Thursday, March 11, 2021

King Shantanu marries Satyawati | Mahabharata Stories | Folktale stories with moral lesson

 

folktale stories with moral lesson

Shantanu sadly sits on the floor, looking at Ganga’s portrait.

Shantanu

Oh, dear, Ganga! I miss you every day. Please come back, my queen. Devrath! My little boy must be in his adolescence now. Oh Lord, please make me meet them soon.

Minister enters his room.

Minister

Greetings! Your Royal Highness!

Shantanu

Yes, Suryasen.

Minister

I have very shocking news for you!

Shantanu

Please continue!

Minister

Your Royal Highness! Ganga!

Shantanu (excited)

Has she come to meet me!?

Minister

No, Your Royal Highness!

Shantanu

Please come to the point

Minister

River Ganga’s streams have been put on hold with a barricade of arrows

Shantanu

Haha!

Minister

Your Royal Highness, you can see the miracle from your window.

Shantanu looks out of his window and sees the river has been stopped by a barricade of arrows.

Shantanu walks to the river. He is shocked to see the miracle. He removes his celestial weapon.

Shantanu

I challenge the demon who has done this! Appear in front of me, or else I will kill you!

A good-looking young boy appears in front of him

Devrath

Greeting! Your Royal Highness!

Shantanu

Who are you? How did you do this magic?

Devrath

I am your son! Mother Ganga asked me to stop her. She wanted to be sure that now I am well-qualified to serve Hastinapur.

Ganga appears.

Ganga

Greeting! Your Royal Highness! He is our son, Devrath! I have fulfilled my duty and made him worthy of serving Hastinapur.

Ganga disappears, and both men walk to the palace.

Shantanu goes hunting. He is in a dense forest. Mounting his horse, he comes out of the woods. A lovely smell tickles his nose. He follows it.

Shantanu

Wow! What fragrance! It must be some exotic flower! I must take it back with me to the palace.

He follows the smell and sees a beautiful lady.

Satyavati

Greeting! Your Royal Highness!

Shantanu

Oh, pretty woman! Please tell me the name of the perfume you are wearing. I want to take you with me to the palace.

Satyavati

Your Royal Highness! This lovely smell is coming from me.

Shantanu

What’s your name?

Satyavati

I am Satyavati! I am the princess of the fishermen's community.

Shantanu

You are so pretty, marry me! Will you?

Satyavati

Sorry, Your Royal Highness!

Shantanu

Why, my lady? I am the king of Hastinapur. If you get married to me, you will get the pride of becoming the queen of Hastinapur.

Satyavati

Your Royal Highness! Your son will soon become King, after which my son will become a royal servant. I don’t want to lead a life like a royal servant. Forgive me for rejecting your proposal.

Satyavati leaves. Shantanu sadly mounts his horse.

Shantanu sadly comes to his palace.

Devrath

Father! Where have you been? Come, let’s have dinner.

Shantanu (sad)

I am not hungry, my son.

Shantanu leaves sadly.

Shantanu is sitting sadly at the riverside. Shantanu and the Minister are looking at him from a distance.

Devrath

It’s been 15 days now. He hasn’t smiled. Something is bothering him.

Minister

It’s Satyavati. She refused to marry our King.

Devrath

How dare she? Who is she?

Minister

She is the princess of the fishing community.

Devrath, mounting his horse, reaches Satyavati’s hut.

Devrath

Why did you refuse my father’s marriage proposal?

Satyavati

Your Royal Highness! I have a valid reason.

Devrath

The king of Hastinapur asked you to get married to him. And you want to refuse the fortune of becoming the queen of Hastinapur.

Satyavati

Your Royal Highness! You will soon become King. After which, my son will become a royal servant. I don’t want to lead a life like a royal servant. Forgive me for rejecting your father’s proposal.

Devrath

I promise you I will never ascend the throne. I leave all rights and privileges as the crown prince.

Satyavati

But what if your sons want to become a king

Devrath

I promise you I will never marry. Now, will you marry my father

Satyavati

Yes

Devrath and Satyavati walk to the palace.

Devrath and Satyavati meet Shantanu.

Shantanu

Why my son? Why did you take such a difficult oath?

Devrath

For your happiness and well-being

Shantanu

I name you Bhishma. You will be remembered for eternity for your difficult oath.

Devrath touches his feet.

Shantanu

I give a boon. You will die only when you wish. Otherwise, even death wouldn’t be able to harm you.

Devrath smile.

Shantanu and Satyavati get married.

King Shantanu and Satyavati at the meeting hall of the palace. Ministers have occupied seats. And in the centre, the King and Queen are seated.

King Shantanu

Dear Ministers, meet your Queen Satyavati.

Ministers stand up from their seats and shower flowers on the King and Queen.

Ministers (in unison)

Hail to the King! Hail to the Queen! Hail to the Hastinapur!

Satyavati and King Shantanu smile.

 Moral: Think before you make a promise.

Happy Reading!

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