M109 - Shantanu meets Satyavathi

Four years after Ganga left her child Devavrata with King Shantanu, ruler of Hasthinapur, when Shantanu while travelling near the banks of Yamuna, he perceived a sweet fragrance. When he went in pursuit of this scent, he found that the fragrance was emanating from a young woman of exquisite beauty.  Santanu went to her and asked her who she was. She said that her name was Satyavati,  the daughter of the Chief of the  fisherme. Upon seeing her, Shantanu fell in love with her and desired to her. He immediately asked her to be his wife. Satyavati would not return an immediate answer, but asked the king to address this question to her father.


When the chief of fishermen, Dhusharaj  returned shortly, the king requested his permission to pay his addresses to Satyavati. The fisherman thought for a while and said, "O King! I am very much honored that you have expressed a wish to marry my daughter. Indeed, it is impossible to think of a more worthy groom for her. However, there is an issue which must be resolved before this marriage can take place. You must know that she is my adopted daughter. Since she was born inside a fish, there was the odor of fish that used to cling to her when she was a young girl. Later, this was changed into a pleasant fragrance, by the boon of a Rishi Parashara. I have consulted astrologers regarding her future, and all of them are unanimous in predicting that she will wed a great king. They also predicted that her son will become the king after her husband. Now, everyone knows that your son Devaratha is going to inherit the kingdom after you. Unless you can guarantee that the child born to you and Satyavati will be your next heir, I cannot consent to this marriage."

Naturally, Shantanu could not agree to this condition, as the kingdom belonged by right of birth to his son Devaratha. Besides, he was very fond of his son, and could not bear the thought of disinheriting him. Crestfallen, he returned to his palace. Tried as he might, he could not put the beautiful form of Satyavati out of his mind. He became listless. He would spent hours by himself, deep in thought as days passed by...............

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