Snippets of Information - Epics
Mahabaratham - Characters - Satyavati
Satyavati, a central character in Mahabaratham was the wife of king Shantanu, the mother of Vyaasa
(through Parasarar before her marraige to Shantanu), Chitraagandha and Vichitraviriya through
Shantanu. She was the grandmother of Dhrithrashtra and Pandu (sons
of Ambika and Ambalika through Vyassa Maharishi) and the great
grandmother of the Kauravas & Pandavas.
A divine being called Achoda had been cursed to take birth on earth. She was born as Satyavati.
Vasu was the king of Chedi, who was also known as Uparichara Vasu (since he would travel in his vimana overseeing his kingdom). He was married to Girika.
Once during his travel, his seed carried by a bird to be handed over to
his wife Girika, fell accidently into the river and was swallowed by a
fish (actually an apsaras called Adrika who had been cursed and
changed into a fish by Lord Brahma). When the fish was caught and
cut, they found two babies within. King Vasu realised they were
his children. He brought up the boy Matsya and gave the girl child to be
brought up by a fisherman called Dasharaj. Since Satyavati was born out of a fish she smelt of fish and hence was called Matsyagandha or Matsyagandhi. She was also known by other names such as Kali (because of dark complexion), Daseyi (adopted daughter of Dasharaja, the fisher chieftan), Vasavi (biological daughter of Uparichara Vasu), Kasturigandhi, Yojanagandha / Gandhavati (when she was blessed by sage Parasara with divine fragrance that would spread for a yojana) and Satyavati (truthful person)
Satyavati helped her fisherman father with ferrying people across the river Yamuna. Once as she was ferrying sage Parasara,
he realised that the time was right for the birth of Vyaasa who was an
amsam of Lord Vishnu. He explained and requested Satyavati to
assist him in bringing forth Vyaasa to this world. She agreed and
Vyaasa was born immedately on an island and also grew up immediately
into a young man who set forth to do penance, but promised his mother
that he would visit her whenever she requested. Sage Vyaasa was
brought up by his father Parasarar who passed on all his knowledge to
his son. Because he was
born in an island, he was called Dwaipayana (Dwaipa or island-born). He compiled the 4 Vedas and for this he came to be called Vyasa (the arranger or compiler). Vyasar was also known as Krishna-Dwaipayana (because of his dark complexion) & Veda Vyasa (because he had classified the four Vedas).
One day king Shantanu came across Satyavati and was enchanted by her
beauty and fragrance. He wished to marry her but her father placed
a condition that Satyavati's children should become the rulers.
Shantanu had earlier married Ganga (river Ganges), who bore him a son Devavrata.
He could not agree to the demands made by Satyavati's father but he was
pining for her. Devavrata on noticing his father's condition, met
Satyavati's father and took a vow that he would give up the right over
the kingdom and also will lead a life of celibacy (Brahmacharya).
Because of this terrible vow he was henceforth called Bhishma.
Satyavati married Shantanu (Shaantanu). She had two sons Chitraangada and Vichitraviryaa.
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