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!"

Promises

महाभरत

Mahābharata

As retold by

Michael Dolan, B.V. Mahāyogi

Bhishma's Oath

Crossing the Ganges

Bhishma said, "One day, before my return,  my father, the great king Shantanu had to cross the river.  As he waited for the ferry, he was overwhelmed by an enchanting perfume. The water was calm that morning. A gentle mist shrouded the banks. Through the mist he saw the craft. 

"There was the figure of a girl. Her perfume was intoxicating. She drew closer, out of the mist. He had never witnessed such beauty. Satyavati raised her lotus eyes from the oars and smiled. My father was smitten, doomed by desire.

Shantanu and Satyavati

"And so it was that my father, childless and forlorn, having conquered vast lands beyond his own kingdom, met and fell in love with the beautiful Satyavati. Upon crossing the river he was utterly enchanted and lost his wits in the charms of love. Of course, my father wasn’t childless at all. But in his loneliness, Satyavati shined like the April moon. His heart was lost.

"As I have said, it was soon after my father fell in love that I returned with my mother from the ashram of Paraśurāma, the terrible sage among warriors, or warrior among sages. I was armed with the mighty weapon of Shiva and conversant with wielding sword, bow and ax. 

 "And so I returned to the royal life of a prince. I expected to one day rule, just as my father before me. I had been trained to govern.  I understood the Vedas and the Law of Manu. Parasurama had taught me the importance of respecting brahmanas. I knew the value of peace and the power of war. My education was complete. My father had tried to get an heir, but while Ganges had borne him eight sons, seven had returned to the heavens. 

"I was the only one fit to rule. But I had been cursed. And my curse had not yet been fulfilled. I was born to rule; but the rule was not to be mine. I was to be passed over for my yet unborn brothers. My father was past the age where men court wives, yet in his folly, he had fallen in love with the enchanting Satyavati. He had found a young maiden on the banks of the river and was determined to have her. 

"I was surprised by this news. I had thought that I would be his heir, to rule the Indias according to the ancient laws of Manu. But it was not to be so.

“Son,” the king said, “I need your help.”

“And who was I to refuse? I had heard from Parashurama himself about the importance of obedience. Parashurama, who beheaded his own mother in obedience to his father’s law. Even if his love for this maiden was folly, who was I to challenge my father?”

And so, at that time he asked me to go to the river on an errand. He sent me to ask the crafty old fisherman for the hand of Satyavati. And so, I met with her father. I brought treasure in gold and silver, and presents of silk and incense. He offered me a cool drink and a sitting place on carpets. I spoke with sweet words, in the cultivated language of the court. I told the old man I had come in the name of my father Shantanu, Lord of the realm, to ask for his daughter’s hand. 

“Shantanu?” he said, stroking his beard with leathery fingers. “Yes, I have heard the name. You must know that my daughter has many suitors, some of them quite rich. Your father is old, like me. Why should I wed my Satyavati to him?”

“She may have suitors, but none like Shantanu,” I said. “My Lord Shantanu is a great king.”

“Yes, but what of that? He will retire soon and leave the kingdom to you. You are a great warrior. My daugher’s sons will have no position.”

“I see. Then I shall return and tell him there shall be no match.  And what if my father takes her by force?”

“That would be against dharma. Why should he steal a poor man’s daughter? This would not be noble of him. People would talk. I am favorable to a match, but I have my conditions. I am not a fool. I know  the value of wedding my daughter to a king. But try to understand my position.  I must ensure her success. I am favorable to a match,” he said, but I need some assurance from you.”

“What conditions? Speak, man.”

“It is known that you are a formidable warrior and the son of Shantanu. As his son, you are the heir to the throne of all the Indias. If my daughter marries your father, her sons will never rule the kingdom.”

“This is true,” I said, “But I shall personally assure their future. After my father’s death, if I assume the throne, I will give all respect to my father’s wife and children. They will never worry for anything.”

“Not good enough,” said the crafty old fisherman. “You see, you will be king.”

“Then my brothers shall rule the kingdom. As the gods are my witnesses I renounce the throne and all royal privilege,” said I, remembering Jamadagni’s loyalty to his father. At this time the gods showered flavors from the heavens and there was a resounding thunderclap. “I shall serve my brothers as their loyal vassal and protector.”

Bhishma's Vow

“Just a moment,” said the crafty old fisherman. “I know the ways of men. If you will not rule, your son shall be heir to the throne of all the Indias.”

“If this is your concern,” said I, “Then I shall never marry and have children. I renounce marriage and the association of women forever. I shall live my life alone:  a life-long brahmachari celibate. I shall never have children.”

With this the earth was silent and the waters of the river were calm. Again the gods showered flowers from the heavens upon hearing my great oath. “Furthermore, I swear loyalty to whatever sons Satyavati and my father might bear. I will serve as the humble vassal of my brothers and their descendants as long as I draw breath.”

Once again a shower of flowers fell from heaven. 

I had taken the powerful oath that gives me my name, Brihad-vrata. With this that crafty old fisherman, the father of Satyavati, smiled. He assented to the match and ordered refreshing drinks to be served. The witnesses to the contract we had made cheered. The old fisherman called for Satyavati to be brought. When everything had been explained to her, she smiled demurely, and went to pack her belongings. That very afternoon I delivered her to the court of my father, King Shantanu. The wedding took place shortly thereafter.

Traditional Wedding Decorations of Hands and Feet in Henna

Liberation

Heaven can wait

Another chat in Chiang Mai.