristling with joy, replied to him, “I give her.” (BORI: 1-094-89)
[PV-KDV:01_012_54] (Bharata)
Then, for his father’s sake, he said to the illustrious woman, “Mount the chariot, Mother; let us go to our home.” (BORI: 1-094-91)
[PV-KDV:01_012_56] (Bharata)
Having said this, Bhishma helped the radiant woman into the chariot, and upon arriving at Hastinapura, presented her to Shantanu. (BORI: 1-094-92)
[PV-KDV:01_012_57] (Bharata)
The kings praised that difficult feat of his, and both collectively and individually they declared, “This is Bhishma!” (BORI: 1-094-93)
[PV-KDV:01_012_58] (Bharata)
Seeing the difficult deed Bhishma had performed, his father Shantanu was pleased and granted him the power to choose the time of his own death. (BORI: 1-094-94)
[PV-PAN:01_012_59] (Bharata)