Shantanu's Sons

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

Kuru Dynasty

Bhishma tells the story of his dynasty

Bhiṣma sighed and looked again at the heavens to see how far north the sun had gone. He continued his story:

CHITRANGADA AND VICHITRAVIRYA

“Summers turned to winter. The moons flew over the Ganges.

Moon over Ganges

 My father, the great king Shantanu, grew old. His happiness with Satyavati was complete for a time. Soon after they were married, two sons were born to Satyavati and Shantanu. The elder son was Chitrangada and the younger, Vichitravirya. Soon Chitrangada grew. He was proud and strong.

The warlike Chitrangada

 He feared no one. He was soon an agressive and powerful warrior.  Vichitravirya the younger, was a gentle soul. He loved music and dance and poetry. He was a quiet boy, shy at the touch of a woman.

The gentle Vichitravirya

 Well-satisfied at giving the earth his heirs, my king and father the great Shantanu passed away from this planet, his spirit was carried to the heaven of righteous kings. I became regent of the Kingdom after my father's passing. I had taken my furious vow never to rule nor to marry or have children, so I agreed to mentor and guide my brothers in their rule. 

Bhishma as regent of the Bharat Kingdomm

In time I trained the the puissant Chitrangada, in the art of war. He grew to be such a fierce fighter and great warrior that he defeated many kings and princes in battle.  He loved a fight. He was always dueling with sword and javelin, with his mace, and with bows and arrows. 

The Warlike Chitrangada

While he was still too young to rule, he challenged all comers, In this way he expanded the kingdom of greater Bharat by force of arms. I tried to arrest his martial spirit and counseled peace. "Stay your hand, boy," I said.  but he was implacable. He was determined to keep the memory of his father and show me what a great fighter he was. Chitrangada was a valiant and pugnacious warrior. He confronted kings and princes throughout the realm and expanded the conquered territory of our dynasty, binging new lands under the domain of the sons of Bharata. 

 One day, he quarrelled with the wrong person. He challenged  a  Gandharva warrior. This Gandharva was endowed with supernatural powers. Chitrangada's arrogance offended the vengeful Gandharva.

Artist's conception of Gandharva warrior

 Now the Gandharvas are powerful forest angels with divine powers. They fought a fierce duel on the sacred plains of Kurukṣetra. Their battle lasted for days and nights, with neither foe getting an advantage but finally the Gandharva's supernatural powers gave him the edge. He managed to best Chitrangada who was gravely injured unto death. "

Bhishma paused. He sipped water from the tiny rivulet of holy Ganges that trickled where Arjuna had pierced the ground with an arrow. A tear glistened on the leathery cheeks of the old warrior, Grandfather of the Kurus. 

He continued:

"The whole realm mourned the passing of my brother. It was a time of sorrow for me. When the warlike Chitrangada died without issue, the line of succession was broken. The chain of events which ended in the Kurukshetra war began with the death of my brother. 

Chitrangada, rest his soul in peace, left us to our fates.

Bhishma as a younger man, from TV series Mahabharata.

THE WIVES OF VICHITRAVIRYA

After his brother died, the gentle Vichitravirya, was crowned king. Now I will tell the tale of Vichitravirya the younger and his wives.

The gentle Vichitravirya

 Beginning his story again Bhiṣma said, “Vichitravirya was not a manly boy, and had a passive nature. He took little interest in the martial arts of bow and sword. He would play by the river and pick flowers to make into garlands for the fragrant Satyavati. He frolicked in song and dance. He loved to compose poems in Sanskrit. Vichitravirya was a sweet boy by nature. He wasn't much interested in ruling a kingdom. I was regent and ruled India as best I could."

An older Bhishma rules as regent-king

"It was a golden age. A time of peace where dharma was the rule of law.  India flourished. And by and by the boy became a man and it was time to hand over power. But there was doubt about the succession. If Vichitravirya was to rule he would need an heir. A good marriage would consolidate his kingdom. 

"A good marriage would consolidate the kingdom"

“Satyavati at this time approached me with the idea of getting a wife for the young Vichitravirya. Of course, because of my vow, It was not my role to continue the succession. I had forsworn marriage. But I remembered the King of Kashi. He had been a great friend of my father and had promised his daughters in marriage to the sons of the king, my father. In the end, he refused to honor his promise and instead of offering them to the young Vichitravirya, decided instead to hold a contest at arms for her hand.”          

AMBA, AMBIKA, AMBALIKA, SWAMVARA AND SWAYAMVARA CHALLENGES

At this time, I was at the height of my powers as a young warrior. So it was that the king of Kashi held a contest at arms to find proper suitors for his daughters, three great beauties: Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika. I rode out with my fresh white horses and my single chariot of war stocked with all manner of weapons and astras, challenging all the young princes of the realm. 

Ancient Chariot

I rode to the great holy city of Varanasi, where pilgrims visit the Ganges, in search of a wife for the young Vichitravirya.  When I arrived in the court of the King of Kashi I saw that many kings and princes had come to compete for the hands of the three maidens assembled there. When I saw the three maidens, daughters of the King, I decided to take all three for the greater glory of the Bharata dynasty.

Daughters of the King of Kashi: Ambika, Amba, Ambalika

            I rode into the court and snatched the girls from the podium in front of their father.  As I did so, I said, “Lo! If any man dare challenge me to arms, then let him do so now! I, Bhiṣma, son of Shantanu, Regent-king of Hastinapura shall take these maidens as tribute to the Lord of all India, Vichitravirya, my nephew. I bear these maidens hence by force! Do your worst to stop me!”

"Do your worst to stop me!"