Devavrata was a wonderful son and a well loved prince. Everyone loved him especially his father King Shantanu. They spent many a happy moment together.One day,the King went hunting again.This time he went to a forest close to the banks of the Yamuna river.

When he reached the river bank,he came upon a very beautiful woman who was tying up her boat.He immediately fell in love with her.He asked her name and her father's name and then decided to meet with her father.Satyavati was her name and her father was the head fisherman in the area.

Shantanu asked Satyavati's father for her hand in marriage and her father replied that only if the King would make the son born off her, his successor to the throne. Shantanu could not agree to this condition because Devavrata was already the choice of being his successor to the throne.

The King returned home in despair.He had no keen interest in governing his kingdom anymore.This was quite obvious by everyone including Devavrata who heard of what had happened from the King's charioteer.

Devavrata paid a visit to the fisherman and asked him to marry his daughter to his father King Shantanu.Once again the fisherman reminded Devavrata of his condition that Satyavati's son should be the future king.Despite assurances from Devavrata the fisherman was still not convinced that the condition would be met.

Although Satyavati's father had full faith in Devavrata, he was concerned about any sons that Devavrata would have in the future and their possible claim to the throne.

Devavrata there and then made a terrible vow that he will never marry so that such a situation would never arise.The heavens and the earth trembled at the utterance of his oath and the sounds of "Bhishma","Bhishma" was heard echoing from both the heavens and the earth.From this day on,Devavrata became known as Bhishma.

Satyavati's father then agreed to the marriage and Bhishma along with Satyavati returned to the palace and told the King about all that had happened.Shantanu was overjoyed on hearing the news but was also greatly saddened.He understood what a great sacrifice his son had made by taking such an oath.

King Shantanu using up all his accumulated penances which he had aquired during his lifetime,granted his son Bhishma a boon that death will have to wait on him, he would only die when he wished to.

The marriage of Satyavati and Shantanu was a happy one and to them were born two sons.Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.Time passed by and eventually King Shantanu passed away in old age.

Chitrangada was too young to run the administration so Bhishma acted on his behalf and all was well for quite some time.Then came a Gandharva whose name was also Chitrangada.He was furious because someone else had the same name as his.He challenged Chitrangada to a duel.

The Gandharva killed Chitrangada in that duel and Bhishma had to appoint Vichitravirya as king .Bhishma continued acting as ruler because of the inexperience and young age of Vichitravirya.Everyone enjoyed having Bhishma as their ruler.

Pandit Bhadase Maharaj.

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