Mahabharata Reading Notes: Devavrata's Vow, Part A

PDE Mahabharata: Devavrata's Vow, Part A Notes

Characters/Names:

Devavrata (Bhishma) (M) "celibate" the greatest archer and warrior

Ganga (F) "goddess of Ganga River" worshiped by Hindus and Buddhists- Bhishma's mother

Satyavati (M/F) "queen of the Kuru King" 

Rajah (M) "royal title of a king"

Apsaras "celestial nymph" a commoner

Chitrangada (M) "King of Kurus" great warrior

Vichitravirya (M) "king in Indian Religious text" ruled a short term

Shantanu (M) "Kuru King of  Hastinapura" radiates happiness to others

Places:

Gandhari "ancient region in South Asia" 

Ganga "sacred river" washes away sins and enables Moksha (cycle of life/death)

Plot:

Devavrata promised that he would never stake a claim to the throne, suggesting that the child born to Shantanu and Satyavati would become the ruler after Shantanu. Satyavati's father announced that even if Devavrata gave up his throne, Devavrata's children would still be able to claim it. Devavrata took the terrible vow to make his father content and gave away his crown-prince title, which leads to celibacy. 

Important Phrases:

Sorrowed his heart because of his love for the dark-eyed maiden

Noble son

Won't inherit the kingdom 

Made a vow renouncing his claim to the throne

He will never accept the thrown

His soul departed from his body

The takeaway from this plotline is that Bhishma gave up his title to Vichitravirya for the happiness of others and the war that went on for three years after once his son was in charge. 

Image Information: Birth of Holy Ganga River. Source: Wikicommons

Bibliography:  Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913) Source