Vaishampayana said : The king Shantanu, adored of the celestials and the royal sages, was famous in all the worlds as being virtuous-minded and truthful.

Self-control, liberality, forgiveness, intelligence, modesty, patience and superior energy ever dwelt in that best of men, Shantanu.

That king endued with such accomplishments. He was learned in both Dharma and Artha. He was both the protector of the Bharata race and all the people,

His neck was like the conch shell, his shoulder was broad, he was as powerful as a mad elephant. All the auspicious signs of royalty dwelt in his person and they considered that to be their best abode.

The people, seeing the (virtuous) acts of that king of great achievements, came to know that virtue was ever superior to pleasure and profit. was

These accomplishments were all in that best of men, Shantanu and no other king was to equal him in virtue.

All the kings of the earth, seeing him devoted to all kinds of virtues, installed him as the king of kings.

All the kings were free from misery, fear and anxiety of all kinds during the reign of that lord-protector of the Bharata race. They all slept in peace and rose in peace after happy dreams,

All the kings became virtuous and devoted to liberality and religious acts and sacrifices from the great example set by that great king of wonderful achievements (Shantanu) who was like Indra himself.

When the earth was ruled by Shantanu and other kings like him, the religious merits of every order greatly increased.

The Brahmanas were served by the Kshatriyas; the Kshatriyas were served by the Vaishyas; the Shudras, adoring both the Brahmanas and the Kshatriyas, served the Vaishyas.

Shantanu lived in Hastinapur, the beautiful capital of the Kurus; he ruled over the whole earth bounded by the sea.

He was truthful and virtuous like the king of the celestial; and from his liberality, virtues and asceticism he acquired great fortune.

He was free from anger and malice, he was as handsome as Soma himself. He was as effulgent as the sun and as courageous as the Vayu. He was like Yama in anger and like Earth in patience.

O king, when Shantanu ruled the earth, no deer, beers, birds or other animals were needlessly killed.

The virtue of kindness reigned in the kingdom of Shantanu, who himself was full of mercy and free from anger. He equally protected all creatures.

The sacrifices in honour of the celestials, Rishis and Pitris were performed but no creature was sinfully deprived of its life.

That king became a father of those that were miserable, of those that had not protectors, nay even of birds and beasts and all creatures.

During the reign of that best of the Kuru kings, the king of all kings, (Shantanu) the speech was mixed with truth and mind was devoted to liberality and virtue.

Having enjoyed the companionship of women thirty six years, he retired into a forest.

Shantanu's son, the Vasu, born of Ganga, named Devavrata, resembled his father in beauty, in conduct, in habits and in learning.

He was expert in all sorts of weapons belonging to heaven and earth. He was greatly strong and vastly energetic; he was a great carwarrior; and he was a great beauty.

Once on a time, he (Shantanu) wounded a beer and pursued it along the banks of the Ganges. The king Shantanu saw that the Bhagirathi (Ganga) had became shallow.

Having seen this, the best of men, Shantanu began to reflect, "Why, does not the best of rivers run as before?"

In searching for its cause, the illustrious king saw a beautiful, strong built and amiable youth. Like Indra himself, who had checked the flow of the river Ganga by his sharp celestial weapons.

The king, seeing this wonderful feat (of the youth), namely the checking of Ganga in her course by arrows, was very much surprised.

Shantanu had seen him only once, a few minutes after his birth; therefore, he had not sufficient recollection to identify that youth with his son.

But the youth, as soon as he saw his father, clouded the king's perception by Maya (delusion) and instantly disappeared before his very sight.

The king Shantanu, being much surprised with what he saw and believing the youth to be his own son, said to Ganga, "Show me the child."

Ganga, assuming a beautiful form, showed him the youth decked in ornaments, holding him by his right hand.

Shantanu could not recognise that beautiful lady, bedecked with ornaments and attired in fine robes, though he had seen her before.

Ganga said : O king, O best of men, the eighth son whom you formerly begot on me, is this, Know that this excellent child is expert in all the weapons.

O great king, take him now. He has been carefully reared by me. O best of men, taking him with you, go home.

This greatly energetic boy has studied with Vasistha all the Vedas with their Angas. He is skillful in all the weapons, he is a great bowman, he is like Indra himself in battle.

O descendant of the Bharata race, both the celestial and the Asuras look on him with favour. Whatever the Vedas and Shastras are known to Ushanas (Shukra) are all known to this boy.

All the Vedas and Shastras that are known by the son of Angirasa (Brihaspati), adored of the celestials and Asuras, he is master of them all. All the weapons that were known to the powerful and invincible son of Jamadagni (Parashurama) are fully and completely known to your this illustrious and mighty-armed son. king, this boy is a great bow-man and learned in the treatises on the duties of kings. O hero, take home your this heroic son given by me.

Vaishampayana said : Having been thus commanded by her (Ganga), Shantanu took his son, as effulgent as the sun and started for his own capital. Having reached the city which was like the City of Indra, the descendant of Puru (Shantanu) considered himself very fortunate and successful in his wishes. He then installed his accomplished and illustrious son as his heirapparent for the protection of the kingdom of the Kurus. O best of the Bharatas, the illustrious son soon pleased his father and all the members of his family. He pleased all the subjects of his kingdom by his conduct. The greatly powerful king lived happily with his son for four years. Once on a time, he went to a forest on the banks of the river, named Yamuna. When the kin was roaming there, he perceived a sweet scent coming from an unknown direction.

Being desirous of finding out its cause, he wandered about hither and thither; and (at last) he saw a maiden of celestial beauty, belonging to the fishermen class.

Having seen her, he asked that black-eyed maiden, "O timid maiden, who are you? What are you doing here?” She said, “Blessing be upon you! I am the daughter of the chief of the fishermen. By the command of my father I am engaged to row this boat of take people across this river for religious merits.” Having seen her endued with celestial beauty, amiableness and fragrance, the king Shantanu desired to possess her. He went to her father and asked him to bestow her upon him.

He desired to know whether he was willing to give her in marriage. The chief of the fishermen replied to the king saying, “As soon as that best of beautiful girls was born it, it was understood by me that she should be bestowed (on some one). But, О king, hear the desire that I have in my heart.

O sinless one, if you desire to makes her your lawful wife, you are truthful, then truly give me a pledge.

O king, if you give me the pledge, I shall then bestow my daughter on you, for I can never obtain a husband for her like you."

Shantanu said : O fisherman, after hearing what you ask, I can then say whether I will be able to grant it or not. If it is capable of being granted, I shall certainly grant it.

The fisherman said: O king, the son that will be born of this girl shall be installed on your throne and none else shall you make your successor.

Vaishampayana said : O descendant of Bharata race, Shantanu became unwilling to grant the wish of the fisherman, thought his body was being burnt by the fire of desire.

That lord of the earth returned to Hastinapur, thinking of the daughter of the fisherman and his heart afflicted by desire.

One day when he was thus meditating over (the girl) in sorrow, his son Devavrata came to him and said-

"All is prosperity with you; all chiefs and potentates obey you, why then you grieve thus in sorrow?

O king, deep in your own thoughts, you do not speak a word to me in reply. You do not now go out on horse back. You are pale and emaciated and discoloured.

I wish to know the disease from which you suffer, so that I may try to get a remedy." Having been thus addressed by his son, Shantanu replied,

"Truly I am melancholy. Hear why I am so. O descendant of Bharata race, you are the only son in this our great dynasty.

You are always engaged in the sports of arms and achievement of power. O son, I am, however, always thinking of the instability of life.

O son of Ganga, if anything happens to you, we shall be sonless and we shall have no descendants. Truly you alone are equal to one hundred best sons.

I do not, therefore, desire to marry again. I only desire that prosperity may always attend on you, SO that our dynasty may be perpetuated.

The religious men say that he who has one son has no son at all. The Agnihotra worship and three classes of study do not yield the one sixteenth part of the religious merits as are derived by the birth of a son. There is hardly any difference in this respect between men and other animals.

I have no doubt that he who has got a son gains heaven. The three Vedas, which are the roots of the Puranas and which authoritative even to the celestials, contain many proofs of this.

O descendant of the Bharata race, you are a hero of excitable temper; and you are always engaged in the exercises of arms. There is every likelihood of your being killed on the field of battle.

"If it so happens, what would be the state of our race! For this reason I am melancholy. I have now told you the cause of my sorrow!” are

Vaishampayana said : Having heard the cause (of his grief) from the king, the greatly intelligent and wise Devavrata thought for a while.

He then went to the old minister, devoted to his father's welfare. He asked him the cause of his father's sorrow.

O best of the Bharata race, that foremost of the Kurus asked him all about it and he then heard from him about the pledge regarding the maiden.

Thereupon, Devavrata, accompanied with many venerable Kshatriya chiefs, went to the chief of the fishermen and begged his daughter for his father.

The fisherman received him with all due adorations. O descendant of the Bharata race, when the prince was seated, he addressed him thus-

"O best of the Bharata race, you are the lord of great prowess, you are the best of wielders of arms. You are the only son of Shantanu, But I have something to tell you.

If the bride's father be Indra himself, still he is to repent for rejecting such an exceedingly honourable and desirable proposal of marriage.

The great man from whose seed was born this most beautiful maiden Satyavati is equal to you in virtue.

He has many times recounted to me the great achievements of your father. He has told me that, that virtuous king is worthy of marrying Satyavati.

Allow me to tell you that I have formerly rejected the offer of that best of Brahmarshis, the celestial sage Asita, who had often asked Satyavati in marriage. O king, I have only one word to say on behalf of this maiden as her father. The only strong objection in this matter is the fact of a rival in a co-wife's son.

O chastiser of foes, he is not safe, even he be an Asura or a Gandharva, who is your foe. He will never live long if you grow angry.

O king, this is the only objection in the marriage. There is no other. O chastiser of foes, know, this is all I have to say in the matter of bestowal (of Satyavati)"

Vaishampayana said : O descendant of the Bharata race, having been thus addressed, the son of Ganga (Devavrata) replied to him in the hearing of all the chiefs and potentates for the sake of his father.

O foremost of truthful men, listen to the vow I take today. There is none born or will be born who will have the courage to take to take such a vow.

I shall do what you demand. The son that will be born of this maiden will be our king.

O best of the Bharata race, having been thus addressed (by Bhishma), the chief of the fishermen, desirous of achieving the difficult matter of making his daughter's son king, thus spoke to him.

The Fisherman said : "O virtuous-minded man, you have come here as the full manager of your greatly glorious father. But also the sole manager on my behalf in the matter of the bestowal of this girl.

O Gentle Sir, there is something else to be said and something else to be done. O chastiser of foes, those that have daughter must say what I say.

O devotee of the religion of truth, the pledge that you have taken in the midst of these chiefs for the sake of Satyavati is worthy of you.

I have not the least doubt that it will never be violated by you. But I have great doubt in respect of your sons.

Vaishampayana said : O king, the devotee of religion of truth,(Devavrata), knowing the scruple of the fisherman and being moved by the desire of doing good to his father then said.

O chief of the fishermen, O best of chiefs, hear what I say for the sake of my father before all these chiefs and potentates.

O chiefs and potentates, I relinquished my right to the throne a few moments before. I shall now settle the doubt that has arisen in respect to my sons.

O fisherman, from this day I adopt the vow of Brahmacharya. If I die sonless, still I shall ascend to the rejoins of the everlasting bliss.

Vaishampayana said : Having heard those words, the hair of the fisherman stood erect in delight and he said, “I bestowed my daughter."

Thereupon the Apsaras, the celestial and the various classes of Rishis, began to pour down flowers from the firmament (upon the head of Devavrata) and they all exclaimed "This man is Bhishma (the terrible.)"

He (Bhishma) them for the sake of his father, addressed the illustrious (lady) thus, “O mother, ascend this chariot and let us go to our home."

Vaishampayana said : Having said this, Bhishma made the beautiful maiden ascend his car. Then coming to Hastinapur, he told Shantanu all that had happened.

All the assembled chiefs and potentates applauded him jointly and individually for his great act. They exclaimed, “He is (really) Bhishma."

Having heard the great deed performed by his son Bhishma, Shantanu gave that illustrious man the boon of dying at will.

He said, "O my sinless son! death will have no effect untill you wish to live. Death can influence you only after your permission.