Devavrata's Terrible Vow

Shantanu and Satyavati

हस्तिनापुरे शान्तनुः महाराजः आसीत्। तस्य पुत्रः देवव्रतः — महान् योद्धा एवं विद्वान्। एकदा शान्तनुः यमुनातटे सत्यवतीं दृष्टवान्। सा मत्स्यराजस्य कन्या — अत्यन्तं गुणवती। शान्तनुः तस्यां अनुरक्तः अभवत्। तेन मत्स्यराजस्य गृहं गत्वा विवाहः याचितः। मत्स्यराजः एकां शर्तां अवदत् — "सत्यवत्याः पुत्रः एव राजा भवेत् — इति प्रतिज्ञाम् देहि।" शान्तनुः दुःखितः अभवत् — देवव्रतः तु ज्येष्ठपुत्रः।

In Hastināpura, Shantanu was the great king. His son Devavrata was a great warrior and scholar. One day, Shantanu saw Satyavati on the banks of the Yamuna. She was the daughter of the fisherman-king — a woman of great virtue. Shantanu became deeply enamoured of her. He went to the fisherman-king's house and sought her hand in marriage. The fisherman-king placed one condition: "Give me your word that Satyavati's son alone shall be king." Shantanu was grief-stricken — for Devavrata was his eldest son.