M14 - Mahabharata - Devavrata Makes a Terrific Vow

 M14 - Mahabharata - Devavrata Makes a Terrific Vow

 

Devavrata, the crown prince of the Kuru Dynasty, took care of the administration efficiently. Once King Shantanu went hunting near Yamuna River and was pleasantly surprised by the fragrance emitted there. He sees a beautiful lady near the river bank and makes inquiries about her whereabouts.  

The lady introduced herself as Satyavathi, daughter of Dasaraja. As per her father’s wish, she was assigned to row the boat across the river for travellers. 

[Vasu Maharaj is the biological father of Satyavathi. Dasaraja was given the girl child and was named Matsya Gandi. Due to the grace of Sage Parasara, she got rid of the fish smell and instead fragrance emitted from her body.]

Charmed by her beauty, the king wished to meet her father and place a proposal to marry her. 

Dasaraja welcomed the king with honours and was overwhelmed by the proposal but put forth his condition. The king agreed, provided it was feasible. 

Dasaraja knew the king had a worthy son and was the crown prince and yet said the male child born out of their wedlock should be heir apparent. The king did not want to do injustice to Devavrata and hence returned back to his kingdom silently. 

The thought of Satyavathi was constantly disturbing him. Devavrata noticed it and questioned him. The king subtly said he is worried about the legacy of the kuru kingdom. His conviction was that if some untoward event occurred, the kingdom would be left with no legacy.

Devavrata could intelligently grasp the hidden issue of his father. He contacted trusted ministers and reached out to Dasaraja. He made a rare request to Dasaraja to facilitate the marriage of his daughter with his father, King Shantanu. 

Dasaraja was very much pleased with Devavrata, and since he couldn't oppose him directly, he politely said “I have no objection but foresee danger to my daughter's children from you”. 

Devavrata's sole intention was to make his father happy and hence took a vow not to claim rulership. However, Dasaraja was still not satisfied. Dasaraja said, “what if your children claim their due rights over the Kingdom?”

Devavrata again made a terrific vow to remain celibate throughout his life. By making such a vow, Devavrata became Bheeshma, one who made a terrible promise.

[Devavrata, in his previous birth, was a Vasu (Demigod), carrying a curse of Sage Vasishta to be born as human. The Sage had said that he would live long, be powerful, but remain bachelor. The curse had its effect now.]

Dasaraja was happy and sent his daughter, Satyavathi, along with Bheeshma. When the news reached King Shantanu, he was overwhelmed with joy and blessed his son, Devavrata, that he could choose the exact time of his death. Death will not approach Beeshma until he so wishes.

Shantanu married Satyavathi, and in the course of time, they had 2 sons, Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya. 

Source: Mahabharatha - Sambava Parva