She is like an early queen of his
dynasty, illegitimate Shakuntala with an apsara for mother, who
insisted before giving in to Dushyanta’s importunate advances that only
the offspring of their union would inherit the throne. Once again that
promise is extorted. Because so little is written about Satyavati in the
epic, it is worthwhile taking a closer look at the version in the Devi
Bhagavata Purana (II.2.1-36).
When Parashara grasps her right hand, Kali smiles, ever so much in
control, so mature, and says (my translation):
“What
you are about to do,
does
it befit your ancestry,
your
ascesis or the scriptures?
Your
family name is spotless;
of
Vashishtha’s clan are you.
Hence,
O dharma-knower,
what
is this you wish,
enslaved
by desire?
Best
of Brahmanas!
Rare
is human birth on earth.
Specially
rare in men
is
Brahmin birth.
Best
of twice-born! You are
high-born,
virtuous,
scripture-versed,
dharma-knowing.
O
Indra among Brahmanas,
you
notice my body fish-odorous, yet
why
do un-aryan feelings in you arise?
O
twice-born! I doubt not
your
wisdom is most prescient.
But
what auspicious marks
in
my body do you see that
you
crave to possess me?
Does
desire so possess you that
your
own dharma you forget?
So
saying , she mused:
“Oh!
mad to possess me
this
dvija has lost his senses.
He’ll
upset the boat and drown.
He’s
desperate, his heart
pierced
by desire’s five arrows;
none
can prevent him.”
Musing
thus, the girl told the great sage,
“Great
one, be patient
till
we reach the other bank.”
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She is like an early queen of his
dynasty, illegitimate Shakuntala with an apsara for mother, who
insisted before giving in to Dushyanta’s importunate advances that only
the offspring of their union would inherit the throne. Once again that
promise is extorted. Because so little is written about Satyavati in the
epic, it is worthwhile taking a closer look at the version in the Devi
Bhagavata Purana (II.2.1-36).
