Devavrata straightaway went to the Chief Fisherman and asked him the reason of not giving Satyavati’s hand in marriage to his father. The Chief Fisherman told him about the condition. Thereupon Devavrata uttered, “Considering the sky and the earth as witness I pledge today that I will neither marry nor become king. My father’s next child will be the crown prince.” Owing to this ‘Bhishma’ pledge, Devavrata came to be called ‘Bhishma’.
Satyavati married King Shantanu. They had two sons named Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada succeeded king Shantanu. Unfortunately, he was killed in a battle with a gandharva. He died childless, so Vichitravirya was crowned king of Hastinapura. Vichitravirya was a minor. Therefore, Bhishma guided him and ruled as his regent till he grew up. When he was old enough, Bhishma looked for a suitable wife for him. He heard that the king of Kashi was holding a swayamvara for his daughters Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. He went to seek their hands for Vichitravirya.
Devavrata’s ‘Bhishma’ Pledge
