Devavrat went and asked an old adviser, who was always concerned about his father’s welfare, about the reason for Shantanu's misery. The advisor told him truthfully about the king's desire to obtain Satyavati as a wife but how her father had demanded Rajyashulk.
Thus without wasting anymore time Devavrat took many old Kshatriyas with him and went to see the king of the fishermen, who received him and welcomed him with proper accordances.
Then on his father’s behalf, Devavrat himself asked for the daughter. Dashraja couldn't say no, but neither could he step back from his demand.
"Yuvraj, mai jaanta hu ki Maharaj Shantanu se uttam var meri putri ke liye koi nahi. Satyavati ka janm bhi ek Arya ke madhyam se huya tha, unhone mujhe aapke Pita ke gun mujhe bataye the ki kaise unse adhik yogya pati Yojangandha hetu koi nahi. Ek baar Devarshi Asit ne bhi meri putri ka haath maanga tha, par maine unhe nahi diya." He said.
"Jab aap bhi chaahte hai ki aapki putri ka vivah mere pita se ho, toh fir samasya kya hai ?" Devavrat asked.
"Kshama kare Yuvraj, parantu kanya ke pita hone ke karan meri ek chinta hai." Dashraja said.
"Kya hai aapki chinta ka karan ?" Gangeya asked.
"Aap." Dashraja said.
"Mai ?" Devavrat got confused.
Dashraja nodded, before saying, "Ha yuvraj. Iss sansaar mei aapse shresht koi yoddha nahi. Aur aap apne shatru ko praan-daan bhi nahi dete. Aapka pratidwandi jo koi bhi ho, Asur ya Gandharv, aapke krodh ke karan woh kabhi sukhi nahi reh sakta. Aur waise bhi Maharaj Shantanu aur Satyavati ke santaane bhi toh aapke pratidwandi honge. Iss vivah mei mujhe yahi aapatti hai."
The old Kshatriyas that had accompanied Devavrat looked at each other, while the son of Gangeya stood up, his piercing gaze scanned the faces of those present.
Raising his arms on the side, he uttered these words for the sake of his father's happiness, "Sabhi satyavaadi jan meri pratigya sune jo mai aaj le raha hu. Koi bhi purush abhi tak na janma hai, aur na hi janmega jo yeh shabd bolne ka sahas rakhega."
His voice, resonating with determination, echoed throughout the cosmos above The earth beneath them seemed to tremble in anticipation, echoing the tectonic power of what was about to come.
"Shantanu ka jo putra, Satyavati ke garbh se janmega, wahi Hastinapur ka Raja banega ! Aur mai, Gangaputra Devavrath, aajeevan Brahmacharya ka palan karunga ! Na hi meri koi patni hogi, na hi koi santaan ! Mai sadev Hastinapur ke singhasan ka daas bana rahunga !" Devavrat took the terrible oath.
Every hair on Dashraja's body stood up with delight. From the sky, apsaras, gods and rishis rained down flowers and said,"Yeh hai Bhishm !"
Devavrath then glanced at Satyavati, who had witnessed everything from behind the edge of a wall. She looked at him and then lowered her gaze, the son of Ganga went towards her with a warm smiled.
"Mata, mere rath par sawaar hojaye. Hume apne ghar jana hai." He said softly.
Having uttered these words, Devavrat made the beautiful lady ascend the chariot and, arriving in Hastinapura.
Seeing her, Shantanu was delighted beyond words. Devavrat told Shantanu all that had happened. Then all the nobles praised him for his difficult feat and jointly and individually said, “Yeh hai Bhishm.”
Shantanu embraced his son for sacrificing all his pleasures for him.
"Putra, tumhare jaisi santaan paa kar mai dhanya ho gaya. Jab tak tum na chaaho, mrityu bhi tumhe sparsh na kar sake. Mai tumhe iccha-mrityu vardaan deta hu." Shantanu said.
-------
The moonlit night cast a soft glow upon the realm of Chaitanya Lok as Amarsri, adorned in flowing garments of ethereal beauty, stood pensively upon her balcony. Her eyes, shimmering with concern, were fixated upon earth, as she looked at the events unfolding with her divine sight.
Suddenly she felt the warmth of Srinav's hand over hers. She gazed at him, whose face was etched with concern.
"Kya huya ?" He asked in a gentle tone.
"Gangadatta ki pratigya ne mujhe chinta mei daal diya hai." She said.
"Jyesht Shantanu-putra ki pratigya bhishm toh hai, parantu woh aapke chinta ka karan kyu ?" Srinav asked.
"Devavrath ne Hastinapur ke singhasan ka daas banne ki pratigya li hai. Hastinapur ke das banne ke liye nahi." Amarsri said.
Srinav nodded, understanding what she was thinking he said, "Iska arth hai ki yadi Hastinapur ke singhasan par koi ayogya Raja bhi baith gaya, tab bhi Devavrat uska daas bana rahega."
"Aur aise mei kasht praja bhogegi. Par shaktishaali hokar bhi Devavrat, kuch nahi kar sakega. Parantu Gangaputra, iss baat ko abhi nahi samajh sakta. Aur jab samjhega, tab tak kadachit bahut der ho chuki hogi." Amarsri said.
"Yeh toh hona hi tha, Devi. Ek karan tha ki Devavrat se aapki talwaar uthi nahi." Srinav said.
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A/N
So as you see, the demand of Rajyashulk was from Dashraja and not Satyavati.
Satyavati is not a vamp as shown in TV, she's the mother of Ved Vyas, who is the incarnation of Narayan, after all !
As much as I have read, I'd say she's a rather simple-hearted woman, who adored Bhishm very much, like how Kaikeshi was fond of Kuber.
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HARIHARESHWARI 14 : CHANDRA CHAYAYAM SINGHASANAM
Historical FictionThe 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...
