Today I will discuss Satyavati, a character in Mahabharata.Satyawati,the wife of king Shantanu of bharat clan and was the mother of prince Devvrata(Bheeshm).Though,Devvrata was born of river mother Ganges but he loved to Satyawati as mother more than river mother Ganges.Nevertheless ,he respected all mothers equally because"mothers are for respect only whether it be some one's mother".
Shantanu and Satyawati was married on condition that son of Satyawati will be mounted on throne.Devvrata then promised that he will remain unmarried for life and always will defend the throne on Hasthinapur.Due to the Drastic Vows , Devvrata called as Bheeshm because Bheeshm means harshness with uniqueness.
Two Sons, Chitrangad and Vichitraveerya , are born from Satyawati.Vichitraveerya became the king of hasthinapur due to death of Chitrangad in young age.He was neither brave as Bheeshm nor able to produce sons.Therefore , due to stubbornness of Satyawati , an unqualified person became the king of hasthinapur.The problems began to arise in Vichitraveerya's marriage due to his disqualification. So by the order of mother Satyawati Bheeshm hijacked the three princess(Ambaa,Ambika,Ambalika) of kaashi state from their swayamvar or marriage hall to wed them to Vchitraveerya.Swayamvar means a practice of ancient india , under which bride had chosen her groom themselves among the princes present in assembly.For Swayamvar , princes of every state were invited by the bride's father or king of bride's state.But the custom of Swayamvar, was applied to the elite, especially princesses.
That was the foundation of the Mahabharata.The same person who kidnapped the girl was able to marry her but the orders of mother Satyawati ,they were handed over to Vichitraveerya. Now foundation of wrongdoing or 'Adharm' had been kept. And Ambaa revolted against the wrongdoing and while advocates the law or 'Dharm' insisted on marrying Bheeshm. But Bheeshm had promised so Ambaa then went to leave the palace and to take revenge from Bheeshm began to penance or 'Tapa'. Tapa is a process in which a person follows some rules and meditate over the some specific string of words called 'Mantras' and get power from them.
Eventually Vichitraveerya roasted to death and satyawati got her grandsons from sage Vedvyas by 'Nirodh' as her grandson came under the purview of Vichitraveerya. 'Nirodh' was the process under which if a person died or could not to able produce child then his wife could intercourse with some other person , who follows the rules of vedas , to produce children upto three times.These children will be under purview of that first person.
Eventually Vichitraveerya roasted to death and satyawati got her grandsons from sage Vedvyas by 'Nirodh' as her grandson came under the purview of Vichitraveerya. 'Nirodh' was the process under which if a person died or could not to able produce child then his wife could intercourse with some other person , who follows the rules of vedas , to produce children upto three times.These children will be under purview of that first person.
Satyawati, not only ,denied the rights of Bheeshm but also sowed the seeds of injustice and wrongdoing or 'Adharma'. Although Bheeshm was also guilty in this act because he meditated more on his pledge than the 'Dharma' or law or righteousness.Ultimately this seed grew up as gruesome war of kurukshetra . Kurakshetra was the place where mahabharata crusader was fought between Kauravas and pandavas.
But what can we do because it is nature of a mother that she can leave the most valuable thing 'Dharma' or righteousness for her son.
Thank you.
