सत्यवती (Satyavati) — Mahabharat Episode 2

Neglect the Right, Woes Unfurl

Welcome, beloved family, to the long-awaited Episode 2 of the magnificent Mahabharat Series. In our last episode, we delved into the story of Devvrat, titled “Mahabharat Episode 1: Emotions, Past, and the Pain It Follows.” If you haven’t yet explored it, I recommend giving it a read. It encapsulates a vital lesson on karma and the importance of adaptability.

Today, I was compelled to explore the story of Satyavati, honing in on two profound truths that echo in our lives: the intention guiding our actions and the predetermination of events. Looking back on your life, you may observe how past experiences effortlessly slot into your present situation like pieces of a puzzle, much like how Satyavati’s past unfolded precisely to shape her future.

From Odor to Aroma to Heritage: The Rise of Satyavati

So, Parashara (founder of modern vedic astrology) was traveling and happened to stay in a quaint hamlet along the Yamuna River. The chief of the village, Dasharaj, warmly welcomed him into his home. Now, Dasharaj had a daughter named Matsyagandha (we know her as Satyavati), which literally translates to “smell of fish” because she used to smell like fish due to her work near the river.

One morning, Dasharaj asked Matsyagandha to ferry Parashara to his next destination. During the boat ride, Parashara was struck by Matsyagandha’s beauty and asked her to bear a child for him. But Matsyagandha was hesitant as she smelled really bad & feared what others would think, especially the sages and people on the other bank of the river.

Parashara, being a sage with mystic powers, created an island in the middle of the river and asked Matsyagandha to land the boat there. Once on the island, he granted her a boon that transformed her scent into the most exquisite fragrance, and she became known as Satyavati.

As time went on, Satyavati’s fragrance became so enchanting that people could smell it from afar. She was given the name Yojanagandha and later Kasturi-Gandhi, signifying her musk-like fragrance.

But Satyavati still had privacy concerns. Parashara, using his powers, covered the area in fog to maintain privacy. Before granting her a child, Satyavati made Parashara promise her that the birth and their relationship would remain a secret.

Parashara agreed and blessed Satyavati with eternal youth and fragrance. She eventually gave birth to a son named Krishna Dvaipāyana, who is famously known as Vyasa, the compiler of Vedic literature and a major contributor to Vedic Astrology.

After fulfilling his promise, Parashara left to pursue intense meditation, while Vyasa grew up to become a renowned sage himself. Satyavati returned to her father’s house and later married a king named Śantanu.

Satyavati’s journey took her from being known as Matsyagandha, meaning “one who smells like a fish,” to being called Kasturi-Gandhi, which signifies “one who exudes the scent of musk.” It was her enchanting scent that captivated King Shantanu of Hastinapur, leading him to fall deeply in love with her.

Now look at it this way,

Parashara had a kid with Satyavati. (Vyasa)

Parshara blessed Satyavati with the capticating fragrance and beauty.

Shantanu fell in love with Satyavati because of the enchanting and divine scent.

Devvrath left the throne for his affection towards his fathers happiness.

Satyavati married Shantanu with the ill intention for her children to rule the throne. (Chitrangada, Vichitravirya)

Both her son died young and she had to call upon Vyas to help Vichitravirya’s widowed wifes to bear children resulting one being Blind and one being Weak

Dhritarashtra (Blind)

Pandu (Weak)

Don’t you find it intriguing that perhaps it was a predestined arrangement for Vyasa to play a crucial role in securing the lineage for the Kuru kingdom?

Marriage with King Shantanu

King Shantanu of Hastinapur ventured into the forest for a hunting expedition. Amidst the serene woods, he caught a whiff of an enchanting musk fragrance wafting from a nearby house. Driven by curiosity and drawn to the scent, he followed its trail until he laid eyes on Satyavati, the daughter of the fisherman-chief Dashraj. Instantly captivated by her beauty and the sweet aroma that surrounded her, Shantanu fell deeply in love.

Later, Shantanu expressed his desire to marry Satyavati to Dashraj. However, the fisherman laid down a condition: Satyavati would agree to marry only if her sons were to inherit the throne. This condition struck Shantanu with shock and disappointment, as he had already appointed his son Devvrat, born of Goddess Ganga, as his heir.

Upon learning of his father’s dilemma, Devvrat was deeply troubled. Determined to fulfill his father’s wishes and ensure Satyavati’s happiness, Devvrat approached Dashraj and pleaded for Satyavati’s hand on behalf of Shantanu. However, Dashraj reiterated his condition, emphasizing that only Shantanu was worthy of Satyavati’s hand.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Devavrata selflessly renounced his claim to the throne in favor of Satyavati’s future son. Yet, Dashraj remained concerned about potential conflicts among generations. In a moment of intense determination and sacrifice, Devavrata vowed lifelong celibacy, earning the name Bhishma, meaning “the One whose vows are terrible.”

Impressed by Bhishma’s unwavering commitment and sacrifice, Dashraj consented to Satyavati’s marriage to Shantanu. Thus, Shantanu and Satyavati were united in matrimony, marking the beginning of a significant chapter in the history of Hastinapur.

Here’s a crucial lesson that resonates in both my everyday life and during my astrology consultations — a deeply personal realization: our intentions are the sole determinants of the outcomes of our efforts.

Satyavati’s acceptance of her father’s conditions, driven by greed, plunged the kingdom of Kuru into a three-generation-long struggle for a legitimate heir, culminating in a deadly battle for the throne in the third generation.

A careful reading and understanding of the Mahabharata Epic reveals that the seeds of war were sown at the very moment when lust became the motive for decision-making.

In the previous chapter, I delved into the significance of karma and the inevitable repercussions we face. For Chapter 2, I chose to focus on Satyavati to highlight the profound truth that our intentions dictate our consequences, and our past actions mold our future. Alternatively, we can view everything as predetermined, with our reactions shaping our journey.

As an astrologer, there are moments when I struggle to accept the concept of life not being predestined. I often witness instances of individuals being in the right place at the right time, innocent people facing imprisonment under false accusations, undeserving individuals achieving success while deserving ones suffer defeat. However, I realize that I am not in a position to judge who is deserving or not. It is when I analyze their astrological chart, it becomes clear how past actions from previous lives may have influenced current circumstances.

The next Episode of Mahabharat will be on … well let’s keep it a surprise ; )

Closing Remarks

I encourage all of you, my dear readers, to prioritize intention when making decisions.

The Mahabharata has numerous versions and variations in folklore. Rather than questioning the veracity of these incidents, focus on extracting the lessons and applying them to your own life, avoiding the mistakes made in the epic.

I trust you found this edition of Agama’s Message enjoyable. If you haven’t already, please share, subscribe, and like.

Feel free to write back to me at agamashakti@gmail.com.

Yours, Vishal Rajput ❤️