The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 105

Section CV. ( Sambhava Parva continued. )

"Bhisma continued, 'Listen, O mother, to me as I indicate the means by which the Bharata line may be perpetuated! Let an accomplished Brahmana be invited by offer of wealth, and let him raise offspring upon the wives of Vichittra-virya.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Satyavati then, smiling softly and her voice broken in bashfulness, addressed Bhisma saying, 'O Bharata of mighty arms, what thou sayest is true. From my confidence in thee I shall now indicate the means of perpetuating our line. Thou shalt not be able to reject it, conversant as thou art with the practices permitted in seasons of distress. In our race, thou art Virtue, and thou art Truth, and thou too art our sole refuge! Therefore, hearing what I say truly, do what may be proper.

"'My father was a virtuous man. For virtue's sake he had kept a (ferry) boat. One day, in the prime of my youth, I went to ply that boat. It so happened that the great and wise Rishi Parashara, that foremost of all virtuons men, came upon my boat for crossing the Yamuna. As I was rowing him accross the river, the Rishi became excited with desire and began to address me in soft words. The fear of my father was uppermost in my mind. But the fear of the Rishi's curse at last prevailed. And having obtained from him a precious boon, I could not refuse his solicitations. The Rishi by his energy brought me under his complete control, and gratified his desire there and then, having first enveloped the region wtih a thick fog. Before this there was a revolting fishy odor in my body. But the Rishi dispelling it gave me my present fragrance. The Rishi also told me that bringing forth his child on an island of the river, I would continue to be a virgin. And the child of Parashara so born of me in my maidenhood hath become a great Rishi endued with large ascetic powers and known by the name of Dwaipayana (the island-born.) That illustrious Rishi having, by his ascetic power, divided the Vedas into four parts hath come to be called on earth by the name of Vyasa (the divider or arranger,) and for the darkness of his color, Krishna (the dark.) Truthful in speech, and free from passion, a mighty ascetic who hath burnt all his sins, he went away with his father immediately after his birth. Appointed by me and thee also, that Rishi of incomparable splendour will certainly beget good children upon the wives of thy brother. He told me when he went away,—Mother, think of me, when thou art in difficulty.—I will now recollect him, if thou, O Bhisma of mighty arms, so desirest. If thou art willing, O Bhisma, I am sure that great ascetic will beget children in Vichittra-virya's field.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Mention being made of the great Rishi, Bhisma with joined palms said, 'That man is truly intelligent who fixes his eyes judiciously on virtue, profit, and pleasure; who after reflecting with patience acteth in such a way that virtue may lead to future virtue, profit to future profit, and pleasure to future pleasure. Therefore that which hath been said by thee, and which besides being beneficial to us is consistent with virtue, is certainly the best advice and hath my full approval.' And when Bhisma had said this, O thou of the Kuru race, Kali (Satyavati) thought of the Muni Dwaipayana. And Dwaipayana who was then engaged in interpreting the Vedas, learning that he was being thought of by his mother, came instantly unto her without anybody knowing it. Satyayati then duly saluted her son and embracing him with her arms bathed him with her tears, for the daughter of the fisherman wept copiously at the sight of her son after so long a time. And her first son, the great Rishi Vyasa, beholding her weeping, washed her with cool water, and bowing to her, said, 'I have come, O mother, to fulfil thy wishes. Therefore, O thou virtuous one, command me without delay. I shall accomplish thy desire.' The family priest of the Bharatas then worshipped the great Rishi duly, and the latter accepted the offerings of worship, uttering the usual mantras. And gratified with the worship he received, he took his seat. And Satyavati beholding him seated at his ease, after the usual inquiries, addressed him and said, 'O thou learned one, sons derive their birth both from the father and the mother. They are, therefore, the common property of both parents. There cannot be the least doubt about it that the mother hath as much power over them as the father. As thou art, indeed, my eldest son according to the ordinance, O Brahmarshi, so is Vichittra-virya my youngest son. And as Bhisma is Vichittra-virya's brother on the father's side, so art thou his brother on the mother's side. I do not know what you may think, but this is what, O son, I think. This Bhisma the son of Shantanu, devoted to truth, doth not, for the sake of truth, entertain the desire of either begetting children or ruling the kingdom. Therefore, from affection for thy brother Vichittra-virya, for the pepetuation of our dynasty, for the sake of this Bhisma's request and my command, for kindness to all creatures, for the protection of the people, and from the liberality of thy heart, O thou sinless one, it behoveth thee to do what I say! Thy younger brother hath left too wives like unto the daughters of the celestials themselves, endued with youth and great beauty. For the sake of virtue and religion, they have become desirous of offspring. Thou art the fittest person to be appointed. Therefore, beget upon them children worthy of our race and for the continuance of our line.'

"Vyasa, hearing this, said, 'O Satyavati, thou knowest what virtue is, both in respect of this and the other life. O thou of great wisdom, thy affections also are fixed on virtue. Therefore, at thy command, making virtue my motive, I shall do what thou desirest. Indeed, this practice that is conformable to the true and eternal religion is known to me. I shall give unto my brother children that shall be like unto Yama and Varuna. Let the ladies then duly observe for one full year the vow I indicate. They shall then be purified. No woman shall ever approach me without having observed a rigid vow.'

"Satyavati then said, 'O thou sinless one, it must not be as you say. On the other hand, take such steps that the ladies may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where there is no king, the people perish from want of protection; sacrifices and other holy acts are suspended; the clouds give no showers, and the gods disappear. How can, O lord, a kingdom be protected that hath no king? Therefore, see thou that the ladies conceive. Bhisma will watch over the children as long as they may be in their mother's wobms.'

"Vyasa replied, 'If I am to give unto my brother children so unseasonably, then let the ladies bear my ugliness. That of itself shall, in their case, be the austerest of penances. If the princess of Koshala can bear my strong odor, my ugly and grim visage, my attire and body, she shall then conceive an excellent child.'"

Vaismpayana continued, "Having spoken thus to Satyavati, Vyasa of great energy again addressed her and said, 'Let the princess of Koshala in clean attire and decked in ornaments wait for me in her sleeping apartments.' And saying this the Rishi disappeared. Satyavati then went to her daughter-in-law, and seeing her in private spoke to her these words of beneficial and virtuous import: 'O princess of Koshala, listen to what I say. It is consistent with virtue. The dynasty of the Bharatas hath become extinct from my misfortune. Beholding my affliction and the extinction of bis paternal line, the wise Bhisma, impelled also by the desire of perpetuating our race, hath made me a suggestion. That suggestion, however, for its accomplishment, is dependent on thee. Accomplish it, O daughter, and restore the lost line of the Bharatas! O thou of fair hips, bring thou forth a child equal in splendour unto the chief of the celestials! He shall bear the onerous burden of this our hereditary kingdom.'

"Satyavati having succeeded with great difficulty in procuring the assent of her virtuous daughter-in-law to her propo- sals not inconsistent with virtue, then fed Brahmanas and Rishis and numberless guests who arrived on the occasion."

Thus ends the hundred and the fifth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.