In this Mahabharat episode, we pick up the story where Ganga leaves Shantanu with Devavrata, and find out how Devavrata came to be known as Bhishma.
Matsyagandhi, the Fisher Princess.
Once upon a time, Uparichara, the king of Chedi, was deep in the forest on a hunting expedition that lasted for many weeks. During his stay in the jungle, he fell in love with a beautiful fisher girl, and their union resulted in the birth of twins — a baby boy and a baby girl. The king decided to take the son back with him to the palace, to raise him as a prince, but he chose to leave the little girl in the care of the fisherfolk who lived by the riverside.
The fisher community warmly adopted the girl and raised her as their own. Because of her strong connection to the water and the somewhat fish-like scent that lingered upon her, she came to be known as Matsyagandhi, which means “the one who smells of fish.” This marked the beginning of her extraordinary fate — a fate that would profoundly affect the future of the Kuru dynasty.
Matsyagandhi and Parashara, A Transformative Union.
Matsyagandhi was naturally drawn to Rishi Parashara because he was a towering personage — a man of immense knowledge, deep wisdom, and a powerful, realized soul. His presence drew her toward him, much like a small stream finds its way to a vast river.
Matsyagandhi grew up into a dark, dusky woman with piercing eyes and a calm demeanor — someone who carried within her both a deep strength and a vulnerable loneliness. The chief of the fisherfolk, Dasa, who had raised her as his own, cared for her with kindness and diligence, instilling in her values of humility and service.
One day, danger fell upon Parashara. His ashram was attacked by his enemies, and he was injured — his leg was badly wounded, making it difficult for him to move. With great effort and immense pain, Parashara managed to reach a small island in the river, a refuge where the fisherfolk lived.
The kind fisherfolk rushed to aid him. They tended his wounds and sheltered him in their community. Among them was Matsyagandhi, whose heart was already filled with reverence for this great rishi. She took it upon herself to care for him — washing his wounds, offering food, and staying by his side.
Inside her, a silent conflict gnawed at her. Her twin brother was growing up in a palace as a prince, while she remained a simple fisherwoman. She hoped that by serving Parashara, by honoring him, something might ease that restlessness within her — something might enable her to connect to a greater fate.
Parashara recognized both her purity and her potential. During their time together on the small island in the river, their hearts drew close, and a son was born from their union. Because the child was born on an island, he was called Dwaipayana — “island-born”— and because he was dark in color, he came to be called Krishna. Later, Krishna Dwaipayana would become Veda Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas, the greatest storyteller, and the narrator of the Mahabharat itself.
Before Parashara departed with their son, he performed a blessing upon Matsyagandhi. In a moment, the fishy smell that had clung to her disappeared, and a heavenly fragrance — something no human had ever smelt before — filled the air around her. From that day forward, she was called Satyavati — “the one who smells of truth” — and this enchanting fragrance became her greatest attraction, a symbol of her transformation and her new fate.
Shantanu Begs to Marry Satyavati.
One day, King Shantanu happened to see Satyavati — the woman whose fragrance was said to be so enchanting, whose aura glowed with a softness that seemed almost divine. From the moment his eyes fell upon her, his heart was captured by her grace and her presence.
Completely smitten, Shantanu decided he must make Satyavati his wife. Without delay, he went to Dasa, the chief of the fisherfolk — a leader who, in his own way, held power and prestige — and formally asked for Satyavati’s hand in marriage.
Dasa listened quietly to the king’s proposal. Inside his mind, he recognized a rare opportunity — a chance to elevate his own family’s future. So he made a condition: “I will be willing to give you my foster daughter in marriage only if her children become the future kings of the Kuru dynasty.”
This condition fell heavy upon Shantanu’s heart. “That is not possible,” he said quietly but firmly. “I have already crowned Devavrata as the prince — the finest king the Kuru dynasty can have. It would be unjust to disinherit him.” His loyalty toward his son, his fairness, and his understanding of dharma kept him from honoring Dasa’s condition, even at the cost of losing the woman he truly fell in love with.
Shantanu’s Unfulfilled Desire.
Shantanu could not erase Satyavati from his mind. Her fragrance — sweet, enchanting, and other-worldly — filled his senses and his thoughts, until he lost all interest in the routines of ruling his kingdom. He began to withdraw from his duties, sitting quietly for hours, wrestling with a deep and growing unhappiness.
The wily fisherman Dasa noticed this. His piercing gaze fell upon the king, and he saw just how much Shantanu was pining for his foster daughter. Dasa decided it was the perfect moment to make his deal. “Then forget about my daughter,” he said casually, yet with a sinister calm. Shantanu fell at his feet and begged him, “Please… please reconsider.” The more Shantanu begged, the more Dasa tightened his grip. “It’s up to you, O King. If you want to make my daughter your wife, her children must become the future kings of your dynasty. Otherwise, you may return to your palace and live unhappily without her.”
Broken and defeated, Shantanu turned back toward his palace — his heart heavy with sorrow and regret. His mind was filled with Satyavati; her fragrance seemed to follow him, tugging at his soul. So much was his unhappiness that he fell into a state of melancholy, ignoring the routines of court and administration.
Devavrata, the dutiful son, noticed his father’s suffering. Concerned, he asked, “Everything is going great in the kingdom — then what is it that’s weighing you down, Father?” Shantanu remained silent, turning his face away in shame, unable to reveal the true cause of his distress.
Determined to ease his father’s pain, Devavrata went to the charioteer who had accompanied Shantanu on his hunting trip. “Every since that hunt, my father is not the same man he used to be. What happened during that excursion?” he asked. The charioteer sighed and said quietly, “I do not know all the details, but I remember this much: I took him to the fisherfolk’s chief’s home. Your father entered there with his heart full of love and hope — a king passionate and alive — but when he came out, he was a mere shadow of his former self, as if a ghost had stolen his happiness.”
Devavrata Becomes Bhishma.
Determined to ease his father’s suffering, Devavrata made his way directly to the home of Dasa, the chief of the fisherfolk. He wanted to hear the condition with his own ears, and hopefully find a way to resolve the unhappiness that gnawed at his father's heart.
Dasa received him with a mixture of suspicion and nervousness. “Your father desires to make my daughter his wife,” Dasa said quietly, choosing his words carefully. “All I ask in return is that her children become the future kings of the Kuru dynasty. It’s a simple condition. The only hurdle… is you — the current prince.”
Devavrata drew a deep breath and then made a vow that would define his life forever. “That is not a hurdle at all. I will step aside. I will renounce my claim to the throne. Let Satyavati’s children become the future kings.”
Dasa fell silent for a moment. His piercing eyes studied the young prince in front of him — a man willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his father’s happiness. “Brave words from a young man filled with idealism,” Dasa said quietly. “But when you grow older — when you have children of your own — they may challenge your vow. They may rise up and claim their own birthright, fueling conflict and strife.”
Devavrata stood firm, unfazed by these doubts. “I will make sure there are no children to make such a claim. I vow I will remain celibate, I will never take a wife, I will produce no heirs. This guarantees that Satyavati’s children will be the future kings of Hastinapura.”
This vow fell heavy upon the hearts of all who heard it — a vow of unimaginable sacrifice, made by a prince in the prime of his youth. From that moment forward, Devavrata came to be called Bhishma, “the one who made a terrible vow.” His vow, forged from pure loyalty, would shape the fate of the Kuru dynasty for generations to come.
Bhishma’s Ultimate Sacrifice.
Everyone was struck by Devavrata’s vow — a vow made voluntarily, without anyone forcing him — a vow that would redefine his life. So much so that people began to call him Bhishma, “the one who is terribly harsh upon himself” — a man willing to endure unimaginable sacrifice for the happiness of his dynasty.
Dasa, meanwhile, was quietly finishing his meal, carefully removing the bones from a piece of fish. Without looking up, he said in a calm voice, “Young man, I appreciate everything you are willing to do for your father’s happiness. But you do not yet know the ways of life. Even if you remain celibate, there is a chance you may produce children — a moment of weakness, a temptation — and then there could be heirs who will later challenge Satyavati’s children for the throne.”
Devavrata fell into deep silence. The weight of this doubt pressed upon him. His jaw tightened as he made a dramatic, irreversible decision — a decision that would erase his future, his ability to carry forward his own bloodline. “To erase all doubt and temptation, I will make the ultimate sacrifice,” he said quietly. “I will castrate myself. From this moment forward, I will be incapable of having children. Does this satisfy you, Dasa? Will this guarantee that Satyavati’s children will reign unhindered?”
Dasa fell silent in awe and disbelief — a mixture of guilt, reverence, and fear — for what this prince was willing to do. All present recognized that this was the harshest vow a man could undertake — a vow made not under pressure, but voluntarily. From that day forward, Devavrata was called Bhishma, the one whose vow was firm and unbreakable — a man forged by tragedy and by immense loyalty.
And with this, King Shantanu married Satyavati, honoring both his own happiness and the future stability of his dynasty.
To Be Continued...
