Satyawati -11 Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon
Satyawati -11
11. Santanu, the Maharaja
When father started to speak
It was as if he knew my answer.
I was already well beyond
The temptations of worldly pleasures.
But then he tried to reason
'We cannot live in this country
After having refused the king
And earned his displeasure.
'Having said that, Santanu
Sure, was not a bad groom
True, he was married once
And has a grown up son.
'But, unlike many kings
He was a man of one woman
He had married Ganga, a lady
Of noble lineage, the Deva clan.
'After a quarrel, Ganga left him
Leaving their young son
Devabrata with him
But Santanu never married again.'
But I did not wish to have
The company of a man any more
Quite confident I were
To live a life of my own.
Santanu was at our doorstep
Next morning, once again-
Proof enough of his love for me
I was at loss for words to refuse him.
To my own astonishment
And of father, I blurted out
'I agree, but give me word that
Our son would succeed you as king'.
Shocked, the king almost fainted
For he loved Devabrata
His son, the crown prince
More than himself.
He called him Gangadutta,
Gift of Ganga,
So he remembered her
Every time he addressed their son.
I still remember the king
Leaving our hut, his head hung
With unsteady steps
Tears flowing incessantly.
I smiled myself
Having defeated the power
In its own game
For the first time ever.
Oblivious of his love for his son,
I thought he lost his balance,
Losing his game first time ever
As an avid hunter, which he was.
I never desired the kingdom,
Just wished to ward off his advances.
A story paving the way for Devabrata becoming Bhisma, after his great promise to remain celibate for Shantanu's comfortable marriage to Satyavati.10++
A window into something beautiful and intelligent, thank you for sharing
I profusely admire this wonderful Satyawati series. Beautiful presentation. Top score!
I am elated that you liked the series, Dillipji.
Thank you sir, for revisiting this series. And this wonderful comment.
Part - 2 to give hands to his daughter in a condition made by her dauhghter that the son of Satyawati would be the king of Hastinapura. The king almost fainted and left the door of Satyawati's hut with unsteady steps. Satyawatii felt gladness as the winner of the game. Afterwards what would be happened may be delineated at Satyawati - 12. Thhank you dear ES for sharing the lovely story from Mahabharat with nice penning.
Part - i Revisited to this poem for its amusing description. This episode from Mahabharat is so interesting. This is the next event after the marriage proposal of Maharaja Santunu of Hastinapura to poor fishermann for her daughter Satyawati' hand. Santunu was a man of one wife named Ganga who left him after quarrling leaving their son Devabrata @ Gangadutta. Though Satyawati's father didn't agree with heart yet he fear to deny and proposed
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
8/14/2025 7:09:44 PM # 1.0.0
Oblivious of his love for his son tender love is wisely expressed and this is nicely penned series poem shared here...10
Thank you sir, for following this series. Obliged.