Posted:
Originally posted by: Shaya_123
Who was Satyavathi 😊
Initially known as Matsyagandha, she was the daughter of a fisherman chief. Her first claim to fame was having relations with Sage Parashara (the grandson of Sage Vasishtha)- who fell for her charms while she was ferrying him across the Yamuna.
The rishi wanted to have conjugal relations with her right there in the boat,in the middle of the river. But Matsyagandha had the presence of mind to ask that the son born of this union will be very wise and intelligent and that her virginity will remain intact.
Parashara - pretty desperate by now, granted all this. Krishna Dwaipayana a.k. a Veda Vysa was the result of this union.
Many years later, someone else too fell for her charms - which would change the fate of Hastinapura for ever. It was Shantanu, the son of King Pradip, the reigning king of Hastinapura.
What followed is well known - Shantanu asks her father for her hand, Bhishma Pratigya , Matsyagandha, now rechristened Satyavati becomes Mrs Shantanu and has two sons- Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya, both of whom die childless...
Satyavati's third master stroke was to ask Veda Vyasa to impregnate Ambika and Ambaalika by the ancient process of Niyoga. Niyoga was typically performed by the dead / impotent husband's brother.
Satyavati asked Bhisma to do the favours- who flatly refused. Then she asked her son, who apparently had no compunctions and readily agreed to his mother's request. Pandu, Dritarashtra and Vidura were born.
The Kauravas and Pandavas thus belonged to the blood line of Vasishta .
Debate Mansion
Anupamaa
Health and Fitness
