Satyavati

Satyavati was born on the banks of the river Yamuna to a fisherman chieftain, Dasharaja. She was a commoner and helped her father in his job as ferryman and fisherman. Due to the smell emanating from her body, she was known as Matsyagandha, which means “She who smells like fish”. As a young woman, Satyavati met the wandering rishi Parashara, who fathered her son Vyasa out of wedlock. The sage also gave her a musky fragrance, which earned her names like Yojanagandha and Gandhavati. Later, King Shantanu, captivated by her fragrance and beauty, fell in love with Satyavati. She married Santanu on her father’s condition that their children inherit the throne, denying the birthright of Shantanu’s eldest son (and crown prince) Bhishma. Satyavati bore Shantanu two children, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. After Shantanu’s death, she and her sons ruled the kingdom with the help of Bhishma. Although both her sons died childless, she arranged for her eldest son, Vyasa, to father the children of the two widows of Vichitravirya through niyoga. The children, D