DEVABRATA BHISHMA

BHISHMA-THE GUARDIAN OF HASTINAPUR

Hastinapur was decked up today, but the citizens were unhappy. They were unhappy to see their adored and revered Yuvaraj bound by the fetters of duty. Their Yuvaraj who was about to be crowned the king soon, to be married soon- yet a sudden turn of events changed their fate, my fate.

As I stood by the palace window, I could sense the empty streets shouting in protest. Everyone was blaming Satyavati for what happened with me. My oath earned her everyone's contempt. Today, she was getting married to my father. And the day was to be celebrated in the country. But barely anyone came out of their houses. The servants in the palace were attending to their chores, dressing her up, decorating the palace- but in a mundane way. Their derision was visible in their face. I was amazed at how the would-be-Queen managed her emotions and stayed calm, ordering everyone to obey her commands. She really was a Queen! As she stood regally, in the royal dress and wearing all the ornaments, it was difficult for anyone to guess that she is from the fisher community and had never seen such luxuries in her life. It was as if she was born into this. Little did I know at that time that she really was a princess born to a fisher woman and rejected at her birth! Little did I know what caused the flame in her heart to be obstinate in her desires?

As the Queen, she always attempted to win over the people. I tried to help initially but understood later that she is a strong, independent woman who can carve out her own way. I admired her wit, how well she understood politics and how her decisions surprised me each time. Kripi behaved impudently towards Satyavati. "Politics is in her blood, Devabrata." Unlike most people who call me Bhishma, Kripi and Kripacharya still called me Devabrata, a reminder of the name given given by my mother. Queen Satyavati didn't get too agitated by Kripi's barbs, though she kept reminding her of her origin. She even called her Daseyi. She claimed that the name signified she was Dasharaj's daughter. But the palace quickly adapted this name as a sneer for the queen.

A year later she gave birth to the heir of Hastinapur. As I held the baby in my arms, it was a strange feeling. He would be the king when he grows up. He would sit on that very throne which I had renounced. And I- I would be serving the throne and him. This tiny little baby...yet he filled my heart with a new vigour of life, with a new love.

My father's health had been deteriorating. I had always been wary about how Queen Satyavati would treat my father when she gains the royal status, the power that she desired in her heart. People still gossiped that was the reason she had married my father. Why else would a young girl, even younger than me marry someone as old as the king? But I observed her keenly devoted to my father, looking after him, feeding him with her own hands, giving him his medicines on time- may be more out of a sense of duty than love. And she always managed to have a smile on her face-an ingratiating smile. She was an astute woman- a Queen in her own rights and not merely because she was the wife of a king. And she was an able administrator. It never failed to amaze me how she effortlessly convinced other empires for treaties and alliance.

When my second brother Vichitravirya was born, my father had become bedridden. And he was in a state of delirium. He felt tormented by the fact that for the sake of his happiness I gave up the throne, gave up the prospect of having a family of my own. I always retained the smile on my face when I met him or talked to him. But his heart was broken. And he had started blaming the Queen lately. "You took Devabarata's kingdom, his rights and even made him a celibate. No one can be happy at someone else's cost. You would suffer. Remember, the day when you were desperate to catch the huge fish? Your hands bled to fulfil your desire. And because of your insecurities, your wicked ways by which you took away my son's right...one day your heart will bleed." His words were interrupted as he coughed. The queen immediately brought his medicine, but he threw it away, his hands shaking.

"Father you should take the medicine. How else will you get well?"

"I don't wish to get well, son. I can understand that my time is over. I can feel Ganga calling me.....I see her every day in my dream."