Ganga Putra Bheeshma

THE VOW

"Take back your child, the finest archer and master statecraft, for he will bring immortal fame to his father's name, and will be a great boon to posterity".
With these words, Ganga entrusted the child to his father, blessed the boy, before disappearing into the river.

Shantanu was happy to see his child and warm heartedly welcomed him.

In the boat...

"Hey Satyavathi, I'm mesmerized by your beauty. If you don't mind...will you marry me? "

"O maharaj, I would not mind to marry you but first you would have to talk to my father. If at all he agrees I would marry you then!"

Shantanu agrees with Satyavathi and goes to get house to meet her father.

In Satyavathi's house...

"Oh father of Satyavathi, I would like to marry your daughter Satyavathi. I promise to take good care of her. Can I marry your daughter?"

"Maharaj, you have indeed made me very happy today. A king asking for a fisherman's daughter, it's indeed a great thing. But I have one condition, that is yours and Satyavathi's child should only hire the throne...otherwise I'm not ready to give my daughter to you!"

"Please forgive me. For my pleasure I cannot cheat my son Devavratha. He is the best king the kuru dynasty can ever have! In such a case I don't want your daughter..."

Saying this Shantanu left from there.

Devavratha observes that his father is sad from few days. When he asked his father, he does not tell him anything.
But, somehow Devavratha gets to know the matter and decides to go to Satyavathi's house and bring her.

In Satyavathi's house...

"Oh father of Satyavathi, I cannot see my father in such a condition. For my father, I vow today that I would never stake a claim to the throne, implying that the child born to Shantanu and Satyavati would become the ruler after my father. And no matter who ever it is, I'll always support the throne seater."

"I agree with you Ganga putr. But what guarantee will you give me that your child would not hier the throne?"

"Father of Satyavathi, I strongly take an other vow for my father. The problem arises only if I marry. So, I take the vow of lifelong celibacy."

This gave him immediate recognition among the gods. There was a rain of flowers on Devavratha and a heavenly voice said, "oh great son of Ganga... You have sacrificed your pleasure for your father. This is a very big sacrifice. So from now onwards you will be known to the world as Bheeshma, which means the terrible oath taker!"

His father git to know about this and was greatly dissappointed. On account of this, his father granted him the boon of Ichcha Mrityu(control over his own death - he could choose the time of his death, making him immortal till his chosen time of death, instead of completely immortal which would have been an even more severe curse and cause of suffering).

Finally Shantanu and Satyavathi marry.