Mahabharata – 159

by

Sankar Mukherjee

and

Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
                       Aadivamsavatarana Parva

               The Mournful king recalled to happiness

Santanu was back home after his sojourn in the forest.And his illustrious son Devavrata noticed that his father Santanu the king passed his time in sorrowful meditation.

Devavrata seeing the condition of his father said -- All the prosperity is with you. All the kings obey you. Then why are you morose? Preoccupied in your own thoughts, you convey not a single word to me in reply. You are not going out on horse-back for a ride now a days. You look pale & skinny, having lost the joy of life. I wish to know what ails you. May I not try for its cure.

In reply Santanu said -- Whatever you said  is true, Oh my  son! True that I am sad. Let me tell you why. You are the only offspring of our race. You are always involved in manly sports of arms. But, human life is always uncertain. If any accident takes place the result is that we become sonless. Truly you are to me equal to a hundred sons. No doubt of it. I do not, therefore, wish to marry again. I only pray that prosperity may ever be with you so that our dynasty continues. The wise say that he who has one son has no son.

Sacrifices & the knowledge of the three Vedas give benefic result. It is true. All these, add to religious merit. But they do not, come up to a sixteenth part of the religious merit achieved through begetting a son. Indeed, in this respect, there is hardly any difference between men & the animals. Oh the son of Ganga! The son is for the welfare of the family. The Vedas are regarded as authoritative even by the gods. The Vedas contain numerous evidences in defence of what I say. You are a hero, always involved in the exercise of arms. Naturally it is possible that you may be killed in the battle field. If  so happens, what  will be the fate of our dynasty?

It is this thought that haunts me.

 Devavrata the great was very intelligent. He went to the old loyal minister of his father.He asked him about the cause of the king’s unhappiness.The grey haired minister took Devavrata in confidence & told him about the king’s affection for the fishermaid & the impediments on the way of the fulfilment of the desire of the king. Then Devavrata, accompanied by many Kshatriya chiefs, personally approached  the chief of the fishermen & asked for the hands of his daughter on behalf of the king his father. The chief of the fishermen received him with due respect & took him to his court. When the prince took his seat in the court, the chief, said to him --------O bull among men!, You are  the son of king Santanu. Foremost of the warriors,your power is great. You are the suitable support of the king. But I have something to tell you --

No one ever dared to refuse such honourable & desirable  marriage proposal. Even Indra would think twice before refusing such marriage proposals. Satyavati was born, from the seed of the great & virtuous king Uparichara.He is indeed, equal to you in royalty. He has spoken to me on many occasions of the virtues of your father and told me that, the king Santanu is alone  worthy of marrying Satyavati. Let me tell you that I have rejected the great sage Asita,who, too, had asked for Satyavati's hand for marriage. I have only one word to tell you, being the father of the bride, in regard to this marriage. I want that the son of Satyavati should inherit the throne.Consequently there might be a conflict between you & Satyavati’s child. And we know that there is no power on heaven & earth to stand in your way.

Devavrata,on hearing these words,of Dasaraj & moved by the desire of welfare of his father replied conviniently -- O foremost of the truthful men, Dasaraj, listen to my vow ! No one in the past or present or in the future,who will have the courage to take such a vow! I shall comply with your demand! The son that would be born of  Satyavati shall be our king.

Hearing this vow of Devavrata the chief of the fishermen the Dasaraja was over whelmed with joy. He said to  Gangeya or the son of the river Ganga -- Oh you the righteous soul! You are the support of king Santanu of immeasurable glory & would be the master of Satyavati, presently you are in a position to give her something in charity. But, Oh amiable one!, There is something else to be said. Oh you  devoted to truth!, Your promise indeed,  for the benefit of Satyavati amongst the other kings, has, been worthy of you. Oh you great prowess! I have no doubt that your promise will never be  violated by you. But I have misgivings in respect of your children that you may beget. The son of Ganga, devoted to truth, saw into the hesitation of the chief of the fishermen. Moved by the desire of welfare of his father, Devavrata replied -- Oh Chief of the fishermen! , listen to what I say in the presence of these assembled kings. I have already given away my right to the throne; I shall now settle the matter of my children. I shall pursue the vow of Brahmacharya  through out my life. If I die sonless, I shall yet attain the regions of perennial bliss in heaven!

On hearing these words of the son of Ganga, the chief of the fishermen was thrilled with emotion, & he replied—‘ I must bestow my daughter upon Santanu your father presently. The Apsaras, the gods & pitris began to pour down flowers from the heaven and exclaimed, --Devavrata will henceforth be known as Bhishma -- or one who has taken a very difficult vow. Bhishma then, to serve his father, said to the illustrious Satyavati-- Oh mother! Ascend the chariot, & let us go to our own house.

On arriving with Satyavati at Hastinapura,  Bhisma told Santanu everything as it had happened.

And the assembled kings, jointly and individually, praised the extraordinary act  of Bhisma & said – He is really Bhishma (the terrible)! And Santanu also, hearing  the extraordinary act of Bhisma, became highly pleased & conferred upon the high-souled Bhisma the boon of death at will. He said-- Death shall never come to you as long as you desire to live. Death shall approach you on your command. Knowing that Satyavati is the daughter of king Uparichara.(The chief of the fishermen only brought her up). Bhisma arranged the legal marriage of Satyavati with his father king Santanu. King Santanu settled his beautiful bride in his household. Soon after, an intelligent and heroic son of Santanu named Chitrangada was born to Satyavati. Santanu also begot Satyavati another son named Vichitravirya, who became a mighty bowman in times to come.