Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.1653

c9.1653

One day Śantanu, a King of the lunar dynasty came to the forest for hunting. The fragrance of musk emanating from the body of Kastūrīgandhī spread throughout the whole forest. The King walked on through the forest tracing the origin of the smell of musk and reached the fisherman's hut. The King fell in love with Satyavatī. The King had a son named Bhīṣma by his first wife Gaṅgā. Bhīṣma made it easy for the King to marry Satyavatī. Two sons Citrāṅgada and Vicitravīrya were born to Śantanu by his wife Satyavatī. Citrāṅgada was killed in his boyhood. Vicitravīrya became a youth and married Ambikā and Ambālikā the daughters of the King of Kāśī. Vicitravīrya met with untimely death before a child was born to him. When Satyavatī saw that the family was about to become extinct, she thought of her son Vyāsa, who instantly arrived at the palace. From Vyāsa, Ambālikā got the son Pāṇḍu and Ambikā, the son Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Both the sons Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Pāṇḍu got married. Pāṇḍu died. The death of her son struck heavily at the heart of Satyavatī. She did not wish to live much longer after this. She mentioned about the fearful things yet to happen. Then taking her daughters-in-law Ambikā and Ambālikā with her, Satyavatī went to the forest to do penance and finally attained heaven. (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapter 127). (For further details see under Adrikā, Vyāsa and Śantanu).