Shaantanu Meets Devavrat

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Shaantanu was a very qualitative king. He was known for his wisdom, virtue, truthfulness, self-control, modesty, patience, kindness etc. He ruled the whole Earth from his capital Hastinaapur. He was handsome like Som, Sun in splendor, Yam in wrath, and patient like Earth. He enjoyed domestic felicity for 36 years and then retired to forest, and the Vasu born from Gangaa, Devavrat who was like his father. One day when Shaantanu was on a hunting trip, he shot an arrow at a deer. The King noticed that Gangaa had become shallow. He was thinking why it had become so, that he saw a youth who looked like Indra himself. He was standing there had checked the flow of the river. Shaantanu got very surprised seeing this. It was his own son, but he cold not recognize him as he had not seen him. The youth had recognized him, but instead of disclosing his own identity, he clouded his father's perception.

Imagining him as his own child, he asked Gangaa "to show the child". Then Gangaa came and introduced him to Shaantanu. Surprisingly Shaantanu did not recognize Gangaa also, although he had lived with her before. Gangaa said - "Take this child of yours, I have brought him up with great care. He has studied Ved from Vashishth, he is skilled in all kinds of weapons, whatever Shukra and Brihaspati know he knows that all." Shaantanu took him to his capital and lived happily with him.

Shaantanu and Satyavatee

After four years, once the King went to Yamunaa River and caught up a sweet scent in the air. To know its source he wandered here and there, and came to a spot where a beautiful woman was sitting. He asked her - "Who are you? Whose daughter are you? What do you do here?" She said - "I am the daughter of chief fisherman and by his order I carry the passengers across Yamunaa." Shaantanu expressed his desire to marry him, she said that her father would decide it. Then he asked her father. The fisherman sad - "O King, When my daughter was born, I knew that I have to give her to her husband, but I have long cherished a desire in my heart, listen, if you want to marry her then you have to take the vow, if you will take it, I will marry her to you, because I can never get a husband for her better than you."

Shaantanu said - "Let me first hear the vow, if it is grantable, I will grant it, otherwise how can I...?" The fisherman said - "When the son will be born to her, you will install him on your throne, none else." Although the King wanted to marry her, still he could not make this vow. So with a heavy heart he went back to Hastinaapur and started passing time in solidarity. When Devavrat noticed this he went to his father and asked him - "All is well with you then why do you pass time like this, that you don't speak to me even? Please tell me the reason so that I can do something for you."

The King replied - "You are the only hope of our race. If something happens to you then our race is lost. You are equal to my 100 sons, that is why I do not wish to marry again, but still I wish that God should be kind to you so that our race should flourish. Wise say that who has one son has no son. You are always engaged in fights, maybe you are slain one day, then what will be the fate of Bharat dynasty? This is the main cause of my sorrow."

Devavrat's Vow

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Devavrat ascertained the reason of his father's worry and went to his father's minister and asked him the cause of his grief. The minister told him about the vow, Gandhvatee's father wanted him to take before he married his daughter to the King. So BHeeshm went there along with many chiefs and asked the fisherman his daughter's hand for his father. The fisherman said - "You are the only son of Shaantanu. Your power is great, but I have to tell you that this maiden Satyavatee's father was also a great man, and she is also equal to you in virtue. But, you know, that I have rejected even the proposal of the celestial Rishi Asit who has often asked her hand for marriage. There is only one obstacle in her marriage and that is co-wife's son. This is my only objection." (read the variation of MBH Serial on TV)

Devavrat pondered a little and said to the fisherman in front of his chiefs - Listen to my vow now, nobody has been born, nor will be born who can take such a vow. I will do whatever you say. The son born to this woman will be our king." Still the fisherman asked the impossible - "You have come here as the sole representative of your father, then be the sole representative of my daughter also on my behalf. There is something else also to be said. You have taken this vow from your sisde, this is worth of you, but I have the doubts from the side of your children you will have." At this Devavrat said - "Listen to me what I say, I have already left my right from the throne, I settle the matter of my children also. From this day I take the vow of Brahmcharya also. If I die sonless, I shall still attain the regions of bliss."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "This vow of Devavrat raised the hairs of the fisherman's body.He immediately said - "I bestow my daughter." Flowers rained from the sky and Devtaa said, "This one is Bheeshm (terrible)." And Devavrat asked Satyavatee to ride the chariot to go to the palace. Seeing this difficult vow, Shaantanu also gave him a boon that the death will not come to him without his will. Death will have to have his permission before coming to him."

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Shaantanu married her ceremoniously and established her in his palace. They soon had two sons - Chitraangad and Vichitraveerya. Shaantanu died before his children attained the maturity. Devavrat, with the permission of Satyavatee, installed Chitraangad as the king of Hastinaapur. Although he defeated many kings but was killed by a Gandharv of his name. The battle continued for three years. After the death of Chitraangad, Bheeshm installed Vichitraveerya as the king who was still in his minority.

Bheeshm Marries Vichitraveerya

After the death of Chitraangad, Bheeshm installed Vichitraveerya, though a minor and started ruling under the guidance of Satyavatee. Later he planned to marry him. He heard that the King of Kaashee was organizing the Swayamvar of his three daughters. He went there and brought them (on behalf of his brother) saying - "The wise have said that (1) when a more qualitative person is invited, the girl should be given to him adorned with ornaments. (2) Others may also give their daughters by accepting a couple of cows; (3) some may give by accepting a fixed sum; (4) some may take them by force; (5) some wed with the consent of the maidens; (6) some by drugging them into consent; (7) some approach their parents and ask their daughters from them; (8) some get them as a present by assisting at a sacrifice. The learned have applauded the 8th form of marriage but kings can go for the 5th type of marriage also; But the sages have said that "that wife is to be greatly prized who is taken away by force from a Swayamvar. I am taking away these maidens by force. Defeat me or be defeated." And he took them on his chariot.

Many kings rose from their seats and stated wearing their armors to fight with him. They fought with lone Bheeshm. The fight was fierce and the kings who did not dare to face him, stood in fear. After defeating all Bheeshm proceeded towards Hastinaapur. That King Shaalv  challenged Bheeshm from behind. Bheeshm asked his Saarathee to take his chariot to Shaalv so that he could slay him instantly. He defeated him, left him with life only and went away to Hastinaapur. He defeated all of them without a scratch on his own body and brought the girls as tenderly as if they were his own daughters, or daughters-in-law or younger sisters. He handed them over to Satyavatee and settled everything for their marriage.

When everything was settled, the eldest daughter of Kaashee, Ambaa, said to Bheeshm - "I loved the King of Saubh, Shaalv, he also loved me, and my parents were also agreed for this. I was to select him in the Swayamvar. After knowing this, do as you think best." Hearing this Bheeshm thought a while, consulted Braahman and permitted her whatever she wanted to do. He married the other two girls, Ambikaa and Ambaalikaa, to his brother Vichitraveerya. Both sisters considered themselves very fortunate to get such a good husband. Both girls were very beautiful like Apsaraa, and Vichitraveerya was also very handsome like Ashwinee Kumaar. He enjoyed with his wives for seven years, then he was attacked by tuberculosis, and died soon."