Chapter 4 – The Growth of the Kuru Dynasty

There is another story to Satyavati, the Godmother of Kuru Dynasty.

Satyavati was actually born from a fish and was brought up by the Leader of the Fishermen Group. Since she was born from a fish, she had an odour of fish all over her body. One day, Rishi Parashara came there and was very pleased with Satyavati’s service. So he told her to ask for a boon. Satyavati told that she wanted the odour of fish from her body to be turned to a Sweet scent. The Rishi granted her the boon and apart from that, he also gave her a child who will be energetic and will develop his body with his own will. He was named Krishna Dwaipayana, because he was born in an island ( Dwaipayana ) and was dark in color ( Krishna means dark ).  He was also called Ved Vyasa , because it was he who arranged the vedas.

Coming back to the story of Shantanu’s sons – Vichitraviriya died childless. So Satyavati called for Vyasa and told him to give children for her daughters-in-law. When Vyasa went to Ambika, she closed her eyes till he went out. So Vyasa said that the son born to Ambika will be blind and will be named Dhritarashtra. Then Vyasa went to see Ambalika. She turned pale in fear. So Vyasa told that the son born to Ambalika will be pale and will be named Pandu. Satyavati was unhappy because both the grandsons had defects and so she wanted another healthy child. So she requested Vyasa to give another child to Ambika. But Ambika sent a maid with her ornaments to get the child. When the maid saw Vyasa, she did not give any reaction. So Vyasa gave her a healthy looking child and named him Vidura.

And the future of Kuru dynasty was thus formed.

Previous Chapter 3 – Sons of Shantanu

Next Chapter 5 – The Pandavas & Kauravas