CINTA SANTANU DAN SUMPAH BHISMA || MAHABHARATA #1

Summary

The story follows King Santanu of Hastinapura and his fateful encounter with the divine Ganga, whom he marries under the condition that he must never question her actions. She tragically drowns their seven sons, revealing that they are incarnations of the Astavasu, cursed to live as humans. When their eighth son, Devavrata, survives, Ganga leaves, promising to return when the time is right. Later, Santanu falls in love with Satyavati, but her father demands that her son inherits the throne. Devavrata sacrifices his own claim to the throne, swearing lifelong celibacy and earning the name Bhishma, a promise that will haunt him forever.

Takeaways

• 😀 King Santanu, while traveling by the Ganga river, encounters a beautiful woman named Dewi Gangga, who agrees to marry him under the condition that he will not interfere with her actions.
• 😀 Dewi Gangga gives birth to eight children, but each one is drowned in the river immediately after birth, fulfilling a divine curse related to the Vasus, who had stolen a sacred cow.
• 😀 After the seventh child is drowned, King Santanu breaks his promise to Dewi Gangga and insists that their eighth child, named Dewa Brata, be allowed to live.
• 😀 Dewi Gangga reveals that she is a divine being from heaven and that her actions were meant to release the souls of the Vasus and allow them to ascend to heaven.
• 😀 Dewi Gangga leaves with Dewa Brata, but promises to return when the time is right, as her duty is fulfilled.
• 😀 Sixteen years later, King Santanu meets Dewi Gangga again and is introduced to his son, Dewa Brata, who is now a young man with great power.
• 😀 King Santanu falls in love with Satyavati, a fisherwoman, and wants to marry her, but her father, Dasa Bala, sets a condition that her son must inherit the throne of Hastinapura.
• 😀 Dewa Brata, upon learning of his father's dilemma, vows to renounce the throne of Hastinapura to allow Satyavati's son to inherit it.
• 😀 In an act of loyalty and sacrifice, Dewa Brata swears an oath of lifelong celibacy, ensuring that Satyavati's descendants will rule without any claim from his own future heirs.
• 😀 This solemn vow earns Dewa Brata the name 'Bhisma,' and he is forever bound by his promise, with the king granting him a divine boon that he can choose his time of death.

Q & A

Why did Raja Santanu agree to marry Dewi Gangga despite her unusual request?

Raja Santanu agreed to marry Dewi Gangga because he was captivated by her beauty. Additionally, he promised to respect her request, which included not interfering with her actions, in exchange for her marriage.

What was the condition that Dewi Gangga placed on her marriage to Raja Santanu?

Dewi Gangga's condition was that Raja Santanu must never interfere with her actions, no matter the circumstances. If he broke this promise, she would leave him and never return.

What happened when Dewi Gangga gave birth to her children?

Each time Dewi Gangga gave birth, she immediately drowned the babies in the river, fulfilling her promise to free the souls of the eight Vasu spirits trapped in human form.

Why did Raja Santanu refrain from stopping Dewi Gangga from drowning their children?

Raja Santanu refrained from stopping Dewi Gangga because he was bound by his promise to her, fearing that breaking the promise would lead to her leaving him forever.

What did Dewi Gangga reveal about her true identity before leaving Raja Santanu?

Dewi Gangga revealed that she was a divine goddess from heaven, and that the eight children she bore were incarnations of the eight Vasu spirits, who had been cursed to live as humans.

Who was Dewa Brata, and what was his significance in the story?

Dewa Brata was the eighth and surviving child of Raja Santanu and Dewi Gangga. He played a key role in the narrative, later becoming known as Bisma, after taking a vow of celibacy and renouncing his claim to the throne for his father's happiness.

What role did Satyawati play in Raja Santanu's life?

Satyawati was a beautiful fisherwoman whom Raja Santanu fell in love with. Her father, Dasa Bala, set a condition for their marriage, stating that her son would inherit the throne, which created a conflict with Raja Santanu's son Dewa Brata, the rightful heir.

How did Dewa Brata (Bisma) ensure that Satyawati’s son would inherit the throne?

Dewa Brata made a solemn vow of lifelong celibacy, renouncing his own right to the throne of Hastinapura to ensure that Satyawati’s son would be the rightful heir. This vow earned him the name Bisma.

Why did Raja Santanu feel devastated after Dewa Brata made his vow of celibacy?

Raja Santanu was devastated because he realized that his son, who was brave, noble, and capable, would forgo his happiness and the possibility of a family to fulfill his promise. The king deeply regretted seeing his son sacrifice so much for his father's happiness.

What blessing did Raja Santanu give to Dewa Brata after his vow of celibacy?

Raja Santanu, deeply moved by his son’s sacrifice, granted him a special blessing: Dewa Brata would not die until he himself wished it, marking a divine favor in recognition of his selflessness.