Veda Vyasa and King Santanu

BIRTH OF VEDA VYASA

During her youth, Satyavati from the fishing village used to boat woman who helped people cross the river, Yamuna. Sage Parashara happened to see her and was so enchanted by her that he wanted a child through her. Initially, Satyavati did not agree because her actions would be questioned. Parashara took her to a secret place in the bushes of a nearby island and blanketed the entire area with a thick fog. She conceived and gave birth to a son. Parashara named him Krishna Dvaipayana, referring to his dark complexion and birthplace. After Dvaipayana became an adult ready to pursue his path, he promised his mother that he would come to her whenever she needed him. Parashara restored Satyavati's virginity and left with his son. Satyavati kept this incident a secret. Later King Shantanu marries her.

KING SANTANU

King Santanu during one of his hunting expeditions he came across goddess Ganga and wanted to marry her. She agreed to it but on one condition that he should not question her actions whatever it be. Ganga kept on throwing the children born to them into the river and was about to drown the eighth son, when Santanu intervened. He could not restrain himself and confronted her. She then explained that their eight children were Eight Vasu's who were cursed by Sage Vasishtha to be born on earth as mortals. Wife of Prabhasa, one of the vasus, spotted a beautiful cow and persuaded him to steal it, which he did with help of Prithu and his other brothers. The cow, Nandini, belonged the sage Vashishta who learned that the Vasus had stolen it and immediately cursed them to be born on earth as mortals. They sought forgiveness which he agreed to that they return as soon as they are born. But Prabhasa or Dyu was cursed to live a longer life as he was the main culprit.

So, this son of Ganga was named Devavrata. She took him away and promised Santanu that she would bring him back. She had him trained by many eminent sages like Brihaspati and Shukracharya who taught him the dharma of the kings and other Shastras, Sages Vasishta and Chyavana taught the Vedas and Vedangas, Sanatkumaras taught him spiritual sciences, and so on. Indra gifted him the celestial weapons. In time Ganga devi handed over Devavrata to King Shantanu.

Shantanu one day had a chance encounter with a fisherwoman named Satyavati (Vyasa devas mother) and fell head over heels in love with her. He went to her house to ask her hand in marriage. The father demanded that Satyavati’s son should be the king. Thinking that was not fair to Devavrata he came back disappointed.

Santanu was not his normal self since that incident and did not eat properly. Devavrata enquired about the cause and one of his ministers explained the situation. Without a slightest bit of hesitation, he hastened to seek the hands of Satyavati for his father and agreeing to her father’s condition. Satyavati’s father was not satisfied he had qualms that Santanu’s sons could claim the throne even if he gave it up, in future. Devavrata took an extraordinary oath that he would remain celibate throughout his life, thus fulfilling his father’s wish. He was known as Bheeshma since then for having taken this vow. And for this gesture Santanu blessed him with Iccha Mrityu (choose time of death).

BIRTH OF DHRITARASHTRA, PANDU, VIDURA, AND SUKA MAHARISHI

Meanwhile Satyavati had 2 sons Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada was killed in a battle and Vichitravirya was too young to handle the kingdom. With the help of Bheeshmacharya Satyavati managed the kingdom till Vichitravirya was old enough. When he reached marriable age Bheeshmacharya abducted the princesses Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika from their swayamvara. Amba begged to be let go; Ambika and Amalika married and lived with Vichitraveerya happily.

Amba begged to be let go because she was in love with a prince Shalva. Bheeshma let her go but by then Shalva rejected her. Amba came back to be rejected by Vichitravirya too. She asked Bheeshma to marry her he explained his position. Between loosing her pride and getting rejected continuously she blamed Bheeshmacharya for her condition. She sought revenge but nothing materialized. At last, she immolated herself to be born as Shikandi who becomes the cause of fall of the great Bheeshmacharya.

Meanwhile Vichitravirya succumbed to some illness and passed away without an heir. Satyavati approaches Bheeshma to marry the princesses but he refused owing to his vow. So, Satyavathi calls on Veda Vyasa her son from Parasara Maharishi to impregnate the wives of Vichitravirya through Niyoga.

Niyoga was an ancient Hindu practice where a woman (whose husband is either incapable of procreation or has died without procreating a child) would request a revered man for helping her bear a child.

Now Vyasadeva was dark complexioned and not a pleasant face by his own admission. When he went to Ambika, but she closed her eyes (Dhritarashtra was born blind) and then when he went to Ambalika she turned pale (Pandu was born pale). Vyasa knew the outcome so he asked that he should try again. Ambika sent her maid instead (Learned Vidura was born of her). Vyasa married Vatika/Pinjala, who was the daughter of a sage named Jabali from whom Sukadeva was born.

Veda vyasa had 4 children

Dhritarashtra, Pandu, Vidura And Sukha Brahma Rishi

When things started brewing in the kingdom, Vyasa seeing the sorrow of his mother asked her to leave the kingdom and come with him to live a peaceful life. Satyavati, along with her two daughters-in-law, went to the forest.