10+12 min
Bhishma's Terrible Vow
“A son's love. A father's happiness. A promise that shook the heavens.”
Story Summary
King Shantanu falls deeply in love with Satyavati, a beautiful fisherwoman. But her father demands an impossible price: Shantanu's son must never become king. Torn between love and duty, Shantanu refuses. His son, Prince Devavrata, learns of his father's pain and makes a choice that will echo through generations—he takes a vow of lifelong celibacy, ensuring Satyavati's children will inherit the throne. The gods shower flowers from heaven, naming him 'Bhishma'—the one who takes a terrible vow. This sacrifice sets the stage for the entire Mahabharata.