| It was an awful
promise to make for any man, but a munificent gesture of self-sacrifice. From that day, Devavrata came to be called Bhishma, a word that
means ‘terrible’.
Bhishma then took the fisher-girl to the palace and king Santanu married her.
The whole kingdom celebrated the wedding.
King Santanu was greatly pleased by his son’s unparalleled sacrifice.
In return he gave a boon. He said: "You will live as long as you wish, my son, and
you will die only when you want to."
To the end of his life Bhishma remained unmarried.
To Satyavati were born two sons. They were Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.
Bhishma helped his step-brothers rule Hastinapura. |
