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Chapter 18 - Satyavati

Karn nodeed in no..

Parshuram:- so litsen let me tell you..

Satyavati is the adopted daughter of a fisherman chieftain, Dashraj and was brought up as a commoner on the banks of the river Yamuna. She is the biological daughter of the Chedi king Uparichara Vasu (Vasu) and a cursed apsara (celestial nymph) who was turned into a fish called Adrika. Due to the smell emanating from her body, she was known as Matsyagandhā ("She who smells like fish"), and helped her father, Dashraj, in his job as a ferryman and a fisherwoman.

As a young woman, Satyavati met the wandering rishi (sage) Parashara, who fathered her son Vyasa out of wedlock. The sage also gave her a musky fragrance, which earned her names like Yojanagandha ("She whose fragrance is spread as far as a yojana") and Gandhavati ("fragrant one").

Later King Shantanu, captivated by her fragrance and beauty, fell in love with Satyavati. She married Santanu on her father's condition that their children inherit the throne, denying the birthright of Shantanu's eldest son (and crown prince) Bhishma. Satyavati bore Shantanu two children, Chitrangada and VichitraviryaVichitravay.

After Shantanu's death, she and her sons ruled the kingdom with the help of Bhishma. Although both her sons died childless, she arranged for her eldest son, Vyasa, to father the children of the two widows of Vichitravirya through niyoga. The children, Dhritarashtra and Pandu, became the fathers of the Kauravas and Pandavas, respectively. After Pandu's death, Satyavati went to the forest for penance.

Parshuram said:- do yo want to known how the present king Dritrashtra and the late king pandu and mahammantri vidur borned.??

Karn nooded in No...

Then listen carefully...

Satyavati considered such an heir to be an unworthy king, so she asked Vyasa to have niyoga with her younger daughter-in-law. During their niyoga, Ambalika fell pale due to Vyasa's grim appearance. As the result the child would be wan, Vyasa told his mother, who begged for another child. In due course, the blind Dhritarashtra and the pale Pandu were born. Satyavati again invited Vyasa to Ambika's bed-chamber; she remembered Vyasa's grim appearance (and repulsive odour), and substituted a Shudra (lowest caste) maid in her place. The maid respected the sage and was not afraid of him, and Vyasa thus blessed her; her son would be the most intelligent man, and she would no longer be a slave. Vyasa told Satyavati of the deception, and then disappeared; Vidura, an incarnation of the god Dharma, was born to the maid.

And

Consequently, due to Dhritarashtra's blindness and Vidura's birth from a maid, Pandu was crowned king of Hastinapur. However, he was cursed (by a sage) that he could not bear any children, renounced the kingdom and went to the forest with his wives Kunti and Madri. There, his wives had children - the Pandavas, or "sons of Pandu" - for him through niyoga with the gods. Pandu died in the forest; Madri ended her life with her husband. Kunti returned to Hastinapur with the Pandavas.

Satyavati was grief-stricken because of her grandson's untimely death and did not wish to live any longer. After the funerary rites for Pandu, Vyasa warned Satyavati that happiness would end in the dynasty and devastating events would occur in the future (leading to the destruction of her kin), which she would not be able to bear in her old age. At Vyasa's suggestion, Satyavati left for the forest to do penance with her daughters-in-law Ambika and Ambalika.

Parshuram:- now,my don you know some scrects about kurus too..and hope u will not forget...And the stories that I told you earlier, Do u remember?

Karn:-yes gurudev!!! How can i forget

Lord:- yes!! Good to hear that Yes,and this would be good for you.

After talking then they leaves to their rooms.. because tomorrow is going to be a big day for both of them.