Mahabharata
Introduction
The Noble Prince
Amba
The Birth of Karna
The Pandava Princes
The Great Archer
The Charioteer's Son
The Shellac Palace
The Slaying of Bakasura
Draupadi's Swayamvara
The Rajasuya Sacrifice
The Game of Dice
In Exile
The Year in Hiding
The Defence of Matsya
The Exile Ends
Envoys and Missions
Karna
Preparing for the War
Kurukshetra and After
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The Noble Prince

Several years went by. One day Shantanu was wandering along the banks of river Ganga when he saw a divinely handsome boy. He was playing with the mighty river like a child with a loving mother. Just then goddess Ganga appeared before Shantanu and said, "O king, this is the eighth child I bore you. His name is Devavrata. He has mastered the martial arts and is equal to Parasurama in strength and skill. He has learnt the Vedas and Vedanta from Vasishtha. Take him with you now." The king happily crowned him Yuvaraja, the heir apparent.

Not long after this, Shantanu met a beautiful young fisher-woman, with whom he fell in love instantly. When he sent messengers to her father asking for her hand in marriage, the shrewd old fisherman would not relent "Shantanu is not young any more. Who would care for my daughter, were he to die?" he asked.

Then Shantanu decided to go in person and tried to persuade him with promises of riches and rewards, but the fisherman was adamant. "Nothing less than throne for my daughter Satyawati and her descendants is acceptable," he said stubbornly.

Shantanu knew that he could not make the promise for Devavrata was his chosen heir. He returned to the palace sad and withdrawn.

Prince Devavrata watched his father anxiously. He loved him deeply and could not bear to see him suffer so. He questioned the king's attendants and soon discovered the reason for his unhappiness.

Then Devavrata himself went to the fisherman and begged for the hand of Satyawati for his father. The fisherman said, My daughter is indeed fit to be the queen. But I want her son to succeed Shantanu.

Devavrata exclaimed, "But surely the king could easily have granted this request! The fisherman studied the prince. "The throne is yours by right. How can the king give it away without your consent? Will you give up your throne for your father's happiness?" he asked shrewdly.

"Do you think I care so much for the throne? If it will make my father happy, I will gladly give it up," said Devavrata. The fisherman looked doubtful. "Satyawati's children shall rule after Shantanu and I shall give up my claim to the royal throne," said Devavrata but the fisherman was still not satisfied.

Devavrata was silent, lost in deep thought. Then with firm purpose, he turned back to the fisherman and said, "I give you my word that I will never marry. Would that satisfy you? His voice was steady. "My lineage shall end with me! Have no fear."

Legend says that as the young Devavrata, his eyes shining with a wonderful light, took this pledge, the heavens opened and the gods cried out "Bhishma!", as they showered floweres upon him to honor his selfless resolve. And ever after that, Devavrata was known as Bhishma or the one who makes and keeps a great vow.

Devavrata brought Satyawati to Shantanu and when he repeated his great vow, his father embraced and blessed him, saying, "Live for ever, noble prince! May you never know defeat and may you be so strong that death shall not come to you unless you desire it.

Satyawati married king Shantanu and bore him two sons-Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya. After Shantanu, they in their turn, ruled Hastinapura.

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