Great Bharata, Volume I, page 21
Śan-tanu shook his head. “I would never dishonor you by seeking their confirmation. Indeed, I see from your bold spirit and noble mien that you were born of high royal blood. And we are both from the same noble dynasty. Your father was a Kuru, though he ruled Cedi.”
Satya-vatī happily agreed.
Śan-tanu paused here. “Satya-vatī, I have one doubt that I pray you will remove. May I present it?”
“Of course,” she said, anxiously wondering what it was.
“My doubt is this: your father, the great Vasu, whom we all revere, sent you away because he feared he could not protect you. If the danger is still so great, how will I protect you, once your identity is revealed? I do not fear the Asuras in battle. I myself came to Earth from the Deva realm. But I am not stronger than your revered father, yet he did not reveal your identity. You know my citizens will only accept our marriage if your royal identity is known. Satya-vatī, this is my quandary. I can never put you in danger. Will you be safe with me, once you reveal yourself to the world?”
Satya-vatī smiled. “I honor your concern. But I will be safe under your protection. At the time of my birth, we knew much less about the Asuras than we do now. Even Indra was uncertain. My loving parents chose not to risk my life. My father then killed many Asuras, making the world safer. By then, he feared that were my identity revealed, he would have to explain to the world why he sent me away.”
Śan-tanu nodded. “And, since few know of the Asura invasion, people would panic, and the Asuras would target you.”
“Precisely. Thus, my father could not reveal the truth. I suffered and doubted when I learned the truth, but I am now convinced that my parents acted out of love for me, and dedication to the world. But times have changed.”
“Yes, they have.”
“And the celebrated sage Parā-śara personally told me that I was destined to marry a great king who would be able to protect me. He said I could then reveal my true identity.”
Śan-tanu exclaimed, “You spoke personally to Parā-śara?”
“Yes, I did. He was kind to me. He understood my situation.”
“So, you are convinced that you would be safe with me?”
“Yes, I am confident of your protection. Also, if we marry, the mighty Kurus will form a natural alliance with my five brothers, the brave sons of Vasu. Śan-tanu, you must see that I, and the world, will be safer with a Kuru-Cedi alliance. And you must do me the honor of believing that if I married you merely to form an alliance, I would tell you so at once. But I could never marry you if I did not love you.”
“And do you love me?”
Satya-vatī looked down. “Yes. I do. But tell me your heart. Do you love me enough—do you love the world enough—to accept my brothers as your brothers? Will you form an alliance with us? No matter how much I love you, I can only give my hand to one who loves those whom I love, one who cares about the world as much as I do. You alone can protect the Kuru realm, and neighboring states. But alone, you cannot protect the entire world. You are a great king and warrior, but you will be even stronger if you fight alongside my noble brothers.”
Śan-tanu smiled. “Yes, I do love you enough to do all that you ask. I will do it gladly. But, dear Satya, if there is anything else you must tell me, say it now.”
She then told him about her nephew Jarā-sandha, pointing out that this mighty Asura would become Śan-tanu’s nephew as well.
“Oh, I knew about Jarā-sandha,” he said.
“You did? But how?”
“Let us say that a Kuru king enjoys many channels of information that are not available to most rulers. Remember, in my last life I lived in Deva-loka. I have many friends there, including Indra. So, for now, your wicked nephew will become my wicked nephew. I know about the dreaded third generation. When it takes power, my son and our sons, allied with your nephews and other brave young kings, will have to contend with Jarā-sandha and other Asuras. For now, having Jarā-sandha as a nephew is not a problem. It’s a sort of advantage. I will have easier access to him, and will more easily monitor his actions. So, is there any other issue we must discuss?”
“Yes, there is, dear king. Last, and most important, is this: you and I are eternal souls within our ephemeral bodies. I speak to you as one soul to another when I say that I will forever follow Viṣṇu. I’ve heard that you too are devoted to Viṣṇu. But I must hear it from you. Sages say that if Asuras grow too strong, Viṣṇu himself will come to this world. If Viṣṇu does come in our life, we must fight at his side. We cannot remain neutral.”
A broad smile spread across Śan-tanu’s face. Satya thought he had never looked so handsome. “If you could see within my heart,” he said, “you would see Viṣṇu dwelling there. Satya-vatī, I will always fight with and for Viṣṇu.”
“Now I fully believe you are the noble man that Parā-śara foretold would enter my life.”
“With all my heart,” he said, “I pray I am that man. But there is something I must tell you. Listen and tell me if you still want me.”
“That sounds very serious,” she said. “Tell me at once.”
“It is this. You know I have a son, Deva-vrata.”
“Of course. All the world knows that.”
“Yes. Satya, by Law, Dharma, Deva-vrata will inherit the Kuru throne. Before I met you, I established him as Yuva-rāja, my heir apparent. Now, even I cannot legally deny him the throne, nor would I. Will you be happy with your stepson as Kuru heir? Our sons will be Kuru princes, and of course one day they will be kings, being so much younger than Deva-vrata.”
Satya-vatī smiled and sighed with relief. “I’m glad your confession is only this. I very happily accept Deva-vrata as your heir.”
Śan-tanu joyfully thanked her for that proof of her love for him. She then asked with some trepidation if Deva-vrata would accept her.
“Oh yes. Deva-vrata has the most generous heart in the world, and because he was separated from me almost at birth, and only returned four years ago, he is especially attached to me. The boy cannot bear to see me unhappy. He knows how I’ve suffered since his mother left, and he has often urged me to find a woman I can love. He is mature beyond his years, and devoted to my happiness. Seeing how happy you have made me, he will love you with all his heart. I only pray to be worthy of his devotion.”
“I’ve heard that he is as handsome as his father, and that he has the power of a Deva.”
Śan-tanu laughed. “As a proud father, I find him more handsome than me. And he certainly has extraordinary power. With the help of Deva-vrata, and a Kuru-Cedi alliance, the Asuras will be reluctant to attack.”
“You are very fortunate to have such a son.”
“Yes, but no more fortunate than to have found you. And someday, Satya, our sons will lend their strength to the cause.”
Satya-vatī embraced him in her heart. She was now convinced that Viṣṇu had brought them together.
Śan-tanu stepped toward her. She did not step back. He took her hand. She did not withdraw it. He gazed into her eyes. “Dear Satya-vatī, now that we know each other’s true identity, is there any reason why we should not unite?”
“No, there is not. But one thing worries me still.”
Śan-tanu looked puzzled. “What can that be?”
“My dear Śan-tanu, I want to marry you. But how will you ever be satisfied with me, after living with a goddess? I fear you will always compare me to her, a comparison that must ever diminish me in your eyes. I am merely human, despite all your flattery.”
“First,” Śan-tanu replied, “you know as well as I that neither of us is ultimately celestial or human. We are both eternal souls, and it is your soul that attracts me. Satya-vatī, truly your heart and mind are as beautiful as your lovely face. Please believe that in my eyes, you can never suffer in comparison with any woman in the three worlds.”
Satya smiled broadly. “If that be the case, then I see no reason why we should not unite in matrimony.”
Śan-tanu beamed. “Let us go at once to Hastinā-pura.”
“Yes, let us go.”
By now, they had returned to the campsite where Śan-tanu’s noble horse peacefully grazed. As they readied for the journey, Satya-vatī said, “Śan-tanu…”
“Yes?”
“If you don’t mind, could we travel along the Yamunā? We will pass directly by the village where a loving fishing family raised me. They are good, simple people, and it would mean the world to them if we stopped there. It would make me happy if they met you and gave their blessings to our marriage. If you don’t mind.”
“I am delighted that I can so easily please you. Of course we will stop there. It is directly on the way. And I will personally thank those good souls who raised you.”
“But I must warn you. They know nothing of my royal birth. It was kept secret from them for my safety.”
“I understand. A wise decision. Give me but a moment, and I will bring our horse.”
Satya-vatī thanked him, and sat alone on the bank of dear Yamunā. She knew that higher worlds existed. Indeed, her parents went to such a world. But as long as she remained on Earth, she could aspire to no greater happiness than to marry a man she loved, and thereby unite the Kurus with Cedi, and thus protect the Earth. Parā-śara’s prophecy was indeed being fulfilled.
A rhythmic trotting roused her from her reverie. Śan-tanu, happier than she had ever seen him, approached on his proud steed.
CHAPTER 23
Śan-tanu dismounted and quickly packed Satya’s things in his saddlebags. He tied her boat to the saddle. A little path ran along the river to a nearby village, and they had agreed to haul her boat there. Śan-tanu then would pay a boy to bring the boat back to Satya’s village. Mounting his horse, he reached out, grasped Satya’s hand, and easily lifted her onto the saddle behind him.
All was ready. “Hold on to me,” the king said. With some shyness, for she had never held him, she wrapped her arms around his rock-solid waist. In her mind, Satya excitedly planned how they should tell her brothers the good news, the wonderful news!
They began their journey at a slow pace and were soon eagerly conversing. In a few minutes they dropped off her boat, and headed to a wider, faster road.
With the wind in her face, her hair trailing behind her, Satya-vatī wanted to laugh with joy. She asked Śan-tanu how she could best send the news to her brothers. He offered this plan. As soon as they were done in Kalpi, at the first town of greater size, he would send a Kuru agent anywhere she liked with the good news.
“You have Kuru agents in all the cities?” she asked.
“Of course!” he laughed, with a shrug of his shoulders. “It’s what we have to do. I’m sure your brothers do the same.”
“Yes, I’m sure they do,” she said. She had never thought about it.
After an hour, they stopped by the river to briefly rest. Śan-tanu said, “Satya-vatī, when we first met, you spoke of a disappointment in your life. You never mentioned it again. Can you tell me about it?”
Satya smiled. “There’s not much to tell. I met a young brāhmaṇa.”
“And you fell in love with him?”
“To some extent. But he leads the quiet, meditative life of a sage. I am an emperor’s daughter. I must be active.”
He smiled with approval. Satya then made clear to him that her affections were not divided. He received her assurances happily.
At her inquiry, he spoke of his son, Deva-vrata, of whom the world heard so much. The boy was famously born to the goddess Gaṅgā, and grew up with her in the Deva world. No one in this world had yet discovered the limits of his strength. Satya-vatī listened eagerly, but sadly she could not reciprocate Śan-tanu’s candor. She was forced to conceal the birth of her own son, Dvaipāyana, who also possessed unfathomable power.
She knew that Śan-tanu could never marry her if her connection with Parā-śara were known. She trusted that he would still accept her, but the unfair world would not. A scandal would arise, damaging the king’s ability to rule. Most importantly, public knowledge of the still-young Avatāra might endanger him.
They rode for a while in silence, over bright green meadows and through flowering woods, keeping always near the river. Then, Satya-vatī asked if the Kuru kingdom was safe in his absence.
Śan-tanu smiled. “That is a most appropriate question from an emperor’s daughter. Yes, the Kuru kingdom is in good hands. The army is strong. And everyone knows I am not so far away. I will be quickly informed of any suspicious troop movements on the part of humans or suspected Asuras. I send my agents everywhere. It is a duty I cannot avoid. For now, no one dares challenge Kuru power. I’ll return soon, before I’m needed. And you will come with me. You will enter Hastinā-pura as my queen.”
“Thank you,” was all Satya could say, as wonder and gratitude filled her heart. Parā-śara had predicted her good fortune, but to enter the legendary imperial capital as the Kuru queen, and the queen of a king she loved, to play a key role in forging an alliance that could save Earth — all this surpassed by far what Satya-vatī had dared imagine possible when Parā-śara promised her future joy.
The fine horse trotted along, reaching a large village. “I long to say,” the king said, “that you are as lovely as a Devī from the Deva realm. But I fear you will chastise me if I say it, as you once did.”
Satya-vatī smiled. “You just said it. And I admonished you then for your compliment, because we did not know each other well.”
He nodded. “And I respected you for admonishing me. It showed character. But now I can say it. And we have arrived at the village.”
He slid off the horse, and lifted her down. They agreed that he would inquire about the fastest road to Kalpi, and she would purchase their lunch. With an arch smile, she said, “You will have to give me a few coins for that, if you can spare them.” He laughed and complied.
Satya wandered through the village, conversing easily with the people. She spoke their language. This village was more prosperous than her own. A few fine homes on elevated land, with river views, revealed that affluent traders lived here.
Wherever she walked, people stared at her in wonder, for she did look as lovely as a goddess. She purchased their lunch and a cloth to wrap it. She heard a voice calling her. She turned and saw Śan-tanu approaching, leading two fine horses, his own and another.
“I bought this horse for you. You’ll be more comfortable on our trip. It’s a fine horse that belonged to the local mayor.”
Delighted at this gift, Satya brought Śan-tanu to a grassy knoll on the riverbank and spread out their lunch on the large cloth. Breezes, blowing over Yamunā’s cool waters, refreshed them. Chatting and laughing like old friends, they relished their lunch, and were soon mounted for their ride toward Satya’s village. They left this village without anyone imagining their identity.
Now the great king and the emperor’s daughter were free to gallop through the countryside. They rode joyfully through rich green meadows, and varicolored woodlands that were bright and fragrant with fruits and flowers. Satya had never been happier. As the wind rushed over her face and blew back her hair, she laughed with sheer joy.
After a while, they stopped to let their horses rest and drink from Yamunā’s life-giving waters. They sat together on the grassy bank, watching the endless currents roll by. The river sparkled in the bright sun.
Śan-tanu bowed and smiled. “Well, I am eager to see the bucolic village where you grew up.”
“I wish it had been bucolic, idyllic,” she said. “But you will see soon enough.” And without another word, she dove into the sacred Yamunā, popped her head up, and challenged him to race across the river.
He looked around, saw no one nearby, and unfastened his sword belt. Patting the horses, telling them to stay, he kicked off his shoes and dove into the water. Satya laughed and took off for the far bank. He went after her with powerful arms, but she had grown up as much in water as on land.
He could not catch her, though he stayed close behind. Reaching the far bank, she turned and laughed as he approached. His laughter merged with hers.
They returned to the other shore floating on their backs, joking and bantering all the way. The hot tropical sun soon dried them and their clothes. They mounted their horses and rode happily along the river.
As Satya-vatī and Śan-tanu came ever closer to her village, Satya realized that these might be some of their most carefree moments together, without the constraints of palace pomp or formality. Once married, it would be hard to fully escape the duties, decorum, and protocol of Kuru royalty.
She sought to savor these moments as they splashed through crystalline streams, loped over meadows carpeted with wildflowers, and cantered through haunting woods. All along the way, no one recognized either of them — the emperor’s daughter and the world’s most powerful king.
As they approached her village, and the scenery grew increasingly familiar, and depressing, Satya found that guilt and foreboding filled her mind, not the joy of reunion and mutual appreciation that she first imagined. After much time away, she hoped her foster parents would appreciate her desire to share with them the joy of her engagement to a great king. This might be their last chance to see her for a long time, perhaps forever. They did not travel. Once established as Kuru Queen, Satya-vatī was not likely to return.
Recalling how her foster parents had always opposed her lofty ambitions, she now feared that all of Śan-tanu’s fame and power might not satisfy such proud, plain people who had always sought to impose their plain ways on her. Even a glorious marriage to the Kuru king might not wash away their resentment of her for having rejected their home and their ways.
As they approached the village, every head turned. No one in the village had ever seen Satya on a horse. And a handsome man with a large, warrior’s build had brought her! Feeling the stares, the royal pair dismounted and walked quietly toward the cottage of the fisher king, who stood in the doorway with his wife, staring at them in stark incredulity.
