सम्भव पर्व — सत्यवती का परामर्श

Bhishma said: O mother, listen to me, I shall point out the means by which the Bharata dynasty may be perpetuated. Let an accomplished Brahmana be invited with the offer of wealth; let him beget offspring on the wives of Vichitravirya.

Vaishampayana said : Then Satyavati thus spoke to Bhishma, smiling softly and speaking in bashful voice.

Satyavati said : O descendant of the Bharata race, what you say is true. From my confidence in you, I shall now point my confidence in you, I shall now point out the means of perpetuating our dynasty.

You shall not be able to reject it, learned as you are in the practices permitted in the time of distress. You are Virtue, you are Truth.

Therefore, hearing what I say, do what is proper. My father was a virtuous man and for virtue's sake he had kept a boat (for crossing people.)

In the prime of my youth, I went one day to ply that boat. It so happened that the great and wise Rishi Parashara, the foremost of all virtuous men, came on my boat for crossing the Yamuna. As I was taking him across the river, that best of Rishis became full of desire and began to address me in soft words.

O descendant of Bharata, I was afraid of my father, but I was also greatly afraid of the Rishi's curse. Therefore, having got from him a great boon, I could not refuse his request.

O descendant of the Bharata race, he overpowered me, a mere girl, by his great effulgence and he also enveloped the region with a thick fog. There was in my body a revolting odour of fish before, but the Rishi dispelled it and gave me my this fragrance.

The Rishi told me, "After bringing forth this child on the island of this river, you will remain a virgin."

The son of Parashara, thus born of me in my maiden-hood, has becomes great ascetic, named Dvaipayana.

That illustrious Rishi, having divided by his ascetic power the Vedas into four parts, has become known on earth as Vyasa and for his black colour as Krishna.

He is truthful, free from passions and a great ascetic who has destroyed all his sins; he went away with his great father as soon as he was born.

Asked by me and also by you, that Rishi of incomparable effulgence will surely beget excellent offspring on the wives of your brother.

He told me, "Mother, think of me (mentally call me) when you will be in difficulty. O mighty-armed Bhishma, if you wish, I can now think of him."

O Bhishma if you are willing and if you appoint him, I am sure that great ascetic will beget children on the wives of Vichitravirya.

Vaishampayana said : When the great Rishi was the mentioned, Bhishma with joined hands said. "That man is truly intelligent who fixes his eyes judiciously on Dharma, Artha and Kama and who, after reflecting with patience, acts in such a way as virtue (Dharma) may lead to future virtue, profit (Artha) to future profit and pleasure (Kama) to future pleasure. Therefore, that which has been said by you and that which, besides being beneficial to us is consistent with virtue, is certainly the best advice and it has my full approval."

Vaishampayana said : O descendant of the Kuru race, when Bhishma said this, Kali (Satyavati) thought of the Rishi Krishna Dvaipayana Dvaipayana, who was then interpreting the Vedas, came at once to his mother without any body knowing it, as soon as he found that he had been thought of. She (Satyavati), having welcomed her son in all due forms, embraced him with her arms and bathed him with her breast milk. The daughter of the fisherman (Satyavati) shed much tears to see her son after a long time.

Having seen her weep, the great Rishi, Vyasa, her eldest son, washed her (face) with cool water; and bowing to his mother, he said-

"O mother, I have come to fulfill your wishes. Therefore, o virtuous lady, command me without delay. I shall accomplish what you desire.”

The priest (of the Bharatas) then worshipped the great Rishi in the proper form and the Rishi accepted the offerings of the worship with uttering the usual Mantras.

Being pleased with the due worship with the proper Mantras, he took his seat. His mother, Satyavati, seeing him conformably seated, asked his welfare and made the usual enquiries.

She then said, "O Kavi, (learned man), the sons derive their birth from both the father and the mother. There is no doubt that their proprietors are both the father and the mother. You are my eldest son according to the ordinances. O Brahmarshi, Vichitravirya was my youngest son. As he was the brother of Bhishma by father's side, so you are by the mother's side. This is my opinion, I do not know what is your opinion, I do not know what is your opinion. This Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, who is devoted to truth, does not, for the sake of truth, wish to beget children or to rule the kingdom.

"Therefore, O sinless one, for the sake of the affection you bear for your brother (Vichitravirya), for the sake of perpetuating the dynasty of Shantanu, for the sake of Bhishma and my request. For the sake of the kindness you bear for all creatures, for the sake of the protection of people and for the sake of the liberality of your heart you should do what I say. Your younger brother has left two young wives, like the daughters of the celestials. They possess beauty and youth and they wish to have sons from the desire of getting virtue. O son, therefore, beget on them sons worthy of our dynasty and for the continuance of our line."

Vyasa said: O (mother) Satyavati, you know what is virtue, both as regards this world and the next. O lady of great wisdom, your mind is also fixed on virtue. Therefore, making virtue my motive, I shall, at your command, do what you desire, knowing (as I do) that this practice is conformable to the true and eternal religion. I shall produce for my brother sons that will be like Yama and Varuna.

Therefore, let the ladies observe the vow I indicate for one full year. They will be then purified. No woman must come to me without having observed a rigid vow.

Satyavati said : Take such steps as the ladies may conceive today. The people perish in a kingdom where there is anarchy. Sacrifices and other holy acts are destroyed, the rains and the celestial disappear from that place.

O Lord, how can a kingdom be protected without a king? Therefore, see that the ladies conceive. Bhishma will watch over the children in their womb.

Vyasa said: If I am to produce sons for my brother so unseasonably then let the ladies tolerate my ugliness. That will be to them a great penance.

If the princess of Kosalya (Ambika) can bear my strong odour, my ugly and grim visage, my attire and body, she will then conceive an excellent son.

Vaishampayana said : Having thus spoken to Satyavati, the greatly effulgent Vyasa said to her, “Let the princess of Kosalya adorned with ornaments wait for me in her bed room in clear attire. (so saying) he (immediately) disappeared. Satyavati then went to her daughter-in-law and in private, spoke to her these words of beneficial and virtuous import, “O princess of Kosalya, hear what I say. It is consistent with virtue.

On account of my bad fate, the Bharata dynasty has become extinct. Seeing me grieved and the extinction of his paternal line. The wise Bhishma, with the desire of perpetuating our race has made to me a suggestion. But, O daughter, its accomplishment depends on you. Accomplish it and restore the lost line of the Bharatas. O beautiful girl, bring forth a son as effulgent as the king of the celestials. He will bear the heavy burden of our this hereditary kingdom.

She (Satyavati,) having succeeded somehow in getting the consent of that virtuous lady to her proposal which was consistent to religion, fed Brahmanas, Devarshis and guests.