Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1820

c8.1820

1) Origin. Śantanu, a celebrated King of Candravaṃśa (lunar dynasty) had two wives, Gaṅgā and Satyavatī. Bhīṣma was the son of Gaṅgā. After the birth of Bhīṣma Gaṅgā his mother went to heaven. After that Śantanu married Satyavatī, mother of Vyāsa. Satyavatī got two sons, Citrāṅgada and Vicitravīrya. Even while a bachelor, Citrāṅgada was killed by a Gandharva of the same name. So Vicitravīrya became King on Śantanu's death. Bhīṣma forcibly brought the three daughters of the King of Kāśī named Ambā, Ambikā and Ambālikā for Vicitravīrya to marry. But knowing that Ambā was in love with the King of Sālva, Bhīṣma let her off on the way. Ambikā and Ambālikā became the wives of Vicitravīrya. But for a long time they had no sons.