The stage is set for another leela of Bhagwaan Vishnu, where all the gods and goddesses play a significant role. Now starts the saga where heartbreaking curses, graceful boons and divine mercy combine to write a history to be remembered through the...
After being united with his son, Shantanu felt that all his desires had been fulfilled. Seeing the qualities of Devavrat, the aged king instated him as the crown-prince of Hastinapur.
Gangeya was quick to win everyone's affection in the Kuru lineage and the kingdom through his conduct. Shantanu enjoyed his time with his son for four years.
Everything was going well, the future seemed bright, until one day Shantanu went to the forest along the Yamuna river.
While he was wandering around, he inhaled an extremely sweet fragrance that came from an unknown direction. Searching for the cause, he saw a dark-eyed lady from the fisherman tribe who was as beautiful as a goddess.
Shantanu felt that his heart had been struck by the arrows of Kaamdev. Thus he decided to approach the fair maiden.
"Saumya kanya ?" He addressed her, and she looked up at him.
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Seeing the king himself in front of her, the lady got a timid.
Admiring her simplicity for a moment, Shantanu asked, "Kaun ho tum ? Kiski ho tum ? Aur yaha kya kar rahi ho ?"
"Mera naam Satyavati hai. Mai Macchwaro ke mukhiya Dashraja ki putri hu. Pita ke aagya se, Yamuna par nauka chala, apne jaati-dharm ka nirvah karti hu." She said demurely.
Having seen her beauty and sweetness, equal to that of a goddess, and inhaled her fragrance, King Shantanu was completely enamour by her. A desire sprung in his heart to make her his.
Thus he went to the king of fishermen, Dashraja, and asked him to give away his daughter Satyavati to him.
Hearing such a proposal from the Chakravarti Samrat, Dashraja was delighted beyond words. There was no way he could deny such an auspicious opportunity.
"Jis din se Satyavati ka janm huya hai, mujhe pata tha ki ek na ek din mujhe apni sundar putri ko kisi ko dena hi hoga. Rajan, aapse shresht pati uske liye koi nahi. Parantu, mere hridaye ki ek kaamna hai, meri kanya ke vivah ko lekar. Yadi aap use purn karne ka vachan de, toh mai awashya Satyavati ka vivah aapse karwayunga." Dashraja said.
A frown appeared on the face of Shantanu, he knew better than to give his word, before knowing what it was.
"Bina aapka sankalp jaane, mai koi vachan nahi dunga. Pehle aap apni kaamna bataye, yadi mai purn kar sakunga toh awashya karunga." The aged king said.
"Mujhe apne Kanya ke liye Rajyashulk chahiye, Samrat. Meri putri ke garbh se janme putra hi Hastinapur ke Raja bane." Dashraja said.
Though his body burnt with the sharp pains of desire, Shantanu was unwilling to grant this boon to the fisherman, for it would be injustice to his son Devavrat, who was already declared the heir-apparent.
The aged king shook his head in refusal, and then returned to Hastinapur. Thinking about Satyavati, his heart was burdened by sorrow.
The melancholy that engulfed him began to cast a shadow over his duties. The once lively and vibrant court of Nagasaharya was now shrouded in a subdued atmosphere, mirroring the king's profound sadness.
While alone Shantanu often began to ponder over the impermanence of mortal life and how he only had one son, in the entire lineage. He had heard the people learned in Dharma say that one son is equal to no son at all.
He knew that his son Devavrat, was unparalleled in valour but also unforgiving in battles. There was every possibility of him being killed in war, and if that happens, there will be no one to take the throne.
Thinking about this, Shantanu knew that he needed other sons to secure the kingdom, but again the demand of Rajyashulk would be denying the rights of Devavrat on the throne.
And when father is stuck in such a dilemma, how can a good son not take a notice of it ?
"Pitashree ?" Devavrat entered the room of the aged king, who was meditating.
"Gangadatta ? Aao putra." Shantanu gave him a weak smile, inviting him to sit beside him.
Devavrat looked at his father, who was failing to hide his sorrow behind his eyes.
"Pitashree, sab kuch shaanti se chal raha hai. Sabhi Raja aapka aadesh maante hai. Fir aap kyu itne dukhi hai ? Aap apne vichaaro mei khoye rehte hai. Kisi se baat bhi karte. Aisi kya peeda sata rahi hai aapko ?" Devavrat asked.
A sigh escaped the lips of Shantanu, he looked at his son and said, "Gangeya, tum iss kul ke eklaute putra ho. Mujhe iss baat ki chinta hai. Isme koi sandeh nahi ki tum 100 mahaan putro se shresht ho. Iss liye, bina kisi karan mujhe dusri patni nahi chahiye. Mai bas itna chaahta hu ki tum vivah kar, apne putro ke saath Hastinapur mei raaj karo."
Pausing for a moment, the aged king continued, "Parantu gyaani kehte hai ki ek putra hona aur nisantaan rehna, ek samaan hai. Waise bhi tum sadev yudh ke liye sajj rehte ho, kisi shatru ko kshama nahi karte. Awashya tum adwitiya yoddha ho, parantu ranbhoomi mei tumhari hatya hone ki poori sambhavna hai. Aur yadi aisa ho gaya, tab mai kya karunga ? Mujhe shaanti kaise milegi yeh jaan kar ki Rajya ka bhavishya surakshit nahi."
Devavrat listened to his father's reason, but knew it was not the complete truth. There was something missing in that. Thus he just bowed to his father, and without saying a word left, pondering over Shantanu's words.
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Btw, those who are daughters, especially single daughters don't worry about what the wise have said....
Because they have said that about having one SON.... The same wise men have said that raising one DAUGHTER gives punya that is equivalent to raising 16 sons.
Having a son means, the father shall get pind daan in pitru-paksh. But doing Kanyadaan ensures moksh for the father.
There is a reason why girls are considered divine 😍✨
