In the beginning of the epic Mahabharata, Satyavati has emerged as critical player and influenced the destiny of the Kuru dynasty. As the queen mother and grandmother to the principal characters of the Mahabharata, Satyavati’s life is woven with complexity, political intrigue, and the shaping of a lineage destined for greatness.
| Father | King Vasu |
| Mother | Adrika (apsara) |
| Husband(s) | Sage Parashara & King Shantanu |
| Son(s) | Dvaipayana or Vyasa (via Parashara), Chitrangada and Vichitravirya (via Shantanu) |
| Other names | Gandhakali, Matsyagandha, Gandhavati, Yojanagandha |
Birth of Satyavati
Satyavati is the daughter of King Vasu and an apsara named Adrika, who was living as a fish in the river Yamuna due to the curse of Brahma.
When the semen of King Vasu, carried by Hawk for his wife Girika, falls from the sky to the Yamuna River, it impregnates Adrika. After ten months, some fishermen caught her and saw two fully formed humans inside her. King Uparichara accepted the male child, who later became the righteous and truthful king named Matsya. The female child was given to a fisherman and was later known as Satyavati.
She was possessed of great beauty and had every quality and character. As she carried smell of fish for the long time, satyavati was also called as Matsyagandha. Men on earth could smell her fragrance from the distance of one yojana. After that, she was also known as Yojanagandha.
Encounter with Parashara and Birth of Vyasa:
Wishing to serve her father, she plied a boat on the water. One day, when going on a pilgrimage, sage Parashara saw her. She was extremely beautiful, so even sage Parashar wanted to make love to her. Satyavati refused to make love in the open air as Rishis stood on both river banks and looked at them. As the sage created fog to conceal them, she was overcome with modesty.
She expressed her intentions of remaining a virgin and letting the sage choose what is proper by upholding her desire. The sage, becoming happy with her intentions, asked her to ask for any desired boon. She asked for the boon that her body might always have sweet scents. After that, she became known on earth as Gandhavati. The beautiful girl, now adorned with all the charms of a woman, had intercourse with sage Parashar.
She gave birth to Parashara’s immensely powerful son, Dvaipayana or Vyasa on an island in the Yamuna. He was called Dvaipayana as he was born on an island. Vyasa played a pivotal role in the Mahabharata as its narrator, sage, and the one who divided the Vedas into four parts.
Marriage to Shantanu:
After her encounter with Parashara, Satyavati’s path intersected with King Shantanu of Hastinapura. Shantanu was captivated by her beauty and sought her hand in marriage. However, Satyavati’s union with Shantanu was contingent on a promise – that her descendants would inherit the throne, bypassing Shantanu’s son Devavrata (later known as Bhishma) from his first queen, Ganga.
Birth of Chitrangada and Vichitravirya:
Satyavati, the wife of King Shantanu, bore two sons – Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Tragically, Chitrangada was killed by a Gandharva before reaching manhood, leaving Vichitravirya as the sole surviving son and the last hope for continuing the Kuru dynasty. However, Vichitravirya also faced an untimely demise. It’s worth noting that Chitrangada, the elder son, died unmarried, while Vichitravirya was married to Ambika and Ambalika. They were daughters of king of Kashi through his wife Kousalya.
Following the deaths of both Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, a significant challenge emerged for the Kuru lineage – the absence of a direct heir to ascend the throne. so Satyavati’s decide to seek assistance from her son, the sage Vyasa (Dvaipayana), to ensure the continuation of the Kuru dynasty.
Birth of Grand Son (Dhritarashtra and Pandu):
Satyavati sought her son Vyasa for assistance to address the succession issue. She asked Vyasa to impregnate the queens Ambika and Ambalika, the wives of Vichitravirya. However, the circumstances surrounding these unions were far from ordinary. Vyasa, known for his ascetic and unconventional appearance, was not readily accepted by the queens, Ambika and Ambalika.
Apprehensive and perhaps uncomfortable with Vyasa’s austere and intense appearance, the queens sought to avoid direct physical contact with him. When Vyasa approached Ambika, she closed her eyes in fear, and as a result, Dhritarashtra was born blind. Similarly, when Vyasa approached Ambalika, she turned pale in fright, resulting in the birth of Pandu.
Influence on the Throne:
Satyavati’s influence on the Kuru dynasty extended beyond her role as a mother. When Dhritarashtra was born blind, questions arose about his eligibility to inherit the throne. Satyavati, driven by the desire for capable rulers, insisted that a blind king might not be ideal. This insistence led to Pandu’s eventual coronation as King of Hastinapura.
Departure to Forest
After completing the shraddha ceremony for Pandu & Madri, Vyasa advised his mother, Satyavati, that difficult times were approaching, marked by increasing sinfulness and the destruction of dharma. Seeing the impending doom, Satyavati agreed to abandon the kingdom and live in a hermitage.
She informed her daughter-in-law, Ambika, about the fate awaiting their lineage due to her son’s misdeeds. Ambika consented, and with Ambalika, they sought permission from Bhishma before departing for the forest. They engaged in rigorous austerities in the forest before ultimately giving up their bodies and departing.
Satyavati’s Role in Moral Ambiguity:
Satyavati’s character adds layers of moral ambiguity to the Mahabharata. Her ambition, rooted in a desire to see Kuru lineage thrive, led to unconventional and morally complex situations. How she orchestrated the births of Dhritarashtra and Pandu through Vyasa’s interventions reflects the ethical dilemmas inherent in the epic.
Her life journey, from the daughter of a fisherman to the queen mother of Hastinapura, is marked by ambition, resilience, and a commitment to her lineage. While her actions may be viewed through the lens of moral ambiguity, they undeniably played a significant role in unfolding the epic’s narrative.