24 Facts About Satyavati

Satyavati was the queen of the Kuru Kingdom in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

Satyavati is married to king Shantanu of Hastinapura, and is a great-grandmother of the Pandava and Kaurava princes.

Satyavati's story appears in the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, and the Devi Bhagavata Purana.

Satyavati is the daughter of a fisherman chieftain, Dasharaja and was brought up as a commoner on the banks of the river Yamuna.

Satyavati married Santanu on her father's condition that their children inherit the throne, denying the birthright of Shantanu's eldest son Bhishma.

Satyavati is known by numerous names in the Mahabharata, among them Daseyi, Gandhakali, Gandhavati, Kali, Matysyagandha, Satya, Vasavi and Yojanagandha.

The Mahabharata, Harivamsa and Devi Bhagavata Purana assert that Satyavati was the daughter of a cursed apsara named Adrika.

Satyavati helped her father in his job and grew up into a beautiful maiden.

Romila Thapar notes that attempts were made later to suggest that Satyavati was of Kshatriya origin.

The Devi Bhagavata Purana narrates that when Satyavati was ferrying the rishi Parashara across the river Yamuna, the sage wanted Satyavati to satisfy his lust and held her right hand.

Satyavati tried to dissuade Parashara but finally gave in, realizing the desperation and persistence of the sage.

Satyavati agreed and told Parashara to be patient until the boat reached the bank.

Satyavati now smelled of musk, and so was called Kasturi-Gandha and Parashara transformed into fisherman and had intercourse with Satyavati only to return her chastity again.

Satyavati asked Parashara to promise her that the coitus would be a secret and her virginity intact; the son born from their union would be as famous as the great sage, and her fragrance and youth would be eternal.

Ecstatic with her blessings, Satyavati gave birth the same day to her baby on an island in the Yamuna.

The fisherman repeated his condition and told Devavrata that only Shantanu was worthy of Satyavati; she had rejected marriage proposals from even Brahmarishis like Asita.

Satyavati suggests that a Brahmin could be hired to father children on the widows, thus preserving the dynasty.

Satyavati argued that Vichitravirya's wives were like his daughters; having niyoga with them was a heinous sin, through which no good could come.

Satyavati considered such an heir to be an unworthy king, so she asked Vyasa to have niyoga with her younger daughter-in-law.

Satyavati again invited Vyasa to Ambika's bed-chamber; she remembered Vyasa's grim appearance, and substituted a Shudra maid in her place.

Vyasa told Satyavati of the deception, and then disappeared; Vidura, an incarnation of the god Dharma, was born to the maid.

Satyavati was grief-stricken because of her grandson's untimely death and did not wish to live any longer.

At Vyasa's suggestion, Satyavati left for the forest to do penance with her daughters-in-law Ambika and Ambalika.

Satyavati's actions create a generation encompassed by a greed which ultimately leads to its annihilation.