Chapter 12: 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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Seeing that fisherman's daughter, divine in appearance and endowed with beauty, sweetness, and fragrance, King Shantanu desired her. (BORI: 1-094-45)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Though tormented by intense physical desire, Shantanu did not wish to grant that boon to the fisherman, O Bharata. (BORI: 1-094-52)
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Then the king returned to Hastinapura, thinking constantly of the fisherman’s daughter, his mind overcome with grief. (BORI: 1-094-53)
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Then one day, Devavrata approached his father Shantanu, who was grieving and absorbed in thought, and said to him: (BORI: 1-094-54)
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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)
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Thus addressed by his son, Shantanu replied, “Without a doubt, I am indeed absorbed in thought, just as you say.” (BORI: 1-094-56)
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You are our only child in this great lineage, Bharata. Mortals are impermanent, and so I grieve, my son. (BORI: 1-094-57)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Then, having learned the entire cause in full, the highly intelligent Devavrata departed, pondering it. (BORI: 1-094-64)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Who indeed would not regret passing up such an admirable and desirable marriage alliance—even Śatakratu himself? (BORI: 1-094-70)
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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)
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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)
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For I once rejected even Asita, the divine seer; that eminent sage ardently desired Satyavati. (BORI: 1-094-73)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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Thus addressed, Gāṅgeya gave a fitting reply for his father’s sake, while the kings listened, O Bharata. (BORI: 1-094-77)
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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)
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I will do just as you say. The son who is born to her will be our king. (BORI: 1-094-79)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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I have already renounced the kingdom, O king. And for the sake of offspring, I make this further solemn resolve: (BORI: 1-094-87)
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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)
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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)
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Then the Apsarases, the gods, and the hosts of seers in the sky showered him with flowers and proclaimed, “This man is Bhishma!” (BORI: 1-094-90)
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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)
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Having said this, Bhishma helped the radiant woman into the chariot, and upon arriving at Hastinapura, presented her to Shantanu. (BORI: 1-094-92)
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The kings praised that difficult feat of his, and both collectively and individually they declared, “This is Bhishma!” (BORI: 1-094-93)
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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)
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This verse, with its “High” KDV style, grants Bhīṣma the power to choose the time of his own death and may indicate a Bhārata-level tweak extending his lifespan. This requires further corroboration.
He possessed all the qualities of a king in full measure. Continually observing the conduct of that renowned man, men… (KUMB: 1-107-4; KUMB: 1-107-5; NILA: 01.100.004; NILA: 01.100.005)
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Disciplined by that illustrious king, whose splendor rivaled Indra’s, the rulers of the earth became devoted to sacrifice, giving, and sacred rites. (KUMB: 1-107-9; NILA: 01.100.009)
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Young, with eyes like a chakora bird, a coppery face, and the gait of a lion and a bull; endowed with every incomparable quality that inspires affection; dignified, full of courage, and with a face like the full moon… (KUMB: 1-107-17)
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Animals were created for sacrifice, and sexual union for procreation. (KUMB: 1-107-21)
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He then installed his virtuous and noble-hearted son, who brought security to the Pauravas, as heir apparent to rule the kingdom. (KUMB: 1-107-43; KUMB: 1-107-44; NILA: 01.100.042; NILA: 01.100.043)
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You no longer ride out on horseback, and you are pale, wan, and thin. I wish to know what ails you, for then I could surely remedy it. (KUMB: 1-107-62; KUMB: 1-107-63; NILA: 01.100.061; NILA: 01.100.062)
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His father Śāntanu could not reveal to him his unmentionable desire for the fisherman’s daughter. (KUMB: 1-107-63क्ष्; KUMB: 1-107-64)
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O Bharata, a single eye and an only son may be said both to exist and not to exist: with the loss of the eye, the body is lost; with the loss of the son, the lineage dies out. (KUMB: 1-107-69)
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Through offspring, one is freed from debt to one’s ancestors in this world—of this there is no doubt. Offspring, action, and knowledge are the three lights, Bharata. (KUMB: 1-107-72; KUMB: 1-107-73)
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Deeply distressed after hearing these words of his father about the benefits of having offspring, he again summoned his father’s charioteer. (KUMB: 1-107-77)
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At the foremost Kuru’s command, the Suta came to him. Then the exceedingly wise Bhishma addressed his father’s charioteer: (KUMB: 1-107-78)
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O charioteer, you bear the chariot’s yoke and are a friend to my father and me. If indeed you know on whom the king has set his heart... (KUMB: 1-107-79)
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“Now that I have asked you, tell me. I will act accordingly, and not otherwise.” “Best of the Kurus, your father’s heart is set upon a fisherman’s daughter.” (KUMB: 1-107-80; KUMB: 1-107-80क्ष्)
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When the king made his request, he replied, “The son born to her shall be king after you.” (KUMB: 1-107-81)
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Your father was unwilling then to grant him that boon. And this was also his firm resolve: “I will not give her on any other terms.” (KUMB: 1-107-82)
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This has been told to you, hero. Do what comes next. (KUMB: 1-107-83)
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Then the son, having learned his father’s intention, considered it carefully, understood what was in his mind, and set out for the Yamuna. (KUMB: 1-107-83क्ष्)
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This maiden is to be given for the kingdom as her bride-price, O best of suitors. Let the child born of her become king after his father. (KUMB: 1-107-86)
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This divine Satyavati said the same to your father. I made this request of the royal sage before, but turned him away. (KUMB: 1-107-91)
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I see an even greater fault in you in this matter, unconquered one. (KUMB: 1-107-93)
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Listen closely to the pledge I make before the assembled people: let all the sages, gods, and invisible beings who are here hear it—there is no speaker equal to me. (KUMB: 1-107-105; KUMB: 1-107-106)
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For I have never uttered any falsehood here since my birth. As long as the breaths of life remain in my body... (KUMB: 1-107-109; KUMB: 1-107-110)
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For that long, I shall father no children. Give the maiden to my father. I renounce the kingdom and sexual intercourse altogether. (KUMB: 1-107-110; KUMB: 1-107-111)
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I shall remain celibate, Dasha—I tell you truly. (KUMB: 1-107-111)
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The king remained sorrowful for a long time, O Bharata. But pleased by that deed of his son, he granted him a boon. (KUMB: 1-107-118)
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Death will have no power over you for as long as you wish to live. Only after receiving your permission will death have power over you, blameless one. (KUMB: 1-107-119; KUMB: 1-107-120; NILA: 01.100.103)
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