Devavrata

 Devavrata

So it all started with goddess Ganga marrying the mortal Shantanu. With a condition that he should not question her - no matter what her action is. And that results in 7 children of the Kuru king being thrown into the river Ganges. When she tried to carry the eighth son too, king stopped her and questioned her. And the end result is she deserted him, but didn’t drown the eighth child - our protagonist Devavrata. 

Ganga nurtured this boy in heaven and when he is eighteen brought him back to the king. And everything was hunky dory for a while. Until a day, the king ventured to the river again. 

He is attracted by a heavenly fragrance and went in search of its origin. Of course it is a young lady, this time not a goddess, but a young girl. King is enamoured by her beauty and wants to marry her. He approaches her father and asks her hand in marriage. 

Funnily the fisherman was not so subservient. He asked whether the king will promise that his daughter will be a rajmata. Will his grandson become a king after Shantanu? 

No, king isn’t willing to snatch the kingdom from his favourite son Devavrata. So he just returns home, alone. Some men are always unlucky in love - some kings too.

He is morose and gloomy. Devavrata observes the king’s demeanour and asks him “What seems to be the problem, O, mighty king (or some adjective, the ones used in ancient times)?”. How can the king tell his adult son that he is in love with this girl, but can’t marry her because of her silly papa. So he uses circumlocution “I have only one son. And you, my dear son are always hunting, fighting or doing something dangerous. What will happen to our dynasty if you kick the bucket  meet with an accident? That is worrying me a lot.” (So dear son, bring a step mother to thyself and help me beget some stepbrothers for thou)
Devavrata is confused, not convinced.

He asks the confident of the king about the reason for king’s melancholy. And learns about the fisherman’s daughter. 

Being a selfless son who is uncharacteristically devoted to his father, he rushes to the fisherman’s hut and asks for his daughter’s hand for the king. The fisherman repeats his condition. 

“Don’t you worry.  I promise you that I won’t be king after this one dies, instead your grandson will be the king” consoled the prince. 

But the fisherman is still not happy. He says “You have given your word to me. That is fine. But what if the children you beget come after the throne? What will happen to my daughter and her children, in such a situation?”

This is tricky. How does Devavrata know, what will his children do, after his demise? Should he take a promise from them, not to go after the throne? On his deathbed?

Seems complicated. He thinks of a better plan. He says “OK, to stop that from happening, I will never marry. Henceforth I will be celibate.” He vows - he makes a “bheeshma” vow. 

When he vowed thus, the gods sprinkled confetti flowers from the heaven.
Thus, the Devavrata brings home a bride for his father. When he hears the full story the kings gives him a boon that death will never approach him unless he so wishes.