Both gods and wise kings highly respected King Santanu. He was known throughout the world for his wisdom, virtues, and honesty. He had great qualities like self-control, generosity, forgiveness, intelligence, modesty, patience, and energy. Santanu, a man with vast achievements and wisdom, safeguarded his kingdom and its people. He was physically strong, with a neck marked by three lines like a conch shell, and broad shoulders, similar to an enraged elephant. He embodied all the signs of royalty.
People who observed Santanu saw that virtue was more important than pleasure or profit. He was so virtuous that other kings of the earth gave him the title “King of kings.” During his rule, all the kings lived without fear or worry, and everyone slept peacefully with pleasant dreams. Santanu’s leadership made the world more virtuous, and everyone became devoted to charity, religious acts, and sacrifices.
When Santanu ruled, religious merits increased greatly. The warrior class served the Brahmanas, the merchant class served the warriors, and the lowest class respected both the Brahmanas and the warriors, while serving the merchants. Santanu ruled the whole earth from Hastinapura, the beautiful capital of the Kurus. He was truthful and straightforward, understanding the ways of virtue. With a combination of generosity, religiousness, and self-discipline, he gained great fortune. He was free from anger and malice and was as handsome as the moon. His brilliance resembled the sun; his strength, the wind. Enraged, he resembled death itself; patient, he was earth.
During Santanu’s rule, no animals were needlessly killed, and kindness towards all creatures was a virtue that prevailed. Santanu himself was merciful and treated all beings equally. People held many sacrifices in honor of the gods, sages, and ancestors, but no one killed any creature sinfully. Santanu was the king and father of everyone, including the miserable, the unprotected, birds, beasts, and every created thing. While Santanu ruled, speech was truthful, and people’s minds were focused on charity and virtue. Santanu enjoyed family life for thirty-six years and then retired to the forest.
One day, while chasing a deer along the banks of the Ganges, King Santanu noticed the river had become shallow. He wondered why the river was flowing very slow. As he searched for the cause, he saw a handsome young man who had stopped the flow of the river with his powerful weapon. This extraordinary feat amazed Santanu but did not recognize the youth as his son, whom he had seen only once after birth. The young man, however, recognized his father, but used his celestial powers to cloud Santanu’s perception and disappeared.
Santanu, still thinking the youth might be his son, asked the river Ganga to show him the boy. Ganga appeared in a beautiful form, holding the boy, and revealed that this was their eighth son. She told Santanu that their son was well-versed in all weapons, knowledgeable in the Vedas, and a mighty warrior. Ganga gave the boy to Santanu, who returned to his capital, feeling fortunate. Santanu made his son the heir to the throne, and the prince soon earned the love and respect of everyone.
After four years, King Santanu went to the woods by the Yamuna River, where he smelled a sweet fragrance. He followed the scent and found a beautiful maiden, the daughter of a fisherman. Santanu asked who she was, and she replied she was rowing passengers across the river on her father’s command. Santanu, charmed by her beauty and fragrance, asked her father for her hand in marriage. The fisherman agreed on the condition that the son born of his daughter would be Santanu’s successor.
Santanu hesitated to agree, even though he greatly desired the maiden. He returned to Hastinapura, troubled by his thoughts. Devavrata, noticing his father’s sadness, asked what was troubling him. Santanu explained he was worried about the future of their dynasty if something happened to Devavrata. Devavrata learned from the royal minister about the fisherman’s condition for marriage. Determined to help his father, Devavrata went to the fisherman and promised that the son born of the maiden would be the next king. Devavrata even vowed to remain celibate and never have children.
The fisherman, moved by Devavrata’s vow, agreed to the marriage. The gods and sages praised Devavrata, calling him “Bhishma” (the terrible) for his great vow. Bhishma brought the maiden to Hastinapura, where he told Santanu everything. Santanu, pleased with his son’s actions, gave him the boon of choosing the time of his own death, ensuring that Bhishma could live as long as he wished.
The story of King Santanu and his son Bhishma offers several important lessons:
Virtuous Leadership: King Santanu exemplifies the qualities of an ideal ruler—wisdom, fairness, patience, and self-discipline. His leadership created a peaceful and prosperous society where virtue thrived. This teaches us the importance of virtuous leadership in creating a harmonious and just society.
The Power of Self-Sacrifice: Bhishma’s vow of celibacy and his decision to forego his own future for the sake of his father’s happiness and the kingdom’s stability show the power of self-sacrifice. This act of selflessness made Bhishma a revered figure, teaching us that true greatness often comes from putting others before ourselves.
Responsibility and Duty: Both King Santanu and Bhishma take their responsibilities seriously. Santanu in his role as a king and Bhishma as a son. The story underscores the importance of fulfilling one’s duties with integrity and commitment, no matter how challenging they may be.
The Consequences of Choices: King Santanu’s hesitation to accept the fisherman’s condition reflects the difficulty of making decisions that can have long-term consequences. Bhishma’s choice to remain celibate shaped not only his life but the future of the kingdom. This illustrates that our choices, especially those made out of duty or love, can have far-reaching impacts.
Respect for elders and tradition: Bhishma’s actions show deep respect for his father and the traditions of the kingdom. This emphasizes the value of respecting elders and upholding cultural and familial traditions, which can bring stability and continuity to society.
The Role of Dharma (Righteousness): The story is deeply rooted in the concept of dharma—doing what is right according to one’s role and responsibilities. Both Santanu and Bhishma act in ways that align with their dharma, teaching us the importance of living a life guided by righteousness.
Acceptance of Fate: The story also touches on the acceptance of fate. Bhishma’s vow is an acknowledgment of the larger forces at play and his willingness to accept his role within them. This teaches us about the importance of accepting our circumstances with grace and fulfilling our roles to the best of our abilities.
Keeping one’s word: The story emphasizes the importance of honouring promises, as seen in Bhishma’s unwavering commitment to his vows.
Long-term consequences of actions: Bhishma’s vow, while solving an immediate problem, has far-reaching consequences for the future of the kingdom, teaching us to consider the long-term effects of our decisions.
These lessons from the story of Santanu and Bhishma offer insights into ethics, leadership, family dynamics, and personal integrity that remain relevant today. They encourage readers to reflect on their own choices and responsibilities in both personal and professional lives.