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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