Bheeshma's Oath

Narration of Siddarth Kumar Tiwary's Mahabharata 

(as per my understanding)

I will tell you a story about the oath Bheeshma took. Once upon a time, there lived a King named Shantanu who ruled over Hastinapur. He had a love named Satyavati. One day, when Shantanu was spending some time on the River Ganga, when Satyavati saw a fish, she threw an anchor on that fish. That fish was very strong and big. So, the ferry had to be pulled and Satyavati was managing the ferry.  Later, Satyavati's hands began to bleed. Shantanu said, "Satyavati, leave that rope right now.". After the fish died, Satyavati saw that the fish was been taken away by the fisherman. Then Shantanu came to Satyavati with some medicine and applied it on her bleeding hands. Shantanu said to Satyavati, "Satyavati, I didn't know that you had such strength from your hands". Satyavati replied, "My strength comes from my heart".

That night, some rakshasas came to attack Hastinapur. The rakshasas were causing destruction. They arrested the citizens of Hastinapur. One citizen shouted, "Now, who is there to protect Hastinapur since Shantanu is away?" That is when someone comes as a surprise. And guess who's that? Young Bheeshma whose name is Devavrata. And, he came running. And a boy was running there too. The rakshasa chief had threw a battle axe on that boy.  Then, Bheeshma jumped over the boy and fired an arrow to destroy the battle axe. The rakshasas thought, "What? Who is he? Who is that young man?". The rakshasa chief asked Devavrata, "Who are you here to destroy the rakshasa's army?"Then Bheeshma said, "I am Devavrata, the son of Ganga". The rakshasa went and attacked Bheeshma. Devavrata raising his bow, pierced one of the rakshasas and began fighting. Then, he fought the rakshasa chief and told, "I promise that the rakshasas shall never come to Bharata Varsha." Then, suddenly an arrow came and Devavrata didn't let that arrow pierce him. That arrow flew and became two more arrows and those three arrows pierced on the three rakshasa soldiers. Then, Shantanu asked, "young man, who are you? And what do you want here?". Then, Devavrata said, "I am the son of Ganga, You don't have to worry anymore when you have a strong one here to save your kingdom". Shantanu asked, "young man, you are always talking about strength. If you are really strong, will you show me your strength?". Then Devavrata chanted a mantra and fired an arrow. That arrow became lots of arrows and hit the sun, came back to the ground and hit a part of River Ganga. Then, Bheeshma said, "a part of Ganga will be the home of rakshasas". Then Ganga came. Shantanu asked Ganga, "Oh Goddess, is this young man Devavrata your son?". Ganga replied, "No King, he is not only my son, he is our son". And then Ganga said, "It is time that my son shall be with you". Ganga added, "Now you may go to your father, Devavrata". Shantanu asked, "Oh Goddess, are you coming to my palace". Ganga said, "I only came to Earth to make her pure. " Ganga told Devavrata, "So, now you may go to your father, but I will not come to the palace" and she disappeared. 

That evening, Shantanu was very happy and he went to tell the good news to Satyavati. Seeing him very happy, Satyavati asked, "Why are you so happy? " Shantanu said, "I am very happy that my son has come. Ganga appeared as a woman and sent my son back to me. And this evening, I shall crown him as the prince of Hastinapur". Then Satyavati told, "BUT, MY SON, won't he become the king? If your son will become the king, then if I get married to you, then where will my son be. Your son's son will be the King, then his son's son will be the King and where will I be?" Satyavati refused to marry King Shantanu because Shantanu desired to make Devavrat as the Prince. Then, Shantanu said, "You are breaking the rules, Satyavati. You shall suffer for this for wanting your own son to be the King". and then saying so, he returned back to the palace. 

Then, seeing the throne of Hastinapur, King Shantanu announced that the crowning of Prince Devavrata shall happen now. Then, Devavrata was crowned the prince. And that night, Shantanu was very sad. He began to miss Satyavati. The, he even once broke an idol that got chiseled. And while bathing, he also was very worried for Satyavati. Then, he was bedridden that time. Prince Devavrata came there and thought in a worried manner, "Why my father is sad like this? What wrong did I do?" He went to his father and said, 'Father, What is making you sad? Everybody is saying Devavrata is very brave, strong and knowledgeable. What wrong did I do? ". Shantanu said, "You didn't do any wrong. But I am sad because of one thing. But I can't tell you.". Devavrata said, "Father, a son who doesn't know his father's sadness is a blind son. So, could you please tell me what is bothering you? Tell me what makes you sad otherwise I will kill myself". Then Shantanu said, "No NO son, don't kill yourself. " Bheeshma had to go away. A servant said to Bheeshma that Shantanu is worried because he has a love and she is not accepting Shantanu as her husband because her son will not become the King if Devavrat will become the King. 

Next day morning, Bheeshma halted a horse on the banks of River Ganga and met Satyavati. He greeted Satyavati by saying, 'Mother, I came here to give a peace message. ". He said, "You are going to become my mother". Satyavati asked, "Why, what mother? ". Devavrata said, "The Queen Mother". Then, Satyavati said, "If I will get married to Shantanu, it will make me feel sad. And I can't be the patron of you. ". Devavrata said, "why Mother, you are only going to become the Queen Mother even after I become the King". But Satyavati said, "You will get married and become the King and your son will become the King later. His son will become the King then and it will become a pattern. Where will I be then? ". Devavrata said, "No Mother, this can not happen. So, I am taking an oath.". Devavrata took a knife and scratched his left palm with it and dropped some of his blood into the River Ganga. But Ganga did not stop her son. Then, the blood rose up and created a red slor in the sky and thunder blasted. Satyavati was standing there shocked. Devavrata said, "I, Ganga Putra shall take an oath that I shall follow Bramhacharya and I shall never become the King of Hastinapur. I shall be the servant of whoever who sits in the throne of Hastinapur. " King Shantanu came there and told, "No Son, don't take such a terrible oath.". Bheeshma said, "My father, I took this oath only for your sake. I shall take care of the kingdom even if I don't have the post of the King. " Shantanu told, 'I am glad to see the devotion for your father. What boon do you want? " Then, Devavrata said, "A good King who needs to follow Dharma has to be strong and intelligent, I took an oath that will help the Kings of Hastinapur. So, I want the boon from you that I shall die only if I wish to die. " King Shantanu gave that boon and Devavrata bowed before his father.

Character Analysis

I had narrated this story on Audacity as an audio file too, but it is too larger to upload in sound cloud. I learnt how to edit my narration. I corrected grammar and spelling mistakes too. I noticed that in the audio file, I had used a lot of "and then", "and then". I deleted all those 'and then' when I edited my post.

Based on this story, I learnt how to analyze characters. My Amma facilitated and had conversations with me about the characters. My Amma had questions for me which I had to answer. She recorded my thoughts in the following learning tool. I also observed how she creates these learning tools.

Here are my opinions about Satyavati.

Here are my opinions about Shantanu.

Here are my opinions about Devavrat.

Goodbye,
S P. M