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{{short description|Second wife of King Shantanu in Hindu epic Mahabharata}}
{{Distinguish|Satyabati (disambiguation){{!}}Satyabati}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox character
| info-hdr = Information
| image = Ravi Varma-Shantanu and Satyavati.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Shantanu with Satyavati, the fisherwoman
| spouse = [[Shantanu]]
| family = [[Dashraj]] (Adoptive father)
| children = {{bulleted list|[[Vyasa]] by [[Parashara]]|[[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] by [[Shantanu]]| [[Vichitravirya]] by [[Shantanu]]}}
| name = Satyavati
| relatives = {{bulleted list|[[Uparichara Vasu]] (Father)|Adrika (Mother)|Matsya (Twin-brother)|[[Bhishma]] (Step-son)}}
| color = #FFC569
| home = [[Hastinapur]]
| aliases = {{bulleted list|Matsyagandha|Gandhavati|Yojanagandha}}
}}

'''Satyavati''' ({{lang-sa|सत्यवती}}, {{IAST3|Satyavatī}}; also spelled '''Satyawati''') was the queen of the [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]] king, [[Shantanu]] of [[Hastinapur]] and the great-grandmother of the [[Pandava]] and [[Kaurava]] princes (principal characters of the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]''). She is also the mother of the seer [[Vyasa]], author of the epic. Her story appears in the ''Mahabharata'', the ''[[Harivamsa]]'' and the ''[[Devi Bhagavata Purana]]''.

Satyavati is the adopted daughter of a fisherman chieftain, [[Characters in the Mahabharata#Dashraj|Dashraj]] and was brought up as a commoner on the banks of the river [[Yamuna]]. She is the biological daughter of the [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king [[Uparichara Vasu]] (Vasu) and a cursed ''[[apsara]]'' (celestial nymph) who was turned into a fish called Adrika. Due to the smell emanating from her body, she was known as ''Matsyagandhā'' ("She who smells like fish"), and helped her father, Dashraj, in his job as a ferryman and a fisherwoman.

As a young woman, Satyavati met the wandering [[rishi]] (sage) [[Parashara]], who fathered her son [[Vyasa]] out of wedlock. The sage also gave her a musky fragrance, which earned her names like ''Yojanagandha'' ("She whose fragrance is spread as far as a ''[[yojana]]''") and ''Gandhavati'' ("fragrant one").

Later King Shantanu, captivated by her fragrance and beauty, fell in love with Satyavati. She married Santanu on her father's condition that their children inherit the throne, denying the birthright of Shantanu's eldest son (and crown prince) [[Bhishma]]. Satyavati bore Shantanu two children, [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. After Shantanu's death, she and her sons ruled the kingdom with the help of Bhishma. Although both her sons died childless, she arranged for her eldest son, [[Vyasa]], to father the children of the two widows of Vichitravirya through ''[[niyoga]]''. The children, [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Pandu]], became the fathers of the Kauravas and Pandavas, respectively. After Pandu's death, Satyavati went to the forest for penance and died there.

While Satyavati's presence of mind, far-sightedness and mastery of [[realpolitik]] is praised, her unscrupulous means of achieving her goals and her blind ambition are criticized.

==Literary sources and names==
Little is said about Satyavati in the Mahabharata; however, later texts – the ''Harivamsa'' and the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' – elaborate her legend.<ref name="Bhattacharya">{{cite journal|last=Bhattacharya|first=Pradip|date=May–June 2004|title=Of Kunti and Satyawati: Sexually Assertive Women of the Mahabharata|journal=[[Manushi]]|issue=142|pages=21–25|url=http://www.manushi-india.org/pdfs_issues/PDF%20142/04%20panchakanya%20pg%2021-25.pdf}}</ref>

Satyavati is known by numerous names in the Mahabharata, among them Daseyi, Gandhakali, Gandhavati, Kali, Matysyagandha, Satya, Vasavi and Yojanagandha.<ref name = "Mani"/> The name ''"Daseyi"'' – a term often used by her stepson Bhishma used to address her – means one of the ''[[Dasa]]s'' (slaves), or a Dasa aboriginal princess.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/><ref>Pargiter, F.E. (1972). ''Ancient Indian Historical Tradition'', Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.69.</ref> ''Vasavi'' means "daughter of king Vasu". Her birth name, ''Kali'' (the dark one), indicates her dark complexion. Her other birth name, Satyavati, means "truthful"; ''Satya'' means "veracity". As noted above, she was also known as ''Matsyagandha'' or ''Matsyagandhi'' in her earlier life – and Gandhakali ("fragrant dark one"), ''Gandhavati'' and ''Yojanagandha'' in later life.<ref name = "Mani"/>

==Birth and early life==

According to the ''Harivamsa'', Satyavati in her previous life was Achchhoda, daughter of the [[Pitrs]] (ancestors) and cursed to be born on earth.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/> The ''Mahabharata'', ''Harivamsa'' and ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' assert that Satyavati was the daughter of a cursed ''[[apsara]]'' (celestial nymph) named Adrika. Adrika was transformed by a curse into a fish and lived in the Yamuna river.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "ganguliLXIII"/>

According to the legend, Vasu (also known as Uparicara Vasu), a [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] King, was on a hunting expedition when he had a [[nocturnal emission]] while dreaming of his wife. Using an eagle, He sent his semen to his queen but due to fighting mid-air with another eagle, the semen fell into the river and was swallowed by the cursed Adrika-fish.<ref>For Uparicara-Vasu: Mani p. 809</ref> Consequently, the fish became pregnant. Soon, A fisherman caught the pregnant fish and cut it open to find two babies in the womb of the fish, one male and one female. The fisherman presented the children to the king, who kept the male child. The boy grew up to become King Matsya, the founder of the [[Matsya Kingdom]]. The king gave the female child back to the fisherman, naming her ''Matsya-gandha'' ("She who smells like fish"). The fisherman raised the girl as his daughter and named her ''Kali'' ("the dark one") because of her complexion. Over the course of time, Kali earned the name ''Satyavati'' ("truthful"). The fisherman was also a ferryman, ferrying people across the river in his boat. Satyavati helped her father, the fisherman, in his job and grew up into a beautiful maiden.<ref name = "Mani">For Satyavati: Mani p. 709</ref><ref name = "ganguliLXIII">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01064.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION LXIII}}</ref>

In Bheel Mahabharata, a demon named [[Adi (asura)|Adī]] raped Achchoda and she cursed Adi to raping her. She live as the fish in and she was born as a fish's daughter in her next birth.

==Seduction by Parashara and birth of Vyasa==
[[File:Vyasa.jpg|thumb|left|Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata and a great seer, was the son of Satyavati.]]

The ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' narrates that when Kali (Satyavati) was ferrying the [[rishi]] [[Parashara]] across the river Yamuna, the sage wanted Kali to satisfy his lust and held her right hand. She tried to dissuade Parashara, saying that a learned [[Brahmin]] of his stature should not desire a woman who stinks of fish. She finally gave in, realizing the desperation and persistence of the sage and fearing that if she did not heed to his request, he might topple the boat midstream. Kali agreed and told Parashara to be patient until the boat reached the bank. On reaching the other side the sage grabbed her again, but she declared that her body stank and coitus should be delightful to them both. At these words, ''Matsyagandha'' was transformed (by the powers of the sage into ''Yojanagandha'' ("she whose fragrance can be smelled from across a ''[[yojana]]''").<ref name=" Bhattacharya"/> She now smelled of musk, and so was called ''Kasturi-Gandhi'' ("musk-fragrant") and Parashara transformed the fisherman and had intercourse with Satyavati only to return her chastity again.<ref name = "Mani"/> When Parashara, tormented with desire, approached her again she insisted that the act was not appropriate in broad daylight, as her father and others would see them from the other bank; they should wait till night. The sage, with his powers, shrouded the entire area in fog. Before Parashara could enjoy her, Satyavati again interrupted him to say that he would enjoy her and depart, robbing her of her virginity and leaving her shamed in society. The sage then blessed her with ''virgo intacta''. She asked Parashara to promise her that the coitus would be a secret and her virginity intact; the son born from their union would be as famous as the great sage, and her fragrance and youth would be eternal. Parashara granted her these wishes and was satiated by the beautiful Satyavati. After the act, the sage bathed in the river and left, never to meet her again.<ref name=" Bhattacharya"/> The Mahabharata abridges the story, noting only two wishes for Satyavati: her ''virgo intacta'' and everlasting sweet fragrance.<ref name = "ganguliLXIII"/>

Ecstatic with her blessings, Satyavati gave birth the same day to her baby on an island in the Yamuna. The son immediately grew up as a youth and promised his mother that he would come to her aid every time she called on him; he then left to do penance in the forest. The son was called ''Krishna'' ("the dark one") due to his colour, or ''Dvaipayana'' ("one born on an island") and would later become known as [[Vyasa]] – compiler of the Vedas and author of the ''[[Puranas]]'' and the ''Mahabharata'', fulfilling Parashara's prophecy.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/><ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "Vyasa">For Vyasa: Mani pp. 885-6</ref> After this, Satyavati returned home to help her father.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "ganguliLXIII"/>

==Marriage with Shantanu==

[[File:Bheeshma oath by RRV.jpg|upright|thumb|right|''Bhishma's Oath'', a painting by [[Raja Ravi Varma]]. Bhishma (earlier known as Devavrata) pledges to be celibate before Satyavati and her family.|alt=Painting of dark-skinned prince taking Satyavati's hand]]

One day [[Shantanu]], the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]] king of [[Hastinapur]], came to the forest on a hunting trip and was mesmerized by the musk-fragrance emanating from Satyavati. Allured by her sweet scent, Shantanu reached Satyavati's house and, seeing her, fell in love at first sight. The king asked the fisherman-chief for his daughter's hand; the fisherman [[Dashraj]] said his daughter would marry the king if – and only if – her sons would inherit the throne.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/><ref name = "Bhishma"/><ref name = "ganguliC"/><ref name="The Week">{{cite journal|title=Women of substance: Satyavati : Blind ambition|journal=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|date = 29 October 2006|volume = 24|issue = 48|page = 50}}</ref>

The king, shocked and dejected, returned to the palace since he had already appointed his son, [[Bhishma|Devavrata]], who was mothered by Goddess Ganga, as heir apparent. Devavrata was distressed by his father's condition; he learned about the promise asked by the fisherman-chief from a minister. Immediately, Devavrata rushed to the hut of the fisherman-chief and begged for Satyavati's hand on his father's behalf. The fisherman repeated his condition and told Devavrata that only Shantanu was worthy of Satyavati; he had rejected marriage proposals from even ''[[Brahmarishi]]s'' like Asita.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/><ref name = "Bhishma"/><ref name = "ganguliC"/><ref name="The Week"/>

Devavrata renounced his claim to the throne in favour of Satyavati's son, but the fisherman contended that Devavrata's children might dispute his grandson's claim. Intensely, Devavrata pledged the "terrible" vow of [[Brahmacharya]] - celibacy. The fisherman immediately gave Satyavati to Devavrata, who was henceforth called Bhishma ("the One whose vows are terrible"). Bhishma presented Satyavati to Shantanu, who married her.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/><ref name = "Bhishma">For Bhishma: Mani pp. 135-6</ref><ref name = "ganguliC">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01101.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION C}}</ref><ref name="The Week"/>

In the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', Satyavati's premarital first-born, Vyasa, laments that his mother abandoned him to fate immediately after birth. He returns to his birthplace in search of his mother who, he finds out, is now the queen of Hastinapur.<ref name="Bhattacharya"/>

==Birth of children and grandchildren==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Wajangpop voorstellende Satyawati TMnr 3582-40.jpg|thumb|Satyavati in Javanese ''[[Wayang]] kulit'' shadow puppetry.|alt=Javanese stick-puppet of Satyavati]]

After their marriage, Satyavati bore Shantanu two sons: [[Chitrāngada|Chitrangada]] and [[Vichitravirya]]. The ''Harivamsa'' tells of Bhishma recalling events after Shantanu's death. During the period of mourning after Shantanu’s death, Ugrayudha Paurava (usurper of the throne of [[Panchala]]) demanded that Bhishma hand over Satyavati in return for wealth. Bhishma killed Ugrayudha Paurava, who had lost his powers because he lusted after another's wife.<ref name=" Bhattacharya"/> However, the ''Mahabharata'' does not include this event; it only describes Bhishma crowning Chitrangada as king under Satyavati's command.<ref name = "ganguliCI">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01102.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION CI}}</ref> Chitrangada was later killed by a namesake [[gandharva]] (a celestial musician).<ref name = "Mani"/>

After Chitrangada's death, his young brother Vichitravirya was crowned king, while Bhishma ruled on his behalf (under Satyavati's command) until Vichitravirya grew up. Vichitravirya married the princesses of [[Kosala Kingdom|Kashi]]-Kosala: [[Ambika (Mahabharata)|Ambika]] and [[Ambalika]], who were won by Bhishma in a ''[[Swayamvara]]'' (marriage choice). The childless Vichitravirya met with an untimely death from [[tuberculosis]].<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "Bhishma"/><ref name = "ganguliCII">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01103.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION CII}}</ref>

[[File: Vyasa with his mother.jpg|thumb|left|An aged Satyavati with her firstborn Vyasa]]
With no heir to the throne, Satyavati asked Bhishma to marry the widows of Vichitravirya (following the practice of ''[[niyoga]]'' in its narrower sense, as a [[levirate marriage]])<ref>Meyer pp. 165-6</ref> and rule as king. Bhishma refused, reminding Satyavati of the promise he made to his father and his vow of bachelorhood.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "Bhishma"/><ref name = "ganguliCIII">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01104.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION CIII}}</ref><ref>Meyer p. 165</ref> He suggests that a Brahmin could be hired to father children on the widows, thus preserving the dynasty.<ref name = "ganguliCIV">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01105.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION CIV}}</ref> Revealing to Bhishma the tale of her encounter with Parashara, Satyavati well knew that this was the time to call her son Vyasa to aid her. Satyavati coaxed Vyasa to have ''niyoga'' with his brother's widows, saying:<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "ganguliCV">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01106.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION CV}}</ref> "from affection for thy brother Vichitravirya, for the perpetuation of our dynasty, for the sake of this Bhishma's request and my command, for kindness to all creatures, for the protection of the people and from the liberality of thy heart, O sinless one, it behooveth thee to do what I say." After convincing Vyasa, Satyavati managed (with great difficulty) to obtain the consent of her "virtuous" daughters-in-law.<ref name = "ganguliCV"/> In the ''Mahabharata'', Vyasa agreed immediately to the ''niyoga''. In the ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'' version, Vyasa initially refused Satyavati's proposal. He argued that Vichitravirya's wives were like his daughters; having ''niyoga'' with them was a heinous sin, through which no good could come. As a master of "realpolitik", the hungry-for-grandsons Satyavati asserted that to preserve the dynasty, wrong directives by elders should be followed if they are going to reduce the sorrow of a mother. Vyasa finally agreed to that "disgusting task", but suggested that offspring of perversity cannot be a source of joy.<ref name=" Bhattacharya"/>

During the fertile period of the older queen, Ambika, Satyavati sent Vyasa to Ambika's bedchamber. During coitus with Vyasa, Ambika noticed his dark complexion and closed her eyes. Vyasa declared to Satyavati that due to Ambika's cruelty, her son would be blind (but strong) and have a hundred sons – later known as [[Kauravas]] (descendants of Kuru). Satyavati considered such an heir to be an unworthy king, so she asked Vyasa to have ''niyoga'' with her younger daughter-in-law. During their niyoga, Ambalika fell pale due to Vyasa's grim appearance. As the result the child would be [[wikt:wan|wan]], Vyasa told his mother, who begged for another child. In due course, the blind [[Dhritarashtra]] and the pale [[Pandu]] were born. Satyavati again invited Vyasa to Ambika's bed-chamber; she remembered Vyasa's grim appearance (and repulsive odour), and substituted a [[Shudra]] (lowest caste) maid in her place. The maid respected the sage and was not afraid of him, and Vyasa thus blessed her; her son would be the most intelligent man, and she would no longer be a slave. Vyasa told Satyavati of the deception, and then disappeared; [[Vidura]], an incarnation of the god [[Dharma#The deity|Dharma]], was born to the maid.<ref name = "ganguliCVI">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01107.htm|date=1883–1896|publisher=Sa1cred texts archive|chapter=SECTION CVI}}</ref>

==Last days==

Consequently, due to Dhritarashtra's blindness and Vidura's birth from a maid, Pandu was crowned king of Hastinapur. However, he was cursed (by a sage) that he could not bear any children, renounced the kingdom and went to the forest with his wives [[Kunti]] and [[Madri]]. There, his wives had children – the [[Pandavas]], or "sons of Pandu" – for him through ''niyoga'' with the gods. Pandu died in the forest; Madri ended her life with her husband. Kunti returned to Hastinapur with the Pandavas. Satyavati was grief-stricken because of her grandson's untimely death and did not wish to live any longer. After the funerary rites for Pandu, Vyasa warned Satyavati that happiness would end in the dynasty and devastating events would occur in the future (leading to the destruction of her kin), which she would not be able to bear in her old age. At Vyasa's suggestion, Satyavati left for the forest to do penance with her daughters-in-law Ambika and Ambalika. In the forest, she died and attained heaven.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "ganguliCXXVIII">{{cite book|last=Ganguli|first=Kisari Mohan |title=The Mahabharata: Book 1: Adi Parva|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01129.htm|publisher=Sacred texts archive|chapter=SECTION CXXVIII}}</ref> Within some days, her daughters-in-law too died.

==Assessment==

Dhanalakshmi Ayyer, author of ''Satyavati: Blind Ambition'', introduces Satyavati as "the embodiment of the driving force of womanhood, with motherly ambition blinding her vision at every turn" and further says that "[i]n a way, Satyavati exemplifies what [[Rudyard Kipling]] succinctly put":<ref name="The Week"/>
<blockquote><poem>The Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same,
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.</poem></blockquote>

For Satyavati the end matters, not the means. Satyavati's life goal and ambition was to ensure the succession of Santanu's lineage and inheritance of his fortune by her sons but ironically (Ayyer comments), Bhishma - whose right to the throne Satyavati snatches - outlives her children in life and in fame. Her actions (and decisions) create a generation encompassed by a greed which ultimately leads to its annihilation. Ayyer concludes that "Satyavati's story teaches the new generation women that determination and commitment are different from avarice and calculation. One should know where greed takes over from ambition."<ref name="The Week"/>

Pradip Bhattacharya, author of ''Of Kunti and Satyawati: Sexually Assertive Women of the Mahabharata'', praises Satyavati's handling of her encounter with the sage Parashara. He notes that although young, she tackles the persistent sage with great maturity and presence of mind. Bhattacharya remarks, "With a maturity and frankness that astonishes us even in the twenty-first century, she points out that coitus ought to be mutually enjoyable." She is not deluded by the belief that the sage will marry her and asks for virginity to ensure her future status in society. Bhattacharya further comments on the sequence of her requests: the bodily fragrance to make the sexual act pleasant for both, the veil of mist to keep the act a secret, virginal status for her future and fame for her child – securing his fame and after practical aspects are sorted out, "eternally feminine" boons of lifelong youth and fragrance. Bhattacharya says: "Modern-day women could well wish that they were half as confident, clear-headed and assertive of their desires and goals as Satyavati." He further praises her "characteristic far-sightedness", when she ensures the future of her children with Santanu by disposing of the crown prince Bhishma. She brings her illegitimate son, Vyasa, onto the scene to father sons with her dead son's widows – turning the renowned "lunar dynasty, into the lineage of a ''dasa'' (slave) maiden".<ref name=" Bhattacharya"/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2|author-link =Vettam Mani}}
* {{cite book|last=Meyer|first=Johann Jakob |title=Sexual life in ancient India|year=1989|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ|isbn=81-208-0638-7|orig-year = 1971}}
==See also==
{{commons category}}
{{Mahābhārata}}

[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category: Indian female royalty]]
[[Category: Ancient Indian women]]

Satyavati - Revision history

183.171.95.91 at 02:04, 1 December 2021